27 March 2019

Editor: Jenny LeSouef
Technology: Nola Regan

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

The year began with our usual efficacy. After our full school assembly our students were in class by recess time and normal timetable commenced then. Many thanks to all staff for their support which enabled such a smooth beginning to 2019.

Our dress up day and school ball were held Friday March 8. The students make a gold coin and tin of food donation for local charity when they participate in the dress up and raised over $1100. They then paraded through Burrendah Primary School finishing at Southlands for presentation of prizes. It was an excellent way to begin their day. At the ball, the boys were handsome and the girls were beautiful, their behaviour was exemplary and a good time was had by all. Again thanks to the staff for their support.

The Parent/Teacher interviews were held on Tuesday March 12 for Years 7, 11 and 12. It was a long day with many interviews for most teachers. Valuable communication channels were established with parents which we will maintain to ensure all students needs are being met. We had 657 parent/s attend 3273 interviews. Thanks also to our Arts and Home Economics students and teachers for providing spiritual and nutritional sustenance on the day.

We will be performance reviewed this year as our three-year cycle draws to a close. After considering feedback and data, we then construct a Business Plan for the next three years. This involves discussion with all members of our school community to decide our direction. More on this as the year progresses.

Chris Booth has made his decision as to his future and is retiring from his role as Principal of our school. Chris has had an outstanding 41-year career with the WA Department of Education with 19 years at Willetton and has steered this school to be one of the leading public schools in Western Australia. His inspiration, diligence and care will be missed and we will be celebrating his contribution at a later date. In due course, the position will be advertised and the process for selection of the new Principal will commence. In the interim our strong leadership group continues to work with all staff to ensure the best outcomes for all students.

Our Head Girl and Boy, Jae Brieffies and Araan Kousari are submitting their first report in this newsletter. We wish them well for their busy year ahead.

Colin Marshall

Araan Kousari, Mr Colin Marshall and Jae Brieffies

HEAD GIRL AND BOY REPORT

We are extremely excited and honoured to have been elected as the Head Boy and Head Girl for 2019, and cannot wait to see what the year has in store for us. We are blessed to be working with such an incredible student council and of course Mrs Wheeler this year to bring lasting change to Willetton and its future students, despite what little time we have remaining here. Speaking of which, we’d like to congratulate our Year 12 cohort for making it so far. We wish you all the best and encourage you to make the most of what is sure to be a short year, yet one rich with countless opportunities, joyous memories and everlasting friendships, and we promise we’ll be right by your side the whole way through. Every step you take this year, you will be surrounded by dedicated staff and inspiring peers. Never forget this, and remember that should the challenges of Year 12 overwhelm you, you have but to ask us and we’ll do everything in our power to help you out.

The school ball has already come and gone, and it was a great success. We congratulate and extend our thanks to Mrs Wheeler and the Year 12 Ball Committee who laboured ceaselessly for the last year to organise a spectacular night, ensuring that everyone enjoyed themselves and left with memories an unforgettable experience.

Of course, we’re not here exclusively for the Year 12s. To the Year 7s and anyone who is new to the Willetton community, welcome. You are so fortunate to be part of such a supportive and ambitious student cohort, comprised of people with amazing potential which we have seen for ourselves through our work with lower year groups. It is these capacities which we hope to realise and nurture this year, in order to pave the way for an even better experience at Willetton for future students. Great leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders, and that is exactly what we hope to achieve in 2019.

We have a lot to live up to following the outstanding accomplishments of our past Head Boys and Head Girls, but we are eager to begin working and hope that we can continue their legacy to constantly improve the Willetton experience.

Jae Brieffies and Araan Kousari

BOARD CHAIR REPORT

We are now well and truly settled into Term 1 of 2019 and welcome our new Year 7s and many other new students and their families to our school.

Our School Board elections were held recently and we had an overwhelming response with more than double previous years’ voting. It is great to see parents and caregivers taking up the privilege to vote for parent members to represent them on the Board. At our recent AGM we welcomed newly elected parent representative John Yeo and staff representatives Judith Fapani and Rianda Clemons and welcomed back re-elected parent representatives Tele Tan and Chris Philips. For a full list of current Board members please visit the Board tab on the school website. As always we recognise and appreciate the time and effort our volunteer members contribute in order to improve the learning and life outcomes for the students of Willetton Senior High School. We have wide representation across the year groups, and across the learning areas with a diverse range of expertise which will help the Board support the school within the constraints as we come to the end of our three-year business cycle. A big thank you is extended to our retiring members Karen Allen (parent representative), Chris Hanley and Rachel Harrington (staff representatives) who have each made significant contributions to the Board and the school community.

In previous years, one of the key roles the Board undertakes is to consider funding applications to provide for resources, equipment and activities that are not able to be funded through Department of Education budget allocations, but which enrich the educational learning of students. Last year, the School Board decided to forgo this voluntary levy to enable the ICT fees to be increased without increased costs to parents overall to further enhance the embedding of rapidly changing IT across curriculum learning areas. Therefore, the opportunity to consider funding applications will be limited from 2019 onwards. The Board’s last major funding was allocated to shade and covered outdoor areas for students around the school, in direct response to a need identified by the student councillor body.

Sadly, this also marks the end of Chris Booth’s stellar career as he has formally resigned as Principal. He has devoted the past 41 years to the service of the Department of Education, first as a Physics teacher, before quickly being fast tracked for greater things. He has been Principal for 21 years, the last 19 years as the Willetton Senior High School Principal. Chris has received many awards along the way and his wisdom, experience and intuition on adapting to change are one of his commanding attributes. Chris has captained this great ship, and leaves a lasting legacy, on each and every child privileged to have been educated here. He leaves a school in sound financial shape, with excellent systems and amazing and dedicated staff in place to continue this great place we affectionately call Willo. We wish him the very best in retirement.

On behalf of the School Board we look forward to a busy and productive year working together to support our students’ education, and the teachers that lead them on this journey, in one of the best schools in WA.

Dr Paola Chivers

All young people are loved and safe, have material basics, are healthy, are learning and participating and have a positive sense of identity and culture.’ ARACY The Nest vision.

CONGRATULATIONS

EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS PRESENTATION CEREMONY

Colin Marshall and Nathan Harvey had the pleasure of attending the School Curriculum and Standards Authority Exhibitions and Awards Presentation Ceremony on February 13 at Government House. This ceremony celebrated the highest levels of achievement by students in 2018.

The pursuit of academic excellence has always been important in the philosophy of Western Australian education. Outstanding individual achievement has been recognised in the State since 1897. In that year, the first Government Exhibitions were awarded. Eight exhibitions, each worth £25, were offered.

In 2018, General Exhibitions are awarded to the 50 eligible students with the highest WACE scores based on the average of the five equated examinations scores in ATAR course with at least two from each of the Humanities list and the Mathematics/Science List.

A Subject Exhibition is awarded to the top eligible student obtaining the highest examination mark in an ATAR course.

Five Willetton students were awarded on the night and joined the very elite group of award winners.

Jordan Hoffmann

• General Exhibition
• Subject Exhibition – Mathematics Methods
• Subject Certificate of Excellence – Mathematics Methods
• Certificate of Distinction

Roshan Prashant

• General Exhibition
• Subject Certificate of Excellence – English
• Subject Certificate of Excellence – Mathematics Methods
• Subject Certificate of Excellence – Physics
• Certificate of Distinction

Xin Yi Hong

• General Exhibition
• Subject Certificate of Excellence – Biology
• Subject Certificate of Excellence – English
• Certificate of Distinction

Kaylee Wong

• General Exhibition
• Certificate of Distinction

Joseph Loveday

• Subject Exhibition – Engineering Studies
• Subject Certificate of Excellence – Engineering Studies
• Certificate of Distinction

We congratulate these students, and give best wishes for continued success in their studies. We wish the same to all students who graduate from our school.

Nathan Harvey Deputy Principal

L-R Mr Colin Marshall, Roshan Prashant, Jordan Hoffman, Joseph Loveday, Xin Yi Hong, Kaylee Wong and Mr Nathan Harvey

FIRST TECH CHALLENGE WIN

Willetton SHS First Tech team won first place in the inaugural First Tech scrimmage on Tuesday December 11. Thanks to Leon Harris, Bruce Dopson, and Paul Hogg for all the work in running and organising this club. Louis Kuppers spoke on behalf of the team to thank teachers and all team members for their hard work, and looked forward to competing again next year.

GENERAL

ROS DAVIS ENDEAVOUR AWARDS 2018

HANG YI (CHRIS) LAW

Hang Yi has spent much of his time tutoring other students to help them achieve their academic goals.

As a member of the Year 10 leadership group he has worked tirelessly in the student council; volunteering to prepare rosters, support fundraisers and communicating many ideas to help better the school. For example, due to his initiative the student body is now looking into a new solar panel system for the school.

Hang Yi excels in his academic studies earning himself many accolades especially in Mathematics.

He is a wonderful example to all.

MEGHANA GOWDA

Meghana showed a high work ethic and academic ability in all of her subjects achieving excellent results.

She is also a polite and thoughtful student. Her care and initiative showed in her accepting responsibility to organise a fund raising event for the RSPCA, all on her own. It involved a commitment that showed off her organisational skills in coming up with the idea of taking fun polaroid pictures. With a small group of friends, students had fun dressing up to pose for polaroid photos and for a gold coin donation make a contribution to a worthwhile cause.

WA SECONDARY SCHOOL OF THE YEAR SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

The scholarship recognises a student who shows strong leadership skills, in being a proactive member of the school and wider community, respecting the needs of others and having a sense of self-worth and future direction. Mehvish Mehboob is an exemplary example of these qualities and a worthy recipient of this scholarship.

Mehvish Mehboob

We also acknowledge and congratulate the following students who were shortlisted as finalists for this scholarship – Medha Bhushan, Lainey Goveas, Emerlyn Kaur, David Phillips, Elisha Poole, Jade Regel and Abigail Ward.

On Tuesday March 19 to Thursday March 21, 2019 Year 12 students Jae Brieffies and Kristina Joseph were among 120 Year 11 and 12 students from around Australia attending the 24th National Schools Constitutional Convention (NSCC), being held at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, Canberra.

The aim of the program is to provide senior students with an opportunity to become better informed about how Australia's Constitution provides a democratic framework and encourages them to take an active interest in the operation of government. The topic of the 2019 Convention was A new constitutional preamble for Australia?

Emeritus Professor John Warhurst AO facilitate the Convention where Jae and Kristina, along with other delegates, spent two days exploring the topic. This included input from a panel of experts, group discussions on the main issues relating to a constitutional preamble, and the opportunity to persuade other delegates of particular approaches. Students participated in a mock referendum to determine the outcome of their deliberations. The program includes meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, The Hon Tony Smith MP at Parliament House, and a dinner at the High Court of Australia.

Decisions made at the Convention were incorporated into a Communiqué that was presented to the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Sue Lines. The Communiqué was then tabled in Parliament.

As national delegates, Jae and Kristina were selected from over 800 students from government, independent and Catholic schools.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CLOSING DATE REMINDER

Secondary Assistance in the form of financial subsidies is available to holders of Health Care and Pensioner Benefit cards who meet the eligibility criteria. Application forms are available from the school or by downloading from the school website. Applications close April 12, 2019. Applications for secondary assistance must be made in person at the school by the cardholder as it is mandatory the cardholder’s signature is witnessed by a Willetton SHS Finance Officer.

KINDNESS AND GRATITUDE

Towards the end of last year, the request was made for students to write letters of appreciation to the men and women in our services who would not be home for Christmas. The request was also made for donations of items to include in care packages (small non-perishable goods to also be sent to our service personnel. I mentioned this request to the Year 7 students in Literacy Foundations. As a class we used this to explore the concept of kindness, gratitude and giving. The students really embraced this topic, especially when we focused on the men and women who serve in the forces. Many of the students in the Year 7 Literacy Foundation classes are reluctant writers and do not always see themselves as high achievers. The students took so much pride in the letters they produced. They took the time to also create drawings, poems and share snippets of their own lives and Christmas plans. Over the course of the week we collected a large box full of goods, letters, cards and poems to forward on.

When returning to school this year, it was an absolute delight to discover several return letters. The letters thanked the students for their kind words, told stories of life in the military and for some, how the letters and gifts the students sent were in fact all they received on Christmas day. The students were delighted and a few students have already continued to exchange letters. As their teacher, I was extremely proud and moved by how this little activity, act of kindness, had brought happiness to so many. Furthermore, it really demonstrated to these wonderful students that achieving success isn’t always measured by a grade, but by kindness.

Mandy Nunn English Teacher

L-R Back Row: India McCann, Athena Mendoza, Jemma Gourlay, Jack Hodgen,Joel Wilton, Oliver Viljoen

L-R Front Row: Tayla Buchan, Samara Blackwell, Roshan Kamal, Michael Harris, Kirby Roach and Samuel Bailey

CLUB OPEN DAY

Club Open Day! What a great event. On a beautiful, sunny Thursday the Year 10 Council and Willetton's numerous extracurricular clubs converged on the quadrangle to provide an informative event, aimed at generating interest for the clubs.

With each club set up at a table, there was a fantastic collection of posters, interactive demonstrations and fascinating stalls. A particular highlight was the Solar Car Club, with Mr Hamley driving the fully functional car into the Quad. With talented performers such as the Dance Club, who put on a show, the Maker's Club who brought robots along with plenty of cool 3D printed designs and Ms Fapani with a well-designed board advertising all the sporting clubs Willetton offers, people visiting the quad were spoiled for choice.

We had a large turnout at recess and lunch, and many clubs recruited new members. This day would not have been possible without the organisation skills and planning of several members of the Year 10 Council, the Head Girl and Head Boy and Ms Harrington, the Year 10 Coordinator. We would like to thank them all for their hard work, and we look forward to the next Club Open Day.

Oliver Rapanaro and the Year 10 Council

INTERACT CLUB OFF TO A ROARING START

Our Interact Club, a community service network and the junior branch of Rotary International, has been off to a roaring start. We often tell interested members, parents, and teachers that Interact has three main targets for this year: fundraising, community service, and personal and leadership development. Building on the successes of Interact over the last year, we have taken steps to accomplish our aims in all three sectors already in 2019.

Our club is currently in the process of planning five different fundraising projects for this semester, for our selected charities, Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation, and Imagined Futures.

Our vice president Mutia held the first meeting of our new service committee, a group of senior school students who will take on the role this year of researching, planning, and executing service projects which will connect our members directly with the people and causes they are serving. The committee has planned its first ever project, set for March 30 - a #trashtag cleanup of our local Ferndale river bank, conducted with thanks tomorrow SERCUL (the South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare). We are also greatly looking forward to participating in the famous annual Rotary Community Fair on April 7 - at which Interactors will not only be running their own stall, but also lending a hand alongside Rotarians to make the fair run as smoothly as possible.

And at the same time, vice president Duli, and advisor Mihan, hosted the first meeting of Horizons, our committee of younger members who will, throughout the year, explore opportunities for improvement within the club, to seek to connect us more closely to both the Rotary organisation, and to the values that we as a club wish to present, of empowerment, leadership, collaboration and of course, service.

This year, Interact has focused strongly on empowering the individual student to make change within their communities. Each member has the opportunity to be an active part of brainstorming, planning and executing fundraisers and community service activities, fostering students’ leadership and teamwork skills, and encouraging innovation and social entrepreneurship amongst youth.

With a fantastic start to the year already, Interact is looking to expand its impact even further this year, now with a network of around 70 members between years 7-12. We are always seeking to welcome new members, those who are passionate about giving back to the world around them, want to connect with a network of compassionate and like-minded individuals, or are seeking different ways to be involved in community service. We meet Thursdays at recess in classroom F13 - bring your friends, passion and great ideas, and we can’t wait to see you there.

(L-R) Mutia Daruso, Samendra De Silva, Tully Davy’s, Min-En Seet, Araan Kousari, Emily Ong, Jae Brieffies, Kelvin Poulraj, Talisha Jayarangsri, Duli Jayalath, Portia Misamen and Mihan De Silva

The tireless work of Interact Club was recognised at a recent Willetton Rotary Club meeting, with Community Service Awards presented to executive members

Fundraising… Some feedback from our charities

Last year, WSHS Interact Club gave over $6800 to local, national and international charities.

We love getting letters and feedback from our charities, so it was great to hear from Global Mission United, who sent photos showing children whom we helped in South-East Asia.

Global Mission administrator Violet Dickson said in her letter:

We cannot begin to tell you guys just how much your contribution has blessed us at Global Mission United and impacted so many lives out in the field.

With what Willetton Senior High School's kids gave us, we were able to run 2 colouring competitions, buy prizes, provide meals for a 3 day camp for children living in poverty stricken areas…

With the money given from the kids from WSHS, Global Mission United team from Western Australia sent many quality stationeries, clothes and gifted them over the Christmas season. We were also able to cover the shipment!! #Victory

We just want to say THANK YOU!! right from the bottom of our hearts on behalf of each and every of these kids whose life you guys have impacted!

Please take a moment to look at photos sent by Global Missions United, showing some of the children’s lives we have been able to help.

Jae Brieffies Club President

FRONT OF HOUSE

It has been a busy term with the training of the backstage and front of house students. This program commences for students in Year 9 and older. Congratulations to our brilliant Front of House team including our managers. I am looking forward to working with the appointed backstage team for the upcoming Our Town performance.

Stefan Brand Drama Teacher

GEN-X WEBINAR

I greatly enjoyed my time at the Gen-X Wellbeing Seminar. I found it both very informative and extremely valuable as it taught us many, many life lessons.

Firstly, we were listening to Matt X - and his webinar Choosing Not to Hate. It educated us on how important it is not to hate others and how we must strive to not hate, and how to leave hate if we get caught up in it.

Next, we listened to the webinar by Brett Lee on Grooming. We learned how easily the cyber offenders could trap us, and how they always follow five basic principles to ensnare a person. We also learned how to avoid these offenders.

The third and final webinar was on What’s the Worst That Can Happen? By Dr Gill Hicks. We listened to her life story and how she overcame so many difficulties and had to rediscover who she was. One of the most powerful things I heard was how her heart had stopped, and how she died, and yet how it in 3 minutes and 30 seconds, her heart was resuscitated. She talked about how important time is - that even thirty seconds can be huge.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this experience and I would love to attend it again. I found this webinar very enlightening and empowering, as well as educating us on very important values.

Ashlin Kanichai Year 10

The Student & Youth Wellbeing Program

A Student’s Guide
To Internet Use

CONTROL TECHNOLOGY – MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICES!

As a student I understand that……

• The internet is the most public space I will ever be, the cyber world will never be my own private world
• Others may treat me harshly for poor online choices and judge me for who I portray myself to be online
• Online decisions I make can affect my future as the internet is permanent
• When I upload, post or send I lose control of what others can do with the information or how it used
• The physical world and cyber world aren’t separate, it’s the one world as we are dealing with the same people
• I am bound by rules and laws as much online as in the real world
• Expectations placed on me and others in the real world do not change just because I’m behind a screen
• By trusting my instincts, and making choices based on what I believe to be right I will be rewarded by avoiding real world issues.

GOOD ONLINE CHOICES – GREAT ONLINE EXPERIENCE

WHEN I TRULY UNDERSTAND THE CYBER WORLD IT GIVES ME REASON TO PRACTICE THE FOLLOWING:-

I will……

1. Be a true reflection online of who I am in the real world
2. Let others know where I stand – be an individual
3. Make decisions based on what I know is right and follow rules and boundaries
4. Protect those around me, not be a bystander
5. Set a positive online example for my peers
6. Condition myself to consider “why am I doing this?” prior to sending/posting

INTERNET SAFE EDUCATION Phone: 1300 650 491
Email: info@internetsafeeducation.com Website: internetsafeeducation.com

FORMER STUDENTS SUCCESS

DANIEL JOHNSON - CLASS OF 20O5

Article and photo from Basketball Australia posted Thursday November 29, 2018.

Boasting a long line of alumni, the Australian School Championships has seen many current day stars compete including Boomer, Daniel Johnson.

A star for the Adelaide 36ers in the NBL as well, Johnson represented Willetton Senior High School in 2004 and 2005 at the School Championships.

“The Champs were played at Albury/Wodonga at that stage,” said Johnson.

“I enjoyed it because it was with your school mates, we’d all grown up playing state basketball together.

Playing for your school… it’s a little bit different. You’re not always going to go away with the best ten players in the state but we were lucky enough to have some really good players on our team.”

During Johnson’s time at the school, Willetton dominated the state competition and entered the School Championships as the best team from Western Australia in 2004 and 2005.

“In our state, we were the number one basketball school. If you were into basketball, you went to Willetton.”

Willetton was unable to convert that success at state level into a podium finish at the School Championships though, finishing sixth in 2004 and fourth in 2005.

“In 2005, we had a good group but unfortunately we lost the bronze medal game. It was still good fun though, to go away with your mates is always cool.

Being able to play basketball and then going back to hang out at the dorms. The whole thing was just a fun experience.”

Johnson also used the tournament to help him during his college stint with Pepperdine University in Los Angeles.

“Going on the road on these big trips is kind of similar to what we did at college in the States. You learn to live with other blokes and have a good time but also learn how to stay focused on the task at hand. Those tournaments were really good for that.”

Importantly for Johnson, the School Championships represented a chance to play against the best young talent in the nation as well.

“Our team were all a year younger because you graduate a year before others in Western Australia but it was great to come up against those guys.

We were playing as bottom-agers basically so you are going against guys who are bigger and stronger. It was good to get those games in and learn how to play more physical.”

Since the School Championships, Johnson has gone on to enjoy successful stints at in Europe, the NBL and now with the Australian Boomers during the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

He credits the School Championships as a key stepping stone at the start of that career though.

“I think the skill-level of the teams and the tournament structure was really good, we always found it was really strong competition and we loved playing the best teams in the country.”

Liam Ellison

JESSE TUCEK – CLASS OF 2015

Article In The Western Australian March 9, 2019 written by our 2015 Head Boy

ROTARY COMMUNITY FAIR – SUNDAY APRIL 7- DONATIONS REQUESTED

One of Rotary’s fundraising stalls at the Fair will be Toys, Tools and Little Treasures. This is a small white elephant stall, focussing on smaller, saleable second hand items. If you have any items to donate, please contact the Rotary Club of Willetton President Rob Webster on 0417 900 008 or robw.premieravan.com.au@clubrunner.email

ROTARY YOUTH PROGRAM OF ENRICHMENT (RYPEN) CAMP

Friday May 17 to Sunday May 19, 2019
Serpentine Camping Centre, Jarrahdale

Are you 14-17 years of age and:

• Wanting an opportunity to develop and challenge yourself
• Looking to develop your self-esteem and confidence
• Interested in developing skills including leadership, teamwork, communication, goal setting and problem solving
• Wanting to build a network of young people and to make new friends
• Excited for a weekend of fun

Then you are invited to nominate to attend the Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment. The program cost is $300, but is heavily subsidised by the Rotary Club of Willetton, with participants only required to pay $50. Please pick up an application form from Mrs Wong in the School Board office (located in the Health Centre) and get in quick as only 10 places are available. Applications close April 30 unless places are filled beforehand.

This is a Rotary program, and not a school organised event.

For enquiries, contact helen.s.wong@education.wa.edu.au

ADVICE FOR PARENTS FROM THE CITY OF CANNING

A CAUTION FOR THE OFFENCES BELOW:

Nature of Offence Penalty

Stopping contrary to a 'no stopping sign’ $80
Parking contrary to a 'no parking sign’ $80
Stopping/Parking on path, median strip or traffic island $80
Obstructing access to and from footpath $80
Double parking $80
Stopping on verge $60
Causing obstruction $80
Parking against the flow of traffic $80
Stopping in a bus zone or near bus stop $60
Parking contrary to signs or limitations $60
Denying access to private drive or right of way $80
Driving or parking on a reserve $60
Stopping in disabled parking area $300

Please refer to the City of Canning Parking Local Law 2010 for the full list of prescribed offences.

SCHOOL PARKING

In an effort to provide a safer environment for everyone, Officers from the City of Canning patrol school parking in the mornings and afternoons throughout the school term.

It is imperative that drivers are aware of the road rules and understand signage around schools to ensure the safety of children, road users and pedestrians in general. Unlawful parking in school areas is a major safety hazard and parking infringement notices may be issued for incorrect, unlawful or dangerous parking.

At the beginning of each school year, City Officers conduct educational patrols in school areas. During this period Officers remind drivers of the need to park legally and safely and ensure compliance with the City’s Parking Local Law 2010.

As part of this initiative, City Officers work closely with the school community to promote safety around schools. Information leaflets are also distributed to schools for inclusion in school newsletters to advise parents of the parking requirements under the Local Law.

COMMON PARKING PROBLEMS

• Stopping/Parking in a No Stopping area
• Parking in a No Parking area
• Stopping/parking on a footpath
• Double parking
• Stopping/Parking on a verge without the adjoining occupiers consent
• Parking so that the vehicle causes an obstruction
• Parking against the flow of traffic
• Stopping/parking in a bus stop

TIPS FOR PARENTS

• Observe Parking restrictions (read the signs)
• Stick to the speed limits at all times
• Be aware – young children can be unpredictable and hard to see!
• Be courteous and responsible
• Use ‘Pick Up and Set Down’ areas correctly (if provided)
• Always be aware of children
• Walk or cycle to and from school
• Plan your trip so that you arrive earlier
• Stop on the school side so your child does not have to cross the road
• Use the crosswalk services at all times
• Utilise parent’s parking bays (where provided)

WHAT NOT TO DO

• Block driveways
• Stop or park on footpaths
• Obstruct children’s pedestrian crossings
• Get frustrated – try and stay calm
• Ignore speed limits around schools
• Ignore parking signs

Please contact Ranger and Community Safety Services on 1300 4 CANNING (1300 422 664) if you need help or advice regarding parking.

SCHOOL ZONES

40km/hr school zones are in place around every school in the City of Canning. School zones operate from 7.30am to 9am in the morning and 2.30pm to 4pm in the afternoon.

Children warning signs and 40km hour school speed zone signs are the responsibility of Main Roads WA and requests for additional signs or sign damage reports should be directed to them on 138 138.

Pick Up and Set Down Areas

Pick Up and Set Down Areas are designed to allow large numbers of vehicles/parents to pick up or set down their children in a short length of time. Typically they are located adjacent to the main school entrance.

When using these areas, kiss your child, say goodbye, allow them out and drive away as soon as possible. When using the designated Pick Up and Set Down Areas around schools never leave your car unattended.

GIFTED AND TALENTED

YEAR 8 SCIENCE

The Year 8 Gifted and Talented Science classes have had a very busy first five weeks of term. We have been studying Chemistry, learning how to write formulae, all about acids and how to measure pH and salinity.

For our project work we have just completed building nine Black Cockatoo nesting boxes with surveillance cameras. Five of the boxes will be installed at Rossmoyne Kindergarten (a highly populated cockatoo roosting site), one at our school, two in Dunsborough and one in Mount Pleasant. We hope to be able to monitor these cockatoos breeding in the boxes throughout the year.

Darren Hamley Science Teacher

Aidan Steed, Evan Fisher, Caleb Kum and David Phillips with a completed Black Cockatoo nesting box

INTERNATIONAL PI DAY

3.14159265358979323846

A huge crowd of students attended international Pi day on March 14 to celebrate this very special irrational number. Over 100 Students were able to recite Pi to twenty decimal places and were rewarded with a hot pie.

We are a multicultural school which genuinely values languages. To demonstrate this, the value of Pi to twenty decimal place was listed in 12 different languages by our students. Chris Law managed to recite it in eight different languages.

Our previous school record of 158 decimal place and my record of 202 places were both broken by Jonathan Chivers who managed to memorise 326 digits, closely followed by Yusif Khudhur with 317.

Thanks to all of the helpers on the day.

Darren Hamley Gifted and Talented Education Coordinator

Yusif Khudhur and Jonathan Chivers

THE ARTS

ONE INFINITY

On Friday February 8, Year 11 and 12 ATAR and General Dance Students were privileged to attend a workshop with renowned contemporary dance choreographer Gideon Obarzanek and dancers from Dancenorth as part of the Perth Festival show One Infinity. The live performance was held at His Majesty’s Theatre and explored ideas of mirroring, mandalas and intertwined traditional Chinese instruments and performers from Beijing Dance Theatre with Australian contemporary dance. The workshop deconstructed the concepts and themes of the dance work and company dancers taught repertoire from the piece to the students.

DRAMA

It has been a great start in the drama world at Willetton. We welcome new staff member Mckenzie Goldsmith to the Arts staff who is teaching a few of the drama classes.

Congratulations to the seven Drama Captains appointed this year.

Senior Drama Captain: Lauren Cherry

Year 11 Drama Captains: Lizzie Sutton , Megan Lilley, Talisha Jayarangsri

Year 10 Drama Captains: Bethan Rosier, Isla Simeoni, Taylor Dermody, Cooper Jefferyes

YEAR 11/12 DRAMA NEWS

Congratulations to the 15 Year 11/12 drama students who attended the Point Walter campsite over the weekend. For the first time this year we combined with Applecross and Leeming Senior High Schools and the bonds that were created in such a short period of time were amazing. With ten different practitioners including the Western Australian Youth Theatre, Playback theatre and Yip Yip Circus, the students were exposed to on the weekend this enriched knowledge was such an important part of the drama program.

Our first performance in 2019 is Our Town written by Thornton Wilder, directed and performed by the Year 12 drama students with the Year 11 drama students performing.

DINNER THEATRE PERFORMANCE OF OUR TOWN

The Year 11 & 12 Drama students are performing their scripted drama of Our Town by Thornton Wilder. Guests are invited to a theatre dinner restaurant during the performance, where there will be a meal provided by the Year 12 Certificate II Hospitality Students and Staff.

There will be two performances on Wednesday April 10 and Thursday April 11 6:00pm - 9:30pm
Ticket Price: $35
Venue: Willetton SHS Performing Arts
Tickets are available through www.trybooking.com
Further information: stefan.brand@education.wa.edu.au

*Please note bookings close 8:30am, Monday April 8*

PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT

The year 7 and Year 9 drama students have also been exposed to outside professional theatre companies Banyan Creative teaching the Year 7s circus skills and the Year 9s involved in the popular form and style of Commedia dell’Arte by professional theatre company Into The Mask.

Year 9s Commedia dell’Arte

Year 7s Circus skills

DRAMA PROGRAM

TERM 2

TERM 3

TERM 4

Lower school drama showcase

Stefan Brand, Amberly Panuu, McKenzie Goldsmith Drama Teachers

MUSIC NEWS: CONCERT HALLS, PERFORMANCES AND REHEARSALS

CONCERT HALLS, PERFORMANCES AND REHEARSALS

Music @ Willo has had a jam-packed start to the year.

Here’s a quick run-down of what our students have been up to:

• 11 bands and orchestras rehears each week
• 300 students attended instrumental lessons each week
• Year 10, 11 and 12 music students went to the Perth Concert Hall to watch the West Australian Symphony Orchestra in action
• Around 45 Music students performed at the Parent/Teacher meeting day
• Year 7 Music students and parents attended an information evening
• Percussion Ensemble students performed at the Year 7 Music information evening
• Year 8 Music student, Harmoniche Deng performed at the Investiture Ceremony

DATE for your DIARY:

Wednesday June 19, 6pm- Semester 1 Concert - Attendance is compulsory for all students learning an instrument through IMSS/ School.

ENGLISH

YEAR 10 EXTENSION ENGLISH – PROTEST POETRY

To start this year, our two Year 10 Extension English classes have sunk their teeth into protest poetry. And the voice of our young, inspirational and passionate students has shocked, amazed and inspired us.

Students were tasked with writing a 20-line minimum poem, protesting about an issue they are passionate about. The results have been fabulous with issues such as cyber bullying, plastic waste, anxiety and computer game violence taking centre stage.

We hope you enjoy reading some of our students amazing poems. We look forward to their short stories later in the year.

Miss McCauley and Mrs Saunders English Teachers

WHEN LOVE

Love is not a privilege that should be taken for granted.
It is not there to be toyed with,
To be scrunched up and thrown aside while we go on with other menial tasks.
It is something that one must gain through a bond,
A strong bond pieced together with trust, kindness and care.
A bond containing the human rights we all deserve to have.

When did love become the cell walls of a prison with no doors?
When did love become a kink for someone to misuse for their own sick pleasure?
When did love become the foreboding shadow of a harmless palm tree?
When we decided that abuse was alright.

You start in a daze,
The calm before the storm,
Where everything is happy,
In shape and in form.
Until it all changes,
Until illegitimacy is the norm.

Warm touches pushed aside,
Friendships revoked,
Demands are created and guilt is evoked
You ask to leave,
But they cling on tight,
And suddenly your happiness is nowhere in sight.

We are told as children to pick a partner wisely,
To steer from siren songs and swim towards safety.
But they still find us,
Cruel and unjust,
Leaving us with broken hearts
Internally prepared to all but combust.

Do we really believe that this is what love should look like?
That love should be a heart sewn together by bits of fraying string,
stabbed through tissue-thin skin lacking the barrier to repel,
To repel the one who claims ‘I’m all you need’ because,
They honestly believe those four words to be true.

They create new scars,
puncture through breaks in the skin to create their own pathway of veins,
veins that lead nowhere,
blood tainted black by vile words pumping around organs,
Seeping through their chest,
Oozing into empty spaces,
Filling their lungs,
Clogging their throat and-
Breathe.
Can they even remember what breathing is?

There is no reality where you can leave the relationship without any harm,
Though we tell ourselves otherwise,
As the memories gnaw and claw at the inner corners of our minds,
Desperate to make themselves known.

Pain is an inevitable in love,
Whether toyed with or not.
But the one place we cannot let the pain come from,
Is at the hand of a hearts one true weakness.
Our love.

By Emily Kirk Year 10

LIFE’S A GAME

BANG!
Blood, sweat and severed heads – you’re dead
Play. Another. Game.

Life’s a game, wining is losing.
I’m a filthy rich knight,
yet my life isn’t right.
I’m depressed.
Over nothing I get stressed.
I hate.
Hate my games, my life, my world.
Hate how my eyes cry and decimate.

Fell asleep chatting, I’m sleep deprived.
Groggy eyes, keyboard prints across my cheek.
Three days no shower - I really reek.
Fighting the pain, the loss - I cried.
Kidney failure, high risk of cancer.
Used to be fit – got abs and all,
Now it’s all abs of flabby flab.
Lost my job, my friends, my wife.
Soon it’ll be my life.

I need to,
need to step out of the cycle,
to turn off that screen,
to break unbreakable chains,
to retrain my brain.
To explore the green,
to fly amongst the vast blue sky.
You never know what this world may bring,
For life is more than just a game.

By Xinwei Choot and Samuel Fan Year 10

THIS “BIG WORLD”

Inhumanity against civilians,
Defeating their freedom and security.
Tragedy casting a shadow over millions,
Losing their soul and purity.

Caught in the line of fire,
Struggling to recover from their scars.
Like pouring gasoline on lives to retire,
Smoke painting over our shining stars.

Living in this “big world” where words matter over actions,
Materialism over compassion,
Surrounded by so much distraction,
And boy, we’re so proud.

If our world can be so big, then why can’t we?
Constantly creating competition,
Roaming around so carefree
For terrorism has no religion,
But an icy, cold heart.
And we just try to outsmart, our communication starts to com-part, hurling knives in our cart or just like a dart thrown onto our hearts,
and then, we fall apart.

As if we’re snakes,
Slithering under the blistering sun,
Biting society and spreading our venom through its veins
Then killings ourselves to be number one.

Let’s stop living in this “big world” where words matter over actions,
Materialism over compassion
Surrounded by so much distraction
We shouldn’t be proud,
Until we assist the weaker crowd.

Let’s stand together and strengthen our community,
With an open mind and a brave heart,
Hate will stop overshadowing us, we’ll live in unity,
So let’s reset our conscience with no head start.

The grey sky will soon clear,
And turn into someplace bigger.
Opportunities filling our atmosphere,
And monumental change, I figure.

By Mina Mukerji Year 10

TRAPPED

I’m a waste of space
In the human race.
Not wanting to disgrace.
I put a smile on my face.

My mind turns to a whirlpool cause of you
My fears and insecurities like an open bottle leak out of me.
Thus drowning me in tears and fears of everything.
The walls are closing in on me
And I can’t find the air to breath.

Like a winter coat you vacuum pack my lungs,
So sense cannot reach them.
You lock my mind and throw away the key
So logic cannot get to me

And with my airless lungs I scream
SHUT UP!
Why won’t you just
SHUT UP!

And let me leave my house in peace
Not feeling judging eyes on me.
Boaring into my sluggish shell
And you wonder why I don’t feel well.
Every time I eat, sleep, breath, open my stupid mouth.

Letting useless sound fall out.
Why won’t my tongue be swallowed into the ground.
Because I won’t
SHUT UP!
Everyone wants you to
SHUT UP!
Because they don’t care.

What if I offend them.
What if I get lost.
What if I fail.
What if they leave me.
What if they die.
What if they reject me.
What if they think I’m dumb.

What if I don’t amount to anything.
What if they all hate me.
They do, you can’t deny the simple truth.
They’re disgusted by the sight of me.

Every day is a mine field
So I put up my shield
But right now I’m too broken to be healed.

Like shattered China I can’t be healed
The same as I was before.
The more I ignore, the more I’m chipped away
To dust on the floor.

Talking about anxiety helps
But no one talks about it
I just wanna quit
Cause it’s all shit.
So just stop for a minute.
Breathe in.

But still breathing won’t work.
I’m tired of this endless cycle.
When will it just
SHUT UP.

By Isla Simeoni and Jean Tan Year 10

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION

2018 BASKETBALL AWARDS NIGHT

Wednesday December 12, the Willetton Senior High School Basketball Program held its annual awards night in the school gymnasium. The evening celebrated the outstanding sporting achievement of both past and present students at state and national level, acknowledgement of the graduating class and awarding of the class and team awards for 2018. The keynote speaker for the evening was Mrs Claire Nott (Australian representative in basketball, playing in two medal winning paralympics with the Australian Gliders).

Outstanding Sporting Endeavours for 2018

Daniel Johnson (class of 2005) – Australian Boomers & NBL Adelaide 36ers
Luke Jackson (class of 2019) – Australian Crocs U17 Team (Gold medal Asian Championships)
Luke Travers (class of 2019) - Australian Crocs U17 Team (Gold medal Asian Championships)
Mikayla Pirini (class of 2013) – WNBL Adelaide Lightning
Rhys Vague (class of 2013) – NBL Perth Wildcats
Lachlan Cummings (class of 2012) – NBL Perth Wildcats DP
Ebony Antonio (class of 2009) – Women’s AFL Fremantle Dockers
Ruby Schleicher (class of 2015) – Women’s AFL Collingwood
Natalie Bright (class of 2015) – ANL Western Sting
Kane Waters (class of 2019) – Australian Centre of Excellence NBA Global Academy Scholarship

State Basketball Representatives 2018

U18 – Imogen Ayliffe, Sophie Doran, Tia Morgan, Adrian Nobensi, Lachlan Forrest, Kane Waters, Luke Travers & Luke Jackson
U16 – Brooke Malone, Lily Fitzgerals, Talicia Hansen, Druvinka Fernando, Jett Ng, Tristan Jacques
19 & Under Schoolgirls and Schoolboys – Blair Kearsley (coach), Sophie Doran, Jesni Cooper, Mackenzie Taylor, Tia Morgan & Tyler Kohr
12 & Under Schoolgirls and Schoolboys – Taylah Haboldt, Eva Cooke, Jasmin Clark, Nicholas Lahiri

Class Awards 2018

Year 7

Most Improved Student Male – Ryan Coutts
Most Improved Student Female – Bethany Banister-Jones
Best Trainer Male – Kade McMillan
Best Trainer Female – Zahara Valentine

Year 8

Most Improved Student Male – Luke Butera
Most Improved Student Female – Tayah Morgan
Best Trainer Male – Cooper Rich
Best Trainer Female – Chloe Macham
Best Game Performer Male – Henry Counsel
Best Game Performer Female – Ella Doyle

Year 9

Most Improved Student Male – Haydn Williams
Most Improved Student Female – Mia Jacobs
Best Trainer Male – Noah Valentine
Best Trainer Female – Druvinka Fernando
Best Game Performer Male – Kallum Penn
Best Game Performer Female – Mia Jacobs

Year 10

Most Improved Student Male – Tana Kopa
Most Improved Student Female – Maddison Doyle
Best Trainer Male – Jett Ng
Best Trainer Female – Tia Morgan
Best Game Performer Male - Tristan Jacques
Best Game Performer Female – Tia Morgan

Year 11

Most Improved Student Male – Georgyo Burgueno
Most Improved Student Female – Morgan Woodgate
Best Trainer Male – Tyler Kohr
Best Trainer Female – Emily Counsel
Best Game Performer Male – Luke Jackson
Best Game Performer Female - Jesni Cooper

Year 12

Most Improved Student Male – Louey Foster
Most Improved Student Female – Imogen Ayliffe
Best Trainer Male – Matt Clifford
Best Trainer Female - Sophie Doran
Best Game Performer Male - Hamish Cummings
Best Game Performer Female – Sophie Doran

Team Awards 2018

Championship Men Best Player – Luke Travers
Championship Men Coaches Award – Joel Burton
Championship Women Best Player – Sophie Doran
Championship Women Coaches Award – Alexandra Holdcroft
Senior Men Most Valuable Player – Tristan Jacques
Senior Men Coaches Award – Tyler Kohr
Senior Women Most Valuable Player – Lily Fitzgerald
Senior Women Coaches Award – Tahlia Gibbons
Junior Men Most Valuable Player – Hayden Harwood
Junior Women Most Valuable Player – Mia Jacobs

2018 Robyn Marler Award - Best All Round Students

Lower School – Haydn Williams
Senior School – Sophie Doran

We congratulate all our award winners and look forward to another great year in 2019.

Mike Forsyth, Deanna Smith and Blair Kearsley

2018 Basketball Awards Night

WILLETTON SHS VIETNAM SERVICE JOURNEY 2020

An exciting opportunity exists for current Year 10 and 11 students who are looking for a meaningful and life-enhancing travel experience. The HPE Department is currently accepting expressions of interest for the 2020 Vietnam Service Journey, to be held in the April school holidays.

This trip is for those students;

• intending to study any Health, PE or Outdoor Recreation subject in Year 11 or 12 in 2020, or undertaking Silver or Gold Duke of Ed
• seeking to be the difference for disadvantaged communities
• looking for a unique cultural experience
• interested in challenging themselves with a 4 or 5-day trek through stunning and varied landscapes
• keen to build new friendships and be part of a cohesive, focused team
• who would love an adventure.

This will be the second trip to Vietnam. That inaugural trip, conceived and organised by Ms Jude Fapani, was a rewarding and very positively reviewed experience. There was a 5-day service component which involved assisting in the completion of the construction of a fully sewered toilet block, painting classrooms and furniture, supplying stationery and sporting equipment and providing a large water filter- all these things made possible through monies fundraised by the group.

Staff and students enjoyed the friendly, warm and fun interaction with the school and wider community. The adventure component involved some challenging, yet amazing trekking through unique and stunning rural communities which provided some fantastic cultural immersion/experiences.

The trip concluded with an overnight sail on Ha Long Bay. The whole trip was organised through World Expeditions, with Scott Pinnegar who provided exceptional service and guidance. Local guides are also used, providing a reassuring, local perspective.

For interested students, parents and guardians, we will be holding an information night at 6.30pm on Wednesday April 3 in G1 (HPE classroom in the gymnasium block – entrance Wainwright Close). Scott Pinnegar will present the proposed 2020 itinerary and provide information on all aspects of the trip.

For further information, please contact any of the following staff from the HPE Dept:

judith.fapani@education.wa.edu.au
mike.forsyth@education.wa.edu.au
diane.tuxford@education.wa.edu.au

Vietnam 2018

HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE

LEARNING AT MCDONALDS IN THE LAST WEEKS OF TERM 4, 2018

In Term 4 students in Ms Barratt’s Year 7 class studied basic economic concepts as well as gaining understanding of aspects of what it is to work.

Students learned establishing a business or being an entrepreneur required many personal qualities and skills. These qualities and skills are transferred from school to job 1 to job 2 to business 1 and so on.

In December, students walked to McDonalds in Burrendah Boulevard to listen to franchise holder, Mrs Janeine Pollock speak about her working life and the responsibilities and challenges of being an entrepreneur. Mrs Pollock began her working life on the counter at McDonalds in Melbourne. She progressed through the training and promotional positions in McDonalds as well as studying toward a law degree. Directions changed with Mr and Mrs Pollock choosing to operate Gloria Jeans and Fernwood Gym franchises before heading to Western Australia and the McDonald franchises in Willetton and Riverton.

Mrs Pollock said it takes a lot of hard work to be an entrepreneur, with the need to communicate well with employees and business, to be a willing team worker and be prepared to get in and get the job done.

Mrs Pollock makes a significant additional contribution to the Perth community with her work as the Chairperson of the Ronald McDonald House Committee.

In potential employees, Mrs Pollock is interested in report comments referring to behaviours and attitudes rather than a focus on grades.

In looking forward, the Year 7 students gained a sense that skills and attitudes developed in school can be transferred to a work experience placement and built upon. It is about learning and growing, but always moving forward to make contributions to our community.

Ruth Barratt Year 7 HaSS teacher 2018

Year 7s at McDonalds

CHRISTMAS 2018 TO NEWS IN FEBRUARY

In the last weeks of Term 4, 2018, Ms Barratt’s Year 7 class were learning about Economics, business skills and why people work:

• To earn an income to meet needs like food, water, clothing and shelter as well as purchasing wants: a trip, a house, a car
• To learn new skills and improve existing skills
• To gain a sense of achievement and contribute to society
• To give back to the community, to donate to help others and help to build a better society for everyone

Contact was made with Mission Australia who were keen to be part of our efforts to collect non -perishable food items which would be used in Christmas Hampers.

Amy and Michael joined us on the day.

Also joining us was Paul and Ivy from Bankwest Southlands, who were also keen to support the non -perishable food items drive.

Students, working in groups of four agreed to use a maximum of 30 non-perishable food items. Their task was to build a STABLE tower of non-perishable food.

The challenge was set when Paul and Ivy arrived with a trolley of food, looking very professional and totally focussed on success at being able to build the tallest tower.

With a time limit of 20 minutes only, the pressure was on. Two towers collapsed, one on two occasions and the other on three occasions. The Bankwest tower was being methodically put together; others were painstakingly maintaining their precarious stability.

The winners on the day:

• Luke Hobbs, Enzo Canzian, Oliver Viljoen, Akira Nukumizu and Venukesh Thayatharan with the tallest STABLE tower at 1:59 metres
• Paul and Ivy’s Bankwest Tower was voted by all as the most aesthetically pleasing and most attractive
• Mission Australia’s Wattle House in Maddington received pprox.. 270 non-perishable food items

Ruth Barratt Year 7 HaSS teacher 2018

Ms Barratt’s Year 7 class – Mission Australia project

LANGUAGES

WAATI / INTERCULTURA ITALIAN EXCHANGE PROGRAM- CONGRATULATIONS WILLETTON

In July 2009, Willetton welcomed its very first Italian Exchange students from Italy. Through WAATI (Western Australian Association of Teachers of Italian) in collaboration with AFS Intercultura in Italy.

Over the past 11 years, we have hosted and sent over 75 students. This is an outstanding effort, considering we only joined the program in 2009.

To celebrate the 40th year of partnership between WAATI and Intercultura, and in appreciation of our efforts in providing students the opportunity to participate in this enriching experience, Willetton was formally recognised for its involvement in the program. We were awarded a Bronze Certificate for both the Hosting and the Sending programs…an excellent achievement indeed. It’s important to mention that this award would be unachievable without the support of our students, parents and the school community. Congratulations Willetton!

Pia Palermo Languages Teacher

INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES

Languages play a crucial role in the daily lives of people, not only as a tool for communication, education, social integration and development, but also as a repository for each person’s unique identity, cultural history, traditions and memory. But despite their immense value, languages around the world continue to disappear at an alarming rate.

With this in mind, the United Nations declared 2019 The Year of Indigenous Languages (IY2019) in order to raise awareness of them, not only to benefit the people who speak these languages, but also for others to appreciate the important contribution they make to our world’s rich cultural diversity.

In Australia, of the estimated original 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, only around 120 are still spoken. Of these approximately 90 per cent are endangered.

IY2019 is an opportunity to continue raising awareness and taking further actions to improve preservation and promotion of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.

Visit the Department of Communication and the Arts to find out more about what is happening for IY2019:

MATHS

INTRODUCING OUR NEW STAFF MEMBER

My name is Alice Tsen, I've been at Kingsway Christian College for 10 years and it is my privilege to teach at Willetton Senior High School. I am passionate about Mathematics, and am privileged to have the opportunity to influence the young generation, who are the future change makers in our society. I would also like them to see the role of mathematics in their daily lives, their community practices and their cultural backgrounds.

Alice Tsen Mathematics Teacher

AFTER SCHOOL MATHEMATICS HELP CLASS

The Mathematics department have once again organized some extra help classes after school.

We see many students who struggle with some aspects of mathematics and for various reasons do not ask questions. The after school help class gives all students the opportunity to ask any questions that will improve their understanding of mathematics. Some come in for five minutes to check some problem they may have, while others prefer to stay for the whole hour, completing their homework in a supportive environment.

Many of our highly experienced Maths staff have volunteered their time to supervise these classes and to help any student with questions about the mathematics.

These after school help classes are being held in B10 every Tuesday afternoon from 3 until 4pm. However, in the event of a staff meeting or parent teacher meetings, we are unable to conduct these classes. These classes will not be running during week 8 Term 1 due to a staff meeting.

All students are welcome to come along and stay for as long as they wish.

Astral 2, Crown Convention Centre Perth
Sunday March 31, 2019
9am – 4pm

This is a free event!

The expo is a free event targeted at families, that aims to provide support to parents and students with mathematics and learning at home.

It will be a fun, interactive day with lots of opportunity to see a variety of resources that make learning fun and there are prizes to be won!

Please contact the MAWA office with any questions.
sales@mawainc.org.au or 08 9345 0388.

SCIENCE

YEAR 11 BIOLOGY EXCURSION TO PERTH ZOO

In March, two classes of Year 11 students went on an excursion to Perth Zoo. We travelled by bus to Perth Zoo with Mrs Atkinson and Mrs Wynhorst and began the day with a Highly Classified Education Experience seminar. Presented by one of the zoo keepers, we learnt how to classify skulls using a dichotomous key.

We were then free to wander the zoo in small groups answering questions on animal classification and looking at a variety of animals, from native species in the Australian Bush Walk and Wetlands sections to more exotic species in the Primates and African Savannah. We regrouped to tour the Nocturnal House before heading back to school.

The day was a great opportunity to learn new facts about animals, strengthen group working skills and reinforce the knowledge on classification and biodiversity that we have learnt at school. Overall the trip was memorable and entertaining and we look forward to going back to Perth Zoo sometime in the near future.

Leilah Warlik and Dimitrije Komnenovic Year 11

TECHNOLOGIES

CARING FOR CHILDREN – YEAR 10

It has been a great start to the year. The students have been focused on my family and pregnancy.

They have participated in the Core of Life with Louise Parish and Vanessa Castel and our thanks to them, as it was very informative.

Students have also participated in a practical activity, making a rice/sand baby of their own birth weight with a wrap.

They will complete a practical foods lesson, providing a healthy snack for a pregnant mum, and we look forward to a visit with a new mum and her baby at the end of this term.

Students with their rice/sand babies

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING

LEARNING AND GROWING CONTINUES WITH WORK EXPERIENCE IN TERM 4, 2018

Some students in Year 10, 11 and 12 took the opportunity to extend their learning past the assessments and exams in the final weeks of Term 4, 2018. They set out to learn about themselves in unique and unfamiliar work environments, to learn about the inside of a career and how it fits with them career planning into the future.

Parveen Kaur Gill worked at SJOG Murdoch. She sees herself studying to work in medicine, in radiography or in nursing. Her time on work experience provided a keener understanding of the need for attention to detail in everything and the importance of teamwork to provide the best care for patients. She learned the importance of acting in a caring and empathetic way with patients, who were at their most vulnerable.

Isabelle Shearer extended her work experience with the Kensington Police Station.

Having a previous experience provided an easy transition into the responsibilities and expectations of working with the team at Kensington. She has been introduced into the necessary procedures of managing bail conditions with sign in and sign out as well as recording property into the system. Every job has so many different aspects to learn about.

Jenny-Rose Shore and Melissa Jefferyes worked at the Chorus Multicultural Activity Centre in Bullcreek. During the week, activities differ and reflect different cultures: Italian, Indian and Asian. Jenny-Rose and Melissa, as accomplished Hospitality students used their skills in the kitchen, working as part of a team preparing and serving lunches, as well as cleaning. The learning experience was richer with their participation in karaoke and dance activities – all adding to the fun but also the development of skills of connecting with people.

Nandana Binu worked at Adventist Residential Care and is now clear about her desire to work with people in a future career. She explained the need to be empathetic and be mindful of meaningful communication. Being remembered by residents from casual chats enriches the lives of both – journeys lived and shared ….. hopes for the future shared by different generations. Nandana was also able to add to her experiences with the opportunity, for a short while, to shadow the rounds of one of the doctors.

Crystal Teh can see herself working in dentistry, medical imaging or medicine. Working at the Perth Radiological Clinic in Bentley provided an opportunity to see all the teamwork and care in work behind the scenes at the clinic. To care with patients, before and after procedures, Crystal could see took great compassion.

Leticia also worked at Adventist Residential Care. She was the Christmas elf, putting up Christmas decorations to help to create some of the festive spirit and then later was an active participant in singing and social activities with the residents. All fun but also about the qualities and skills needed when working with people. Barbara Higgins, Facility Coordinator, was an inspiration in her caring and kindliness to the residents. Looking forward, Leticia sees herself working in social work or in nursing.

Working with colleagues you have never met before can be a challenge, but Eloise Taylor met that challenge and also the challenge of working with animals at The Animal Hospital at Murdoch University in the last week of term. Working alongside, observing and completing simple tasks, Eloise learned of the need for compassion and empathy in caring for sick and injured animals which are patients. She also understood how important it was to communicate well, both with the team, working to help the injured animal but equally importantly, with the owners of the animals."

Ruth Barratt Career and Enterprise Teacher

ON THE WAY UP TO SUCCESS ….. WITH WALL CLIMBING AND GOAL SETTING

The Year 12 General Career and Enterprise students were a joy to work with at our usual haunt for our first assessment, The Hangout in Bayswater, ably assisted by business owners Gareth and Tracey.

After two weeks into Term 1, students were challenged to demonstrate their understanding of goal setting: to set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time managed targets and then work through them during the day. It was a case of achieving the short and long term goals or reviewing the goals to be more achievable. The learning experience enabled students to then consider the role of goal setting, as they begin to think about, and make career targets for a successful transition from high school education, at the end of 2019.

It was inspiring to see and hear students who beamed with their achievement, saying, never thought I could do that, pushed myself, feel so proud of myself.

It was also inspiring to see students working on the walls and then working on their assessment documents, focussed, enjoying the challenges and learning.

Special thanks to the students who assisted in getting ice from the BP service station and collecting the Subway for our lunch, plus all the provisions for the day. Additional thanks to Met Erok of Zambelli’s Pizza in North Perth who has provided pizza for our Hangout lunch since 2012. His new business does not usually provide delivery pizzas, but Mr Erok was kind enough to help us out with absolutely delicious gourmet pizzas, delivered as needed, at 12 noon …. all 11 of them.

Contentment with achievement was in the air as we were driven home on the bus …. Some even bursting into song.

A good day. A good start to an eventful and fulfilling year…. before the next life adventure.

Ruth Barratt Career and Enterprise Teacher

Year 12 Wall Climbing

YEAR 7

Year 7s have settled into High School life extremely well. I welcome all families to the 2019 school year. It has been a busy and productive start to the year

Congratulations to the students. I would like to extend my warmest wishes to all. This year will bring new knowledge and discoveries, as well as new challenges. Being organised is a priority.

Making the choice to prioritise what students need to get done in a logical order, enables them to have more time to use more intelligent learning processes. Prioritising is a self-regulation skill and strength which enables them to use their time more effectively by organising what needs to done.

Learning to prioritise provides students with the tools to develop growth mindsets to overcome setbacks and challenges which inevitably crop up. Most students find it very difficult to apply themselves to Home Learning/ Study unless it is planned ahead of time.

It is important to form a good study routine which will can be built on through the High School years.

The Swimming Carnival was a huge success. Many thanks to Mr Blair Kearsley for organising the event and his fantastic, dedicated team who ran events during the day. We have a lot of great swimmers in the cohort and almost had to check that some of our students did not have gills. Participation was high in both the competitive events and the fun events.

Remember our Year 7 motto for 2019 – Use Your Manners

Sandra Frew Year 7 Coordinator

Year 7s at their swimming carnival

YEAR 9

Welcome back to all Year 9s for 2019. The year has started off really well with staff giving me lots of positive feedback regarding how well the Year 9s are settling in and how well behaved the majority of them are.

I would like to congratulate the following students in becoming student councillors for 2019:

Back L-R: Mingyeong Kim, Channah Stipp, Rui Ma, Isabel O’Connell, Yana Jiandani, Jemma Walker

Seated L-R: Brandon Buckley, Shashank Gupta, Kartikeya Dashora, Kethaka Dias Siriwardana Samaraweera, Tom George,

Absent: Samuel Sundara Rajan

They will be busy throughout the year running the year assemblies on Fridays as well as planning social and fundraising events.

Congratulations also go to the 30 Year 9 peer leaders who have volunteered to help out with extra activities around the school such as the induction of new students starting throughout the year and in helping with the Year 7 and 8 immunisation program run by the Health Department. They are also looking after the environment by gathering and returning the paper recycling bins scattered around the school.

This year is also exciting for students who wish to volunteer participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Approximately a dozen students have registered and are well on their way in achieving their Bronze level. I would encourage all Year 9s to seriously consider joining this worthwhile organization as it can lead to many future opportunities.

Finally, congratulations to those Year 9s who participated in the swimming carnival. As you can tell from these photos students had an opportunity to show their competitive and playful sides on the day. Well done top all participants and congratulations to Emerald in winning on the day it was a great effort after a close fought race.

Michael Ialacci Year 9 Coordinator

YEAR 11

It is a shock how fast this year has come. It feels not too long ago it was my first day as a Year 7. But now that I am in Year 11 everything seems to be going in a blink of an eye. In the transition to Year 11, when teachers tell you that it is a step up from Year 10 they definitely mean it, whether you’re doing ATAR, General or FLiS. How fast we go through the content in class has definitely increased and it is something I am still getting used to. What I have learned from Year 11 so far is that you just have to keep pushing to stay ahead of the game and to keep on track.

Tiffany Allen Year 11

Welcome back to the Year 11 students with their wonderfully bright white shirts. On the whole, it has been a successful transition to senior school and many students have done the correct thing by reassessing the subjects they have chosen and changed their timetables accordingly. All parents should have received an invitation to the upcoming Elevate study seminar to be held 3 - 4pm on Thursday May 9 in preparation for the semester one Year 11 exams. The cost is only $10 a head and the students were extremely positive regarding the session we ran last year. If you have accepted the invitation but are yet to pay, please do so via the Finance Office at school.

This year has seen our cohort rise to 411 students! With so many starting this year the councillors facilitated a new student morning tea where we got to have a chat and know our new friends and they were able to ask questions of our councillors. We all welcome the new students and hope that they settle well into our wonderful school.

Mrs Atkinson Year 11 Coordinator

Year 11 New student morning tea

YEAR 12

The start of Year 12, 2019 has been very hectic.

The 2018 top student award ceremony was held on the first day back. This ceremony celebrated the excellent academic achievements from Year 11 and was a positive way to start the new year.

The Leavers Jackets were delivered to the school over the holidays and all students who ordered in round 1 have been wearing them, even in 40 degree heat.

The voting for Head Boy and Head Girl took place in the first few weeks and we had five excellent candidates who all spoke well during the assembly in Week 3. I would like to congratulate the successful candidates Head Boy, Araan Kousari and Head Girl Jae Brieffies and look forward to working with them and the entire student council this year.

The next main event was the School Ball. The planning for this started halfway through year 11. The fabulous ball committee Morgan Geiles, Isha Nagar, Mihan Da Silva and Kelvin Poulraj worked tirelessly to source photographers, decorators and selecting ball menus and invitations. I thank them very much for their efforts.

On the morning of the Ball, we have a long-standing tradition that the Year 12 students come to school in fancy dress and bring a food and financial donation for charity. This tradition aims to create awareness of those less fortunate than ourselves, who don’t have opportunities that we have, particularly on this special day when students spend a lot of money on limos, hair and clothes. Our parade began in the main quad and continued across to Burrendah Primary School where the primary students lined up to cheer the Year 12’s. The parade continued to Southlands and prizes were awarded before students were dismissed at 9.30am to go and get ready for the ball.

We raised $1033 for Relay For Life The Cancer Council.

Two full trolleys of tinned food and other food items were donated to two local churches who support the homeless.

The dress up costumes were fabulous.

Prizes:

Highly Commended

Jess Banks - Rapunzel

Harvey Ryan, Sage Matys, Cody Tavendale and Rhys Dunn - Toy Story Army green soldiers

Commendation

Lucy McGinn, Lara Mathew, Bianca Stevenson, Rosi Joji - Cards Against Humanity

Theo Thillainath - Jack Skelton from the ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’

Melanie Tan - Demogorgon from Stranger Things

The Ball was a magical night. Our decoration team did a fantastic job with the “Great Gatsby” theme. And our students looked fabulous.

RELAY FOR LIFE

Our next event is the weekend of May 4 and 5, the first weekend back in Term 2. The Year 12’s together with the Year 11’s participate in Relay For Life. A 24 hour walk around the Claremont Showgrounds to raise funds for Cancer research. Students can log on and join the Willetton SHS team. Students who have work or sporting commitments over this weekend should not be discouraged from participating as it is a team event. Our aim is to raise about $7000.

Time to refocus on the importance of school attendance and punctuality and this becomes even more important in year 12. Lateness to school in the morning has become a real issue recently, missing buses or traffic are not acceptable as repeated excuses for lateness. Absences due to appointment or holidays should be non-existent for the next few months as each absence is a session that needs to be caught up on and places extra stress on students that they do not need. We will be contacting parents to make them aware if their child’s attendance drops below acceptable levels. We expect all year 12’s to maintain a 90% + attendance.

Any parent with concerns about their child’s academic achievement or other issues please contact me so we can look at putting strategies into place to supporting him/her sooner rather than later.

Andrea Wheeler Year 12 Coordinator

SCHOOL BALL AND DRESS-UP DAY MARCH 8

Each year, the Willetton Senior High School culture shines at our Year 12 Dress-up Day and Ball, filling the school with laughter, joy and a sense of community, and leaving the Year 12s in fantastic spirits before the night of our Ball.

This year was no different. We had an array of ingenious and creative costumes during the day, and the parade through Burrendah Primary and Southlands truly allowed us to have a great time whilst connecting with the community. The night of the ball was extraordinary and truly memorable, and it was heart-warming to see the unity and friendship of our whole cohort as the night progressed. Definitely a night to treasure, the Ball will always be one of those high school moments, and it was amazing to be able to share those moments with the friends we’ve grown with over our five years at Willetton.

Mihan De Silva Year 12

Year 12 Ball

Year 12 Dress Up Day

SCHOOL BOARD NEWS

SCHOOL BOARD ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)

The School Board AGM was held on Monday March 25, 2019. The Chair’s Annual Report and the Annual Financial Report were presented at this meeting. A list of Board meetings for this year can be found on the school website, under the School Board information. All are welcome to attend.

SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION

Thank you to the many parents who took the time to vote for the parent representatives on the School Board. It is with great pleasure that we announce the 2019 Willetton Senior High School Board.

We thank Mrs Karen Allen, Mr Chris Hanley and Ms Rachel Harrington for their time and contribution to the School Board. They have now completed their elected term of appointment. We wish them all the best.

SCHOOL BOARD COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES

Members of the local community may be appointed by the School Board in June each year. Terms of appointment are for 12 months. Expressions of interest from the local community are now open and should be forwarded to helen.s.wong@education.wa.edu.au in the School Board office.

SCHOOL TOURS

School tours can now be booked through the school website

ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS FUNDRAISER

Early bird purchase through the School Board for the new 2019/2020 Entertainment Books are now open, with bonus offers valued up to $600 available. Orders can be made via the link below. For enquiries, please contact Helen Wong on helen.s.wong@education.wa.edu.au or 9334 7217.

Profits raised from the sale of these books will go towards a Student Leadership Development Program initiated by the Board. Your support will be much appreciated.

SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS (SOS) PROGRAM

We have registered with Gilbert’s Fresh Market, Southlands to be part of the Support Our Schools Program. Please sign up with them and for every purchase you make in-store, 1% of your purchase spend will be donated to the school. It does not cost to sign up, and it’s a great way for you to support the school. Funds raised through this program will go back towards projects around the school that enhance your child’s educational opportunities.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

From time to time, the school is in need of volunteers to assist in various parts of the school such as the second hand bookshop, second hand uniform shop, canteen, or parent information sessions. If you would like to put your name on a Volunteers’ List, or have a special skill you would like to offer to the school, please leave your details with Helen Wong in the School Board office.

WILLO PARENT GROUP

The Willo Parent Group is a very friendly group of parents who meet twice a term, coming together for parent information sessions or meeting socially over morning tea, lunch or dinner. This is a great way to meet with members of the school community and find out what is happening around the school. Suggestions for meetings are always welcome.

COFFEE MORNING

Our first coffee morning was held on Thursday February 28 and what a fabulous turnout we had!

It was a great opportunity for parents to meet Dr Paola Chivers (Chair of School Board), Nina Mastrantonio (School Psychologist) and Vanessa Castel (community health nurse) as part of our Student Services Support Team, Wayne Baseden (HOLA for Health and Physical Education) and Nathan Harvey (Deputy Principal). Each gave a valuable insight to the various functions and support of the school, and it was particularly reassuring for parents new to high school, that their children are in good hands.

SOCIAL MEDIA DISTRACTIONS – MARCH 20, 2019

We had a full house at the very informative workshop on Social Media Distractions by David Castelanelli and Conor McLaughlin from Alpha Motivation. The presentation was engaging and extremely beneficial to all attendees, both parents, staff and students. We discovered just how easy it is to allow social media take control of our time and learnt valuable tips and strategies to counter social media distractions and how to combat social media addiction.

We look forward to Alpha Motivation returning in Term 2 to run their popular eight week Wolfpack program for our students. This program has been built by young people, for young people, focusing on personal self-development. The program will be based on three pillars:

• Social Media Reduction
• Motivation, Productivity and Focus
• Teamwork and Mentorship

Students will be taught the most important skills for success in 2020 and beyond, including how to improve productivity, resilience and digital literacy.

The eight-week program will run on Thursdays from 3pm-4pm starting May 16, and costs $100 per student. However, thanks to the generous sponsorship from the Rotary Club of Willetton, this will allow us to subsidise some of the program cost. Students will be required to commit their time for the entire program. Only 40 places are available, and will fill up quickly.

To register your interest, please email helen.s.wong@education.wa.edu.au with your contact details, name of student and year group.

Social Media Distraction Workshop

Sofia Rodriguez Boly, David Castelanelli, Facundo Rodriguez Boly and Conor McLaughlin