27 March 2020

Editor: Jenny LeSouef
Technology: Nola Regan

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

As we have seen, the situation with the Covid-19 virus is fluid and can quickly change. The current position of the Commonwealth and State governments has been to continue the operation of all schools across the country. This being the case, the Education Department of Western Australia has instructed all schools to remain open and to continue to deliver their educational programs with some adjustments as prescribed by the health authorities.

During uncertain times we all share the responsibility of adhering to the measures being taken to manage risk. We are following the advice of the Department of Education and have enacted a number of strategies to maintain social distance and general hygiene. We are keeping current with recommendations and are communicating frequently with our school community through email, Connect and our school website. Please check these regularly so that you are up to date and, as would always be the case, do not send your child to school if there is any sign they are unwell.

We are maintaining a positive approach to our student wellbeing whilst at the same time teaching them caution and responsibility for themselves and others. The Australian Psychological Society has produced a document providing tips if families are experiencing coronavirus anxiety at this time:

It was unfortunate that circumstances dictated the cancellation of Year 7, 11 and 12 parent/teacher interviews. Please keep in touch with the teachers if you have any concerns about your child’s progress. We are pleased that the majority of our Year 7 students have settled with ease into high school.

On a far more positive note, the swimming carnivals were held earlier in the term. The days were extremely well attended and a great day was had by all students. Many thanks to our teachers who work tirelessly to ensure maximum participation and enjoyment for the students.

Our Year 12s major social activity for the year – the dress up parade and the ball was held earlier this term. I was impressed with their behaviour and demeanour over the exciting day. Some of the dress-up costumes were outstanding and the change to their evening attire was remarkable. May I take this opportunity again to congratulate the students, families and staff that came together to show the very best of our school and a memorable evening for all involved. Photos of the festivities are further in this newsletter.

Trevor Hunter

BOARD CHAIR REPORT

We are now well and truly settled into Term 1 of 2020 and welcome our new Year 7s and many of the new students and of course their families to our school. Thank you to alumni and Board Community Rep Keryn McKinnon who welcomed and presented to our high achieving 2019 Year 12s back at the Investiture ceremony late last month.

In this my youngest son’s final year, I was wrapped up in the preparations for the fancy dress fundraiser and school ball, held at The Esplanade in Fremantle. It was fantastic to see students embrace the event with their amazing costumes, all for a great cause. The glitz and glamour of the ball night was also a great success and yet another major milestone in our children’s lives.

Our School Board nominations have been called and our new incoming members will be welcomed at our Annual Public Meeting (APM). We welcome new parent member David Harwood and staff members: Hope Jobe, Jordan Newton and Colin Marshall; and re-appointed members Jo Collier and Wayne Nurse (parent reps). 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. The Board has 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. A big thank you is extended to our retiring staff members Jude Fapani and Judy Gauci who have each made significant contributions to the Board and the school community. I particularly want to thank retiring staff member Jenny LeSouef who has provided a sustained commitment to the school and the Board over many years, in particular assisting the Board in the many nominations and applications we have made, as well as providing insight into the ongoing intricacies of being a large public school. I would also like to thank Chris Philips who has Chaired our Partnerships committee over 2019, as he is stepping down to assist with the school’s musical.

No doubt the hot topic on everyone’s mind is coronavirus. It is important for us all that hysteria doesn’t govern our actions and we as a community remain calm and considerate, particularly as our children tend to me most sensitive about events like these. So what can we do? With respect to school, our executive is updated and following both the WA Health and Department of Education advice and must comply with their instructions, so please follow instructions by the school with regard to maintaining a safe educational environment for all our students. At an individual level we should follow the World Health organisations (WHO) and Australian government’s advice. The latest advice from WHO can be found on their WHO website Advice for Public. They recommend you take care of your health and protect others by:

• Good hand hygiene – washing hands regularly (and soap and water is effective)
• Maintain social distancing
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
• Practice good respiratory hygiene (i.e. cover mouth and nose with bent elbow or tissue when coughing and sneezing).
• If unwell, stay home and recover.
• Keep up to date with the latest advice by WHO or Australian Health service.

Finally, as the retiring outgoing Chair, I thank parents and staff for the privilege and their ongoing support during my tenure, the frank and open discussions we have had over the years, and to Helen Wong the Board Executive Officer for her invaluable support. I hand over the reins to an enthused and engaged Board membership and leave knowing that the school under our Principal Trevor Hunter’s leadership is on track to continue to provide the wholesome education we all cherish.

Lastly, on behalf of the School Board, look forward to a busy and productive year as the Board continues to work together with the school to support our students’ education, and the teachers that lead them on this journey, in what I believe is the best school in WA.

Dr Paola Chivers: Retiring Board Chair

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.

HEAD BOY AND HEAD GIRL REPORT

The beginning of Year 12 really kicked into high gear, with oncoming mountains of work and the school ball in week 3 of the first term. However, with the knowledge we learnt throughout Year 11 and the experience we gained along the way, we knew exactly what we were in for and had all the skills we needed to face it head on. Coming into the second half of Term 1, all the craziness has died down and we are now all focused on getting through the never-ending pile of assessments. Although it can be a struggle at times, you have to just to remember that there are always people around you who can help. When you feel like you’re struggling, there is always someone to reach out to, may it be teachers, friends or parents. Succeeding in Year 12 is all about trying your absolute hardest and giving it your best shot whilst also remembering to take care of yourself first and foremost.

On Friday February 21, excitement filled the main quad as the Year 12s joined the long-running Willetton tradition of the dress up day. From Greek goddesses to cardboard boxes, our crazy costumes were definitely a sight to see. Not only was it a great excuse to dress up in wacky costumes, but it was also for a good cause. On a day that we spend so much on ourselves, to get our hair and nails done, or to hire a classy tux, it was nice to be able to give back to those who are less fortunate than we are. We raised a total of $900 for Zero2Hero as well as donating non-perishable food items to The Foodbank. That night, 373 members of our year group, along with 38 teachers, gathered at the Esplanade in Fremantle for our Year 12 Ball. It was a night full of music, food, photos, dancing and fun. For many of us this is our sixth year at Willetton, but whether it was sixth year or first, we can all agree that it was an unforgettable experience that we will remember fondly.

Building upon the newly formed relationship between Willetton Senior High School and the Lycée Marguerite de Valois, this year we welcomed the first exchange of students from our sister school. On February 16, a group of 17 students from France travelled far from home and arrived here in WIlletton, accompanied by two English teachers. They spent two weeks staying with their host families and experiencing Australian school and daily life. Many of them embraced the school’s atmosphere and the friendly people here at Willetton. They were also envious of the shorter school hours, as school in France usually lasts from 8.00am to 4.00pm including a half day on Saturday. The Australian wildlife, the great weather and the spectacular beaches were recounted among the highlights of their stay here. Our students had the opportunity to use the skills and knowledge of the French language they had been studying at school to talk with their correspondents, improving their speaking and listening skills in a fun and unique way outside the normal classroom routine. We were exposed to different aspects of French culture from the perspective of natives themselves. Saying goodbye was definitely the hardest part of this whole experience. Living in a foreign country, with an entirely different language and culture for a few weeks certainly feels daunting, and undoubtedly doesn’t come without its own challenges, but the overall experience was extraordinary. We have all learnt a lot on this incredible journey, forging lifetime friendships and making wonderful memories.

As Year 12s, we get to take part in the Competency Education program which is run by Ms Warner-Gillon to help reduce stress and provide advice to students throughout their final year at high school. Only six weeks into the year, this program has already provided us with not only informative but also inspirational content: there has been a guest presentation about time management and goal setting, an extremely motivational presentation from Mrs Debra Lievense about the power of perseverance, and a visit from Paul Osei Kofi who taught us all about the culture of Ghana as well as how to play the traditional Djembe drum. We are so fortunate here at Willetton that we can have such amazing opportunities presented to us, and we know that all the Year 12s are really looking forward to that which is still to come.

Jack Killoh and Deidre Godin Head Boy and Girl

Year 12 students learning to play the traditional Djembe drum

Year 12 Ball photos with thanks to Bliss Studio

GENERAL

WA SECONDARY SCHOOL OF THE YEAR SCHOLARSHIP 2020

This scholarship recognises a student who shows strong leadership skills, is a proactive member of the school and wider community, respects the needs of others and has a sense of self-worth and future direction.

Stephanie Irons

Stephanie Irons is an exemplary example of these qualities and a worthy recipient of this scholarship.

We also acknowledge and congratulate the students who were shortlisted as finalists for this scholarship – Yasmin Cheung, Emily Garton, Claire Gernhoefer, Luca Heng, Sowmya Nallan, Shemonti Noor and Bronte Spencer.

These students had the opportunity to attend the 2020 GRIP conference on March 12 as part of the School Board’ Student Leadership Development Program.

We look forward to watching each grow and develop as a young leader and contributing global citizen.

TEACHER DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL RECOGNITION

Our Languages Learning Area was recently recognised by the Department of Education’s Director-General Lisa Rodgers for being selected again as the Teacher Development School (TDS) for Languages. We are one of a few schools who have been selected every year since the TDS initiative began nine years ago.

The Teacher Development Schools (TDS) initiative acknowledges teachers learn best from other teachers. The aim of the TDS initiative continues to be building a shared professional understanding and capacity to improve what happens in classrooms. TDSs deliver practical, school-based professional learning opportunities for teachers and school leaders to learn directly from the successful practices of others. This enables expertise to be applied and shared across schools and the system.

Willetton Languages department has been selected on the basis of our capacity to provide leadership and support to teachers of all Languages K-12 in public schools throughout WA.

Trevor Hunter Pia Palermo and Nathan Harvey receiving certificate from Director General of Education Lisa Rodgers

BOOK CLUB: CAMPBELL JEFFREY VISIT

On Friday March 6, Campbell Jeffrey, the author of Rowan and Eris, had a friendly chat with the Book Club members.

Rowan and Eris is about a father searching for his daughter. Before the visit, we were all generously provided with copies to read.

At the meeting, we got to ask him questions about his writing inspiration, and how he makes his decisions throughout the book. We booklovers, were excited about meeting an author; we even had our copies of Rowan and Eris signed.

We also received some precious writing tips. Some of Campbell’s quotes are, Writer’s block is someone without a good idea and Writing is a skill.

Thank you, Mrs Atkinson, for organising this fantastic session with Campbell Jeffrey.

Sowmya Sri Nallan Year 8

CLUB OPEN DAY

In February, the Year 10 Councillors held the Open Club Day. It was held in the main quad at recess and lunch time. We have over 15 clubs, and the Open Club Day was created to advertise all the different clubs to new students at the school.

We had many clubs set up stalls and the quad was packed with students from all year groups. During the day, student representatives of clubs and their extravagant displays tried to entice students to join their organisations. After holding this event many clubs have had an influx of students join, making the day successful. Thank you to the Year 10 Councillors who helped set up tables first thing in the morning and helped out the clubs with packing up at the end of the day.

All in all, it was a fun day.

Jazlyn Skinner Year 10

INTERACT CLUB

Interact Club is a group of students and staff who committed to making positive change on a local and global scale. We fundraise and volunteer in the community. We are always looking for new members who are enthusiastic and passionate about helping others. We meet every Thursday recess at classroom E5a, so we invite students to come along and be involved with our incredible club.

Executive Team

We started the year by forming the executive team, and we were given our badges and a generous donation of $400 from the Rotary Club of Willetton during an award presentation night. The money will be used to kick off our first set of fundraisers this term, and we are very thankful for their unwavering support throughout the past few years.

The executive team for 2020 are as follows:

• President: Janelle Portia V. Misamen
• Vice President: Talisha Jayarangsri
• Co-Secretaries: Emily Ong and Mehvish Mehboob
• Co-Treasurers: Min En-Seet and Samendra De Silva
• Publicity Officers: Shemonti Noor, Anabelle Turner, Monique Mather, Samuel Sundararajan

This semester, our members have voted to support Operation Sunshine WA. They are a Perth based, children’s charity that provides support to children in crisis care and out-of-home care. These children are often victims of domestic abuse. All of our fundraising efforts this semester will go towards this worthy cause. We are currently planning five different fundraising projects this term, and all members are heavily involved in this process.

The Horizons Committee, a subgroup within the club that is in charge of planning and organising direct community service initiatives, has just been formed. They are in charge of organising Interact’s annual tree planting activity that will be held later this year, and they will also be looking at other initiatives.

Living Child

In Term 4 of last year, our Interact Club fundraised and assembled baby bundles for Living Child, a charity that works to improve the health of mothers and babies in rural villages in Papua New Guinea. We sent more than 40 bundles over to Papua New Guinea containing necessities such as singlets, blankets, towels, soap and nappies.

We received a handwritten thank you card from Sara David, the CEO of Living Child, and we were also featured on their newsletter for our efforts.

Pictured with Mr Simon Cubitt and Mr Ian Ross from Willetton Rotary Club are (L-R): Deidre Godin, Emily Ong, Mehvish Mehboob, Jack Killoh, Talisha Jayarangsri, Samuel Sundara Rajan, Portia Misamen, Samendra De Silva, Shemonti Noor, Min-En Seet, Monique Mather

PNG Baby Bundles: Living Child’s Julie Baleu, Kylie Andersen and her mother are pictured with Interact Club members

Club members with the bundles of items for mothers and babies, ready to be sent with Living Child to Papua New Guinea

Interact Club Executive

LEEUWIN VOYAGE

In February, 40 Duke of Ed students and two teachers went on a weekend voyage on the STS Leeuwin II for our Bronze Adventurous Journey. Upon arrival, we were split up into four different watches (teams) which we would stay with for the entire weekend. The first day was spent getting to know everyone in our watch and how the ship worked. In our watches, we rotated between climbing, learning how to belay ropes, controlling the steering wheel and having a general tour of the ship. All of our meals, which were thoughtfully planned and well-made, were cooked on-board by the chef, and we all assisted him in rotations when we had galley duty. It was really warm and we were all sweating but luckily, it cooled down in the evening where we got a talk about leadership from the boat’s education coordinator as well as discussing emergency drills. All of us had night watch at some stage, where we would (sometimes unwillingly) get out of bed during the night and check the ship’s safety.

On Saturday, we woke to the sound of Ms Gauci’s bagpipes and began our day with cleaning duties assigned in our watches. It was our first (and only) full day of sailing, where we put everything we learnt into practice. We started off with preparing the sails, and some of us had to face our fear of heights when we climbed up onto the yards. After a lot of pulling, we managed to get out of Fremantle Port and onto the ocean. When we weren’t looking after the ship, we spent the day in more watch rotations, this time learning about the ship history, doing word puzzles, climbing up onto the bowsprit and tying different kinds of knots. It was a bit rocky out at sea but we all mostly managed to conquer our seasickness at some stage. Nevertheless, we were all fine by dinnertime to do some more team-building exercises in the evening.

Sunday was our last day and we were a bit sad, but determined to make the most of it. Our sailing went smoothly because we all learned from the previous day’s experiences and mistakes. During the day, we finished off rotations and did some leadership games before sailing back to the port and concluding our voyage.

I would highly recommend for anyone to go sailing on the STS Leeuwin II, as this voyage has been one of the most memorable and unique experiences in my life. Even though it was challenging and we all got pushed out of our comfort zones, it was well worth it. We had the chance to develop new friendships, work with new people and leaders, enhance our leadership skills and learn about the world of sailing in a fun, hands on way. Thanks to Ms Gauci and Mr Curran for making the voyage possible.

Tammy Phan Year 9

GIFTED AND TALENTED

INTERNATIONAL PI DAY

More than 150 students joined in on the Pi day celebrations by reciting the irrational number Pi to 18 decimal places. All those who correctly stated the number received a celebratory pie. Jonathon Chivers was the overall winner, memorising 340 decimal places. He shared his prize of a large apple pie with Chris Law who correctly recited Pi to 18 places in twelve different languages. Thanks to all of the staff who helped on the day.

Darren Hamley Gifted and Talented Education Coordinator

YEAR 10 PERIODIC TABLE ASSIGNMENT

Year 10 Gifted and Talented students completed their Periodic Table Assignment recently. They worked in pairs and each partner had to compile information on a metal or a non-metal. A proportion of the marks in the video assignment was allotted to creativity and use of ICT. Hannah Yap and Nethmi Nikagoda’s video was very impressive. Please take a look.

Mita Munshi Science Teacher

YEAR 7 STUDENTS VISIT WA GOULD LEAGUE AT HERDSMAN LAKE

In a collaboration between HaSS and Science, Ms Margaret Hale and Mr Hao Ta took the Year 7 Gifted and Talented Education classes to Herdsman Lake on a field trip. The students were involved in learning about the local ecosystem and took part in abiotic and biotic testing.

In February, two of our lucky classes had the opportunity to visit Herdsman lake, a freshwater lake located on the Swan Coastal Plain. Greeted by Rod, they had a traditional Noongar welcome from Neville Collard. After a brief talk about the history of Herdsman, a small smoking ceremony was to held to invite the good spirits and get rid of the bad ones. We then participated in hands-on activities while learning about various life forms at Herdsman. We are incredibly grateful for the learning opportunity and simply to learn about and witness Herdsman's natural wetland.

Tres Wong

I enjoyed my first excursion to Herdsman Lake very much. The lightning strike was exciting, the bird watching was interesting and the macro invertebrates were oddly cute, even the mosquito larvae. I am looking forward to doing more activities like this at Willetton SHS.

Bianka Albrecht

I absolutely loved the excursion. It was a real eye-opener for me and it taught me about the environment around us and how a lake can have a fully functioning ecosystem. Before we began educating ourselves about the nature of Herdsman Lake, we got to experience our very first smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country, all done by Neville, a Noongar elder, first in his language. As he said it he had a kangaroo pelt on his back, wearing it with great pride of his culture. He also told us about the cultural background of Herdsman Lake. Then he performed the smoking ceremony. Neville took some gum leaves and burned them, then told us to walk into the cleansing smoke, to take away all of the evil spirits.

Karthiga Vijayakumares

THE ARTS

MUSIC

Did you know that 14 big ensembles rehearse each week? And 15 instrumental specialist teachers visit the school, giving lessons to around 300 students.

Here are some 2020 dates for the calendars of our Music families. Hopefully, all will proceed.

Four members of Percussion Ensemble performed for parents at our recent Music Program Parent Information Session

Jamie Campbell, Nolan Chan and Reagan Albuquerque head up the sax section of Senior Jazz Band

L to R: Adit Pradipta, Lawrence Sukmanegara, Bryan Liyanage, Min-En Seet, Angie Leduc, Uzziah Smith and Ben Cromie are part of Senior Jazz Band

Adit Pradipta, Uzziah Smith, Gabriel Rapanaro, Dev Venugopal, Ben Cromie, Haydn Williams and Drew Trunkfield wowed a big audience at the end of last year with their lunchtime performance

HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE

STUDENTS CREATE ABORIGINAL ARTWORKS

Late last year, the modified HaSS classes, literacy class, art student Stella Lee and Aboriginal students and friends spent a day collaborating with Aboriginal artists Grace Comeagain and Julienne Wade to create three beautiful pieces of art which were first framed, and then reproduced onto tin to be hung in the school. The students were thoroughly immersed in the activity and enjoyed hearing stories of Aboriginal culture and history from Grace and Julienne as they worked. The art they produced is stunning and we thank them for their efforts.

MATHS

AFTER SCHOOL HELP CLASS

The Mathematics Department is providing the opportunity for all students to access some extra assistance to help with their understanding of mathematics.

Maths teachers often notice many students who struggle with some aspects of mathematics and for various reasons, do not ask questions in the classroom. The after school help class gives all students the opportunity to ask any question that will improve their understanding of mathematics. Some students come in for five minutes to check a problem they may have, others stay for some one-to-one help with a whole topic they simply don’t understand, while others stay for the hour, completing their homework with a teacher on hand when they need one.

Many of our highly experienced Maths staff have volunteered their time to supervise these classes and to help students with questions about the mathematics they are doing in class.

These after school help classes are being held in B10 every Tuesday afternoon from 3 until 4pm all year until November 10. However, in the event of a staff meeting or parent teacher meetings, we are unable to conduct these classes. There will be no after school help class during weeks 3 and 8 next term due to staff meetings.

All students are welcome to attend these classes and stay for as little or as long as they wish, up to 4pm. Students can check the notice on the window of B10 if they need any more information regarding this extra help.

Kerri Kalotay Mathematics Department

SCIENCE

YEAR 11 BIOLOGY PERTH ZOO EXCURSION

Year 11 Biology students enjoyed a day at the Perth Zoo exploring how classification helps scientists organise, analyse and communicate the information on different organisms.

Analysing the physical characteristics of animal skulls and classified them using a dichotomous key

Studying physical characteristics of animals to produce classification keys

Enjoying a reptile encounter talk by a Perth Zoo staff about the care and handling of the Stimson Python

Charissa Man Science Teacher

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING

ALLISON NG WORK EXPERIENCE AT PAWSEY SUPERCOMPUTING CENTRE

In the last weeks of Term 4 2019, Allison Ng undertook work experience at an exciting workplace – The Pawsey Super Computer Centre. The main aim of the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre is to host new supercomputing facilities and expertise to support Square Kilometre Array (SKA) pathfinder research, geoscience and other high-end science. The Pawsey Supercomputing Centre is one of only two national research supercomputing facilities. Priority areas for the centres are climate science, earth systems and national water management.

• Day 1: Data Science Workshop
• Day 2: Machine Learning
• Day 3: Using Python for Linear Algebra
• Day 4 and 5: The Science behind Image Editing
• Day 6: Examining Marketing Data
• Day 7: Data Visualisation

Work experience at Pawsey Supercomputing Centre was an excellent way to kick-start my summer holidays. Pawsey offers supercomputing services to scientists making world-changing discoveries, in multiple areas such as health, renewable energy, and food security. I knew that I wanted a career in STEM, however, I did not know what options were.

My work experience commenced with a workshop hosted by the Australian Data Science Education Institute. I came in not knowing about data science and came out knowing that data science is as simple as solving problems using data. A week later, I put into practice what I had learned in the workshop to analyse Pawsey's website data and survey data. From the data, I could make suggestions on how Pawsey could improve its website and services.

Data science has diverse applications, from healthcare to airline route planning and targeted advertising. Data scientists collect data and make meaning of it, then industries utilise this data to make informed decisions. Another significant aspect of a data scientist's job is to present data attractively to the public, also known as data visualisation. Data visualisation has a much more powerful impact on the audience than a bunch of words and numbers. As a result, the demand for data scientists in the workforce has far exceeded the growth of trained data scientists. Having better data science education in schools will empower students for their future.

A highlight of my work experience was using machine learning to classify plant seedlings. Machine learning is a subset of Al where computers perform tasks without being explicitly coded to do so but they use pattern recognition and inference to do so. I was amazed that the computers mimic the neurons of the human brain to learn concepts. Machine learning is everywhere - in Siri to understand our speech, medical diagnosis to track disease progression, and in banks to predict the probability of a loan default given information about the client. Hopefully, in the future, I can study in-depth about the maths behind machine learning including linear algebra, optimisation, probability, and statistics.

My time with the Data Visualisation team at Pawsey motivated me to learn more about data visualisation. I watched in awe of a computer model that simulated heat transfer through a substance. The substance was modelled by an array, and the heat value of the area is determined by the area's previous heat value and the heat value of the surrounding area. Businesses with complex networks of possible risks display this in a 3D graph, where risks are modelled by like-charged particles and connections are modelled as springs. Extensive use of physics has been used to calculate the equilibrium position of the risks. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to talk to a PhD student studying these risk maps. I was amazed by the 3D graph model that was developed - it motivated me to develop similar models using graph theory and physics.

I thank Mark Gray, Head of Scientific Platforms at Pawsey, for giving me this amazing opportunity for work experience, and for planning activities for me throughout the week and a half. Before my work experience, I did not know about the possibilities for careers in Maths. Now I am excited about the numerous applications for mathematics as a career path. My work experience at Pawsey has given me a taster of work-life in the scientific field. Hopefully, I will have the opportunity to work with Pawsey and their projects again in the future.

Alison Ng Year 12

ON OUR WAY UP IN THE WORLD…. ACROSS… AND THEN SAFELY DOWN…. LEARNING ALL THE WAY

Sixty-seven Year 12 General Career and Enterprise began the year in working out who they really were! What are their values… or interests… or personal attributes, attitudes and skills? Through a series of reflections and tests, students were able to build a ME picture. This picture was then applied to the challenges of setting goals at The Hangout in Bayswater, wall climbing. It was easy to see the determination, commitment, capacity to communicate effectively and supportively, the teamwork … as well as the sense of fun, respecting the seriousness of the safety needs. A great day was had by all, completing their assessment on the day, enjoying a quiet game of quoits on the side and then singing or quizzing on the bus on the way back to school. Again we have Met Rock of Zambelli’s in North Perth to sincerely thank for his gourmet pizzas…. Lunch was fantastic… with all 136 pieces vanishing! A day to learn and to grow as people in preparing for the next goal of a creating a first career.

Random student observations:

• I just closed my eyes and went with it…
• This is awesome
• I didn’t die!
• I overcame my fears…
• I learnt how to climb…
• I learnt how to belay…
• Challenging but achievable…

Ruth Barratt Career and Enterprise Teacher

YEAR 7

It has been a relatively smooth start to the year for the majority of Year 7 students. I am proud of the way they have settled in to high school life with a sense of belonging and responsibility. There have been many new friendships made, many new experiences and many lessons learnt. I do understand that for some students the transition has been a little tougher and I will keep encouraging parents and students to reach out to me or any staff member they feel can assist with concerns or needs.

Please remember we are looking for Year 7s to demonstrate growing independence and responsibility for their actions. As tempting as it is for parents to still pack bags and excuse lateness or forgotten equipment, try to let them learn from their mistakes and we will have a stronger more successful year group moving forward. Do encourage use of diaries, student communication with teachers and coming to Student Services with any concerns.

I am endeavouring to put important information and images on Connect as often as possible so please keep checking for updates and remember that it is very important that the school has your correct contact details.

A major highlight so far has been the swimming carnival and Big Day Out activities where the students had the opportunity to swim in either a fun or competitive environment and also play games that included sportsmanship and co-operation; two values we strongly promote.

Congratulations to our Champion boy Ashton Phillips and Champion Girl Daisy Kammermann and Runners up Keira Porter and Samuel Leite Magalhaes De Paula Pereira, pictured below. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control they will not have the opportunity to represent the school in the interschool competition but we look forward to seeing their talent shine in the future.

As with many Year 7 athletes, I am sure they are disappointed not to be able to represent our school in the coming months but obviously the health of all must be a priority.

In Physical Education, the students completed a fitness run in the first few weeks of school. Some students, as you can imagine, enjoyed it more than others. It was a 2 km run that will be repeated later on in the year. I admired the effort and commitment that most students put into this event.

The Year 7s this term also enjoyed watching the lovely tradition of our Year 12 dress up day before the ball and looked on with bewilderment and amusement at the level of effort and commitment given to this fundraising event. The Student Services team also got involved and we had a bit of fun addressing the year group assembly as Cruella DeVille and her Dalmatians.

I look forward to the continued sense of belonging and maturity that our Year 7’s are displaying.

Please see attached two accounts from our Year 7 students describing their first few weeks of school.

Colleen Hayes Year 7 Coordinator

MY FIRST EXPERIENCE

Before the school year started I was so nervous to begin high school, I was so afraid that I would get lost at Willetton, and I didn’t realise the positive side of moving to high school.

Over the first few weeks, I realised that high school wasn’t all as scary as I thought it would be, it was actually really fun. I still remember trembling with anticipation as we were first getting our timetables handed out and how fascinated I was exploring a new language and new electives. Since then it feels like time has flown by and I have made some amazing friends that I know will have my back, I was surprised at how diverse and considerate my school mates were.

I also noticed that there were quite a lot of differences between high school and primary school, for example we get to participate in clubs which I found is a great place to relax, make new friends and just have a great time. Another difference I found that really intrigued me was the fact that we had to move to our classes. I’ve learned to really like that concept because it’s great to be with new people as well as learn the perspectives of a different teacher.

High school has turned out to be an amazing place for me to build stronger bonds, become more independent and just enjoy myself. I know for a fact that I will cherish these six years and I am proud to call Willetton my school.

Jasreena Bajwa

My high school experience so far has been astonishing.

It is very different to primary and there are lots more opportunities of doing the things you love. I am happy to have been able to make lots of new friends and sit with an entirely different group.

Even though work in high school can be stressful sometimes, there are a lot of positive things to look at. This school has lots of different clubs, sporting events and there are lots of people to be possibly friends with. So far my favourite classes are Sport and Digi Apps. I also hope to better friends with my new friends.

I am proud to be going to this school and now being a part of the Wellbeing and Counselling Committee.

Liliana Candeloro

YEAR 9

Year 9s have had a super busy start to the year. In addition to settling into new classes and having a bigger workload, it has been wonderful to see so many students give back to the school through their contribution as Peer Leaders. This group were trained in leadership towards the end of 2019 and have been valuable support to Student Services staff and the incoming Year 7 cohort. I would like to acknowledge the several occasions they have already sacrificed their own time or lessons to help others, especially as this also means spending additional time catching up on missed work.

2020 Peer Leaders

In February, I was excited to attend a Leeuwin weekend leadership voyage alongside 40, Year 9 students, intent on fulfilling the requirements of their Adventurous Journey component for their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. It was brilliant to see all students throw themselves into the activities and challenges including furling the sails, night watch, swabbing the deck and galley duty. Several students experienced sea sickness and it was great to see that they didn’t let this get in the way of the activities. The voyage was an amazing experience for everyone. I would like to thank Mr Brad Curran for accompanying me as a supervising staff member. These programs could not happen without the support of staff.

The Year 9 swimming carnival was another busy day. It was great to see so many students participating in their last whole year swimming carnival. It is always impressive to see our swimmers in action and the fun and chaos of the novelty events never ceases to amuse.

Fifty-four students, including 28 Year 9 Councillors and Peer Leaders attended the GRIP Leadership Conference at Perth Convention Centre on March 12. It was another great day, full of inspirational tips, workshops and activity based around leadership. Once again, the enthusiasm to get involved and make the most of this experience was noted amongst the participants. Thanks to the School Board and Student Services for the opportunity for students to participate.

On the whole, I am very happy with the way Year 9 students have settled back into school and commend them for the positive rapport they are developing with their class teachers. I have met all of our new students and have a personal goal to interview each student before the end of the year. I have spoken to approximately 30 students so far and am enjoying the opportunity to meet with and speak to each student on an individual basis.

Judy Gauci Year 9 Coordinator

GRIP CONFERENCE

54 students attended the 2020 GRIP Leadership Conference. Participants included members of our lower school Student Leadership Team including Peer Leaders, Councillors and Interact representatives. The Leadership Conference was held at Perth Convention Centre on March 12. The only way to describe the day was upbeat. Students were kept on their toes with a series of inspirational, fun and motivating leadership-based activities. Themes included how to lead, leading and organising events and creating a leadership culture, amongst many. Edith Cowan University was a major sponsor and had an impressive supply of information and gifts on hand for students to collect.

Thanks to the School Board and Student Services for creating this opportunity for students who are aspiring leaders to participate in such an invaluable conference. Thanks to Ms Frew and Ms Gauci who organised the excursion and attended the event as supervisors.

YEAR 10

Welcome back to the Year 10 cohort for 2020. At our first year assembly, it was amazing to see the whole cohort back at school. As I said to them, I remember with nostalgia when they were tiny year 7s coming to Willetton for the very first time.

Students had their photos taken on Friday February 14 and parents had an opportunity to get some family snaps for themselves. More proof how they are growing up into mature young men and women.

At our first assembly I was proud to announce 16 student councillors who received their badges from our Principal Mr Hunter. Congratulations to:

• Fiona Abraham
• Kartikeya Dashora
• Juseong Han
• Bianca Harle
• Mariam Khan
• Ryan Lau
• Rui MA
• Afifa Muddassar
• Jacqueline Niwarlangga
• Shaima Razzaq
• Jazlyn Skinner
• Angela Thompkinson
• Jemma Walker
• Hannah Yap
• Genevieve Yii

Nine of this team of councillors were able to go to the GRIP Leadership Conference held at the Perth Convention Centre on Thursday March 12. Feedback from the students was that it was an awesome experience where they learnt a lot from the guest speakers and workshops completed.

Councillors were also involved in preparing and running Club Open Day. In week 3 on Thursday February 20, the main Quad was turned into a spectacular sight with all of the major extracurricular clubs putting on displays for the main purpose of signing up new members. It was a great success and congratulations to those councillors who organised the event.

Michael Ialacci Year 10 Coordinator

YEAR 11

It has been a busy start to 2020 for the Year 11 students. They are all looking so grown up in their white shirts.

I know for many students the transition from Year 10 to 11 has been challenging. However, students are now adjusting well to senior school life.

Year 11 is a very busy year for the Year 11 Council. We are planning charity events and the Dinner Dance, which will be a celebration after Semester 1 exams.

We all know I love a good quote, so I will keep my message short: You are your only limit.

Rachel Harrington Year 11 Coordinator

COUNCILLORS NEWS

As the year started, all the councillors launched into arranging venues for the Year 11 Dinner Dance which will be held on June 11, and possible venues for the Leavers Ball 2021. We then decided to split the council into focus groups, so that work would be done more efficiently, rather than the whole council trying to arrange things in the limited amount of time available at our meetings.

A few people from each focus group were tasked with contacting venues and asking about the price of the venue and what was available in their packages. Using our contacts from the previous years, we decided what could be improved and what we didn’t want.

Some people were tasked with contacting DJs they knew were good. Four people from the Dinner Dance group went down to our possible venue to see how big it was and how to arrange the place on the day. We took notes and asked questions on what were available to use and how we could set it up. The Ball group with a few other councillors will go and check out a venue we have in mind to host the ball. In addition, we were lucky to check out the current Year 12 Ball which was held at the Esplanade in Fremantle, to get ideas for 2021. We have also been busy designing the leavers jacket, and will have a couple of ideas to share for the Year 11 vote in Term 2.

Aleena Shaji Year 11

SCHOOL BOARD

SCHOOL BOARD NEWS

The School Board APM will held on Monday March 23 2020. The Chair’s Annual Report and the Annual Financial Report will be 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 2020

Thank you to the parents and staff who nominated to be representatives on the School Board. It is with great pleasure that we announce the 2020 Willetton Senior High School Board.

We thank our retiring members’ Dr Paola Chivers, Ms Jude Fapani, Ms Judy Gauci and Ms Jenny LeSouef for their time and valued contribution to the School Board. We wish them all the best.

A special acknowledgement and thanks must go to Paola for her outstanding role on the School Board over the past six years; two years as Vice Chair and the last two years as Chair. She has taken on this role with the utmost dedication and professionalism, with her priority to always put the students’ interest first. Her expertise, passion for quality education and commitment to the school will be greatly missed. We wish Paola all the best as she embarks on the next chapter of her life, both professionally and personally.

SCHOOL BOARD COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES

Members of the local community may be appointed by the School Board in June each year. Appointments are for 12 months. Expressions of interest from the local community are now open at the link below and should be forwarded to willetton.shs.schoolboard@education.wa.edu.au.

ENTERTAINMENT MEMBERSHIP FUNDRAISER

Entertainment memberships are now 100% digital, which means you can have your savings on you, all year round.

There are early bird bonus offers for memberships purchased in the month of March, and include:

• Up to three months extra membership
• $10 JB Hi-Fi eGift card

Purchases may be made at the link below with all profits raised going towards a Student Leadership Development Program initiated by the Board. Your support will be much appreciated. For enquiries, please contact Helen Wong on helen.s.wong@education.wa.edu.au or 9334 7217.

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.

PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD

Do you have a business and would like to partner with the School Board? The Partnerships arm of the School Board is inviting expressions of interest from suitable businesses or individuals that would like to partner with us, as we work to enhance educational opportunities for our students. Partnerships may take the form of financial donations, prize donations, internship and work experience or mentoring opportunities, within the scope of Department of Education policies and practices. To register your interest, please contact willetton.shs.schoolboard@education.wa.edu.au

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Steve Savage has been a faithful and dedicated volunteer at our second hand bookshop for the past 16 years. So it was no surprise that when it was his 70th birthday recently, our volunteers, past and current, jumped at the opportunity to celebrate the special milestone with him. Thank you Steve, for being such a valuable member of our Willo community. We love you.

Celebrating Steve’s 70th birthday

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, parent information sessions or catering for Board events. 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 forward your details to helen.s.wong@education.wa.edu.au in the School Board office.

WILLO PARENT GROUP

The Willo Parent Group is a friendly group of parents who meet 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, although COVID- 19 is restricting our activities.

COFFEE MORNING

Our first coffee morning was held on Thursday February 27 and what a fabulous turnout we had.

It was a great opportunity for parents to meet Trevor Hunter (Principal), Dr Paola Chivers (Chair of School Board), Nina Mastrantonio (School Psychologist), Vanessa Castel (Community Health Nurse), and Louise Parish (Chaplain) as part of our Health Centre Team. Each gave a valuable insight to the various functions and support offered for students and parents at the school. Vanessa Castel spoke about the HPV vaccination and the new parents had a Q&A with our older parents of the school. Thanks to Andy Cheung (First Aid Officer) who managed to pop by during the morning tea and chat to a few parents.

Parents were left better informed on how to get in contact with the right person for a particular concern regarding their child, ideas of how to control their child’s use of technology after hours and managing screen time/online/media time and cyber safety tips.

It was particularly reassuring for parents new to high school, knowing that their children are in good hands. Some useful contact details provided to parents at the meeting for student support are available on our website.

L to R: Nina, Louise, Vanessa and Andy