14 December 2015

Editor: Jenny LeSouef
Technology: Alex Mellor

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Our last newsletter for the year is by tradition, mainly for administrative purposed to inform parents and students of arrangement for the beginning of 2016. This has become largely superfluous since all information is now clearly presented on our website. Instead, we have incorporated good news of both our internal student awards and those given from external student activities.

Our year has drawn to a busy and productive conclusion with both graduation and award assemblies. Congratulations to all who have given of their best during the year. Hopefully all have been rewarded with the results deserved.

I wish you joy in the festive season and safety and pleasure in the holiday break.

How did it get so late so soon?
It's night before its afternoon.
December is here before its June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?
Dr Seuss

HEATHER GARE

After 26 years at our school we farewell our School Chaplain, Heather Gare.

There is a saying the heart of the giver makes the gift dear and precious.

Heather Gare has a caring heart and soul and the gift of her time, energy and dedication to both students and staff at our school has been a blessing bestowed upon us for which we will be eternally grateful.

Her contribution to the emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing of the Willetton school community has been outstanding

We hope that her retirement will be long and happy and we have no doubt that Heather's service to the community will be a continuing factor in the coming years.

GENERAL GOOD NEWS REPORTS

MURDOCH UNIVERISTY

STATE LIBRARY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

2015 Year 12 AWARD WINNERS

THE ARTS

Dance 1X	Emaline Ho
Dance 3X	Georgina Earl
Certificate II in Dance V2DAN	Kavindu Ginimal Bandaralage
Drama 3X	Ellen Wallace
Media Production & Analysis 1X	Micheal White
Media Production & Analysis 3X	Marcus Wong
Certificate II in Music VMUS	Daniel Staer
Music 3X	Suhasini Sutharshan
Visual Arts 1X	Amy Walsh
Visual Arts 3X	Jack Noonan

ENGLISH

English 1Y	Emily Jarrett & Bethany Loader
English 3X	Amy Walsh
Literature 3X	Georgina Earl
Philosophy and Ethics 3X	Jacob Baron & Joshua Scoles

HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Certificate II in Sport & Recreation VSR	Sherman Roch
Certificate II in Sport Coaching V2SC	Brooke Stehn
Health Studies 1X	Chloe Crowley
Health Studies 3X	Georgina Matthews
Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation V2ODR	Alexander Jackson
Physical Education Studies 1Y	Kurd Man Muzoori
Physical Education Studies 3X	Liam Pennington
Physical Education Studies – Basketball 1Y	Aaron Stewart
Physical Education Studies – Basketball 3X	Morgan Ayliffe

HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES

Accounting and Finance 3X	Shi Qi Ng
Business Management & Enterprise 1Y	Lingwei Shi
Earth & Environmental Science 3X	Alicia Brunet
Economics 3X	Ryan Sam
Modern History 3X	Genevieve Earl
Politics and Law 3X	Shi Qi Ng

LANGUAGES & EALD

English as an Additional Language/Dialect 1Y	Kavindu Ginimal Bandaralage
English as an Additional Language/Dialect 3X	Jason Ting
French 3X	Jasmine Sidhu
Italian 3X	John Quealy
Japanese: Second Language 3X	Miyuka Lim

MATHEMATICS

Mathematics 1T	Zoe Collins
Mathematics 2Y	Bethany Loader
Mathematics 3X	Genevieve Earl
Mathematics 3Y	Ryan Sam
Mathematics Specialist 3Y	Ryan Sam

SCIENCE

Biological Sciences 3X	Jasmine Sidhu
Chemistry 3X	Jasmine Sidhu & Arjun Srikanth
Human Biological Science 3X	Georgina Earl
Integrated Science 1X	Grace Wong
Physics 3X	Ryan Sam
Psychology 3X	Jack Noonan

TECHNOLOGY & ENTERPRISE

Applied Information Technology – Multimedia 3X	Jack Noonan
Building and Construction 1X	Alexander Parish
Certificate II in Design – Graphics V2VAD	James Byrne
Certificate II in Design – Photography V2VAP	Yee Ern Lim
Certificate II in Hospitality 2XVHOF	Emily Jarrett
Certificate II in Information Technology V2IT	Yang Beng Ng
Children, Family & Community 2X	Zoe Tavendale
Computer Science 3X	Jai Osborne
Design – Dimensional Design 1Y	Liam Largue
Engineering Studies 3X	Jun Yuan Lim
Food Science and Technology – Hospitality 1Y	Emily Jarrett
Food Science and Technology – Hospitality 3X	Megan Tan
Materials Design and Technology – Wood 1Y	Gregory Bloem

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TRAINING

Career and Enterprise 1X	Emily Jarrett
Career and Enterprise 1Y	Zoe Collins
Career and Enterprise 2X	Chloe Crowley
Certificate II in Community Services 2XVCS	Jozette Jansen van Vuuren
Workplace Learning 1Y	Zoe Collins

YEAR 11 ACADEMIC AWARDS SEMSTER 2 2015

THE ARTS

Certificate II in Dance	Sherman Yeung
Dance ATAR	Corine Rudman
Drama ATAR	Jasmine Kaur
Drama General	Ingrid Bailey
Media Production & Analysis ATAR	Jessica Marshall
Media Production & Analysis General	Ingrid Bailey
Certificate II in Music	Isaac Liew
Music ATAR	Jacob Pettersson
Visual Arts ATAR	Devonny Sherwood
Visual Arts General	Melanie Flay

ENGLISH

English General	Jason Lai
English ATAR	Juwairiyah Haque
Literature ATAR	Elizabeth Charlton

HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Certificate II in Sport & Recreation	Hayley Kenyon and Bridget Saywell
Health Studies ATAR	Lianha Warren
Health Studies General	Alexandra Godage
Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation	Jarin Gibbons
Physical Education Studies ATAR	Emma McLean
Physical Education Studies General	Darren Lee
Physical Education Studies – Basketball ATAR	Hayley Kenyon
Physical Education Studies – Basketball General	Wilson Keepa

HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES

Accounting and Finance ATAR	Kai Li Shi and Ling Huay Wong
Business Management & Enterprise General	Rebecca Wong
Earth & Environmental Science ATAR	Ashling Charles and Lewis Haines
Economics ATAR	Uma Nair
Geography ATAR	Alexei Lugovskoy
Modern History ATAR	Siobhoin Ialacci
Modern History General	Adrian Chye
Politics and Law ATAR	Siobhoin Ialacci

LANGUAGES & EAL/D

English as an Additional Language/Dialect ATAR	Neal Moutia
English as an Additional Language/Dialect General	Guangchang Luo
French: Second Language ATAR	Ebony Bernard
Italian: Second Language ATAR	Kai Li Shi
Japanese: Second Language ATAR	Zi Qing Ko

MATHEMATICS

Mathematics Essential General	Jason Lai
Mathematics Applications ATAR	Abdul Munsif Khan
Mathematics Methods ATAR	Ebony Bernard
Mathematics Specialist ATAR	Dulasi Amarasingha

SCIENCE

Biology ATAR	Nikita Binetti
Chemistry ATAR	Ebony Bernard
Engineering Studies ATAR	Joshua How Son
Human Biology ATAR	Dulasi Amarasingha
Integrated Science General	Mishae Hebb
Physics ATAR	Alexei Lugovskoy
Psychology ATAR	Manpreet Kaur

TECHNOLOGIES

Building and Construction General	Khye Freestone
Certificate II in Engineering	Wei Siang Chee
Certificate II in Hospitality	Nicky Soon
Certificate II in Information, Digital Media & Technology	Lachlan Holling
Certificate II in Visual Arts – Design	Nikita Wynne
Certificate II in Visual Arts – Photography	Emilee Whitford
Computer Science ATAR	Nicholas Berryman & Robert Gadeke
Design – Dimensional Design General	Lachlan Whyte
Materials, Design and Technology – Wood General	Kyle Sanders

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING

Career and Enterprise General	Tamika Canny
Certificate II in Community Services	Claudia Lee
Workplace Learning	Jason Lai

JOHN CURTIN UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP 2016

Three of our students have been awarded this prestigious scholarship which requires attributes akin to John Curtin's qualities of vision, leadership and community service. This significant scholarship covers undergraduate course fees, texts, an overseas exchange, industry work experience and mentoring.

Head Girl 2014, Amberly Kilmartin, Head Boy 2015, Jesse Tucek and 2015 Councillor and recipient of the 2015 All Rounder Award Marcus Wong, were welcomed to the university at a morning tea on December 8.

At the ceremony, the student address was presented by a former Willetton student Alyson Chin (class of 2010) who gave a glowing report of the many benefits the scholarship has afforded her over the past five years. Alyson proudly proclaimed that she was a former Willetton student aqnd acknowledged the three incoming Willetton students.

Well done to these students, we are proud of your success.

Alyson Chin (outgoing JCUS winner), Amberly Kilmartin and Jesse Tucek.

WILLETTON'S POETRY COMPETITION

This year there were over 100 entries to the school's annual competition for budding poets. There were so many wonderful entries, it was hard for the judges to choose the winning six, but eventually they did. There were two categories this year- Lower School (Years 7-10) and Senior School (Years 11 and 12). Poets entered poems they had written in their English classes, poetry club or in their own time.

Lower School winners:

1st Aashka Bhavsar Year 10
2nd Bianca Stevenson Year 8
3rd Liesl Shangguan Year 9

Senior School winners:

1st Maja Maric Year 12
2nd Georgina Earl Year 12
3rd Juwairiyah Haque Year 11

These poems (and many more) were published in the Willetton Poetry Club book. Every student whose poem was selected for entry has received a copy. Thanks go to long serving Poetry Club member Laura Bullock for designing the cover for our annual publication.

PRIMO LUX POETRY COMPETITION

Willetton poets won prizes in the Primo Lux poetry competition too. This competition is open to all Year 10-12 students from Western Australia. They received over 400 entries and some of these poems have been published in the annual Primo Lux book available from Applecross Senior High School. One of our winning poets, Aashka Bhavsar, from Year 10, had her lovely poem Coogee Sunset published in the book.

Two Year 12 students won both the WA Poets Inc. prizes. The winner of our school competition, Maja Maric, won first prize for her amazing poem, Carmen which was published in this year's Poetry Club book. Christina Lau was runner up with her clever poem, Binary Code, which was published in last year's Poetry Club book.

These three students are not only to be congratulated, but implored to keep writing as they have an inimitable gift for the use of language and devices.

Carmen

Caramel dipped, glistening Carmen
Daubed with dolly pigment and rosy stain.
Fistful of pennies, frock-ful, fanciful,
Ready to board the early morning train.

Bonbons of lilac, mint and apricot tint
Cost even a pretty face a pretty price.
Brimming skirt pockets of fibres and lint
Won't pay as well as a velvety vice.

Barely budding bloom, withering away,
selling petals for just a dime a day.
Her knobbed knees and wringed wrists
Hidden by pink ribbon and skirts now frayed.

Gutter gutted dolly, petals cleanly fallen,
Just a stark stem in a rose stained alleyway.

Maja Maric (Year 12)

Binary Code

I let you re-program me-
With all your 1s and 0s
From the foundation up.
I let you fill my databases with thoughts of you,
My motherboard insufficient without your programmes.
I learned your ways as you modified and decoded me.
I thought you were perfect: you and I. 1 plus 0.

You showed me cyberspace in all its glory.
I should have known better – than to have followed you.
Your 1s and 0s wouldn't protect me from the virus.
It consumed and ravaged me from the inside out.
No firewalls, nothing. You weren't strong enough to save me.
That's okay. You never wanted me anyway.
You had your backups.
You were a programmer, able to code a new love.

Christina Lau (Year 12)

Coogee Sunset

Dad tells me, 'If you look at beauty everyday
Soon you stop calling it beautiful.'
As if beauty were milk and one day expired

Five-fifteen

Sunlight kisses my skin and sand hugs the crevices of my toes
Sea salt jabs my lungs as I breathe in
Enough laughter to revive a sick person

Six-fifteen

The sunset was a hunter's game, cut open
Then painted with its blood

Six-thirty

Crimson turned into a pansy-purple
Like a wine stain on a white cloth

Seven

Night crept around like a child bathed in black
From long hours of working as a chimney sweep

Seven-thirty

Stars dot the black void above us
Stragglers gone, squawk of no seagulls
Beating of the water becoming a song

Dad tells me, 'If you look at beauty everyday
Soon you stop calling it beautiful.'
Dad lied.

Aashka Bhavsar (Year 10)
From Poetry Club Coordinators Lara Duffy and Belinda Rowe

Veronica Lake from Applecross Senior High School with Christina Lau (above) and Maja Maric (below) as they read their winning poems.

KATHERINE SUSANNA PRITCHARD AWARD

The Katherine Susanna Pritchard Award was announced on December 6 at the KSP Writer's Centre in Greenmount.

Isabelle Tan, from our Year 10 Gifted and Talented English class, won first prize in the Youth category for her short story Sleepless Nights.

Isabelle is congratulated for producing this incredible piece of creative writing.

Isabelle Tan (Year 10)

Belinda Rowe: English Teacher

おめでとうございます, Charlotte!

Charlotte Ellison from Year 12 is to be congratulated on winning the 2016 Seizan Fukami Scholarship from Curtin University. This highly competitive, annual scholarship is for a student intending to study Japanese programs at Curtin University. The objective of the Fund is to enhance Australian scholarly interest in Japanese studies, especially by the medium of Japanese language, and to contribute to sustaining and extending general Australian interest in Japanese studies.

Charlotte will receive $5000 in each year of her degree and it may be used to cover HECS fees, books and materials, and other costs related to study at the University.

Thank you, also, to Charlotte's teacher, Haruko Nomoto, for supporting her through the application processs.

Charlotte Ellison

Nathan Harvey: Head of Languages

NATIONAL AWARD WINNER

Year 8 student, Celestine Christo, is among 54 schoolgirls from across Australia heading to the Australian National University in Canberra on 9 December for the first national Curious Minds learning and mentoring program for girls in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). Celestine was selected based on her capability and interest in science and maths.

The federal government-funded program aims to help redress girls' declining engagement in STEM subjects at high school. It will help the Year 8, 9 and 10 schoolgirls from diverse backgrounds gain an opportunity for extension learning and mentoring in STEM.

Celestine will spend four days at the Australian National University in the first of two intensive modules of learning across physics, informatics, chemistry, biology, mathematics and earth and environmental science. Celestine will also meet her mentor with whom she will work over a six-month period.

Celestine was selected for the Curious Minds program based on her participation and performance in one of three national high school-based science, informatics and mathematics competitions.

Well done Celestine

Marie Law: Mathematics Teacher

AMC AWARD WINNERS

At the Official Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) Awards Presentation Ceremony at All Saints College Back Row: Julian Harrison Year 10, Jeffrey Wong Year 12, Jonathon Chivers Year 7

Front Row: Andrew Lee Year 9, Thomas Laing-Hughes Year 8, Christopher Chivers Year 9

Thomas Laing-Hughes was the Prudence Award winner

FOLLOW THE DREAM AWARD CEREMONY

The Follow the Dream Mount Lawley Outreach Program supports aspirational Aboriginal students academically through Years 10 to 12. The end of year Award Ceremony was held on Thursday December 3 at ECU Mt Lawley Campus.

Congratulations to Year 12 Willetton student Tylah Beacham on receiving The Sagitte Yom-Tov Award for Most Consistent Student.

Tylah Beacham (right) with Dr Carmel and Mr Zvi Yom-Tov

PRESTON COLBUNG

Congratulations to former student Preston Colbung in winning the Community Leadership and WA Young Person of the Year awards. The award was presented for his work in mentoring recidivist offenders in Armadale and consulting to the WA Law Society on a program about engaging with Aboriginal communities.

Preston is an example of the fine upstanding young people that go through Willetton Senior High School and on to further studies.

Congratulations to Preston and his family.

Nathan Barrow: Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer

Complimenti Signora Petale

Congratulations to one of our Italian language teachers, Mrs Bianca Petale, for winning the 2015 Hilde Dixon Award by the Modern Language Teachers' Association of WA.

The MLTAWA Hilde Dixon Award reflects the values exemplified by Hilde during her teaching career.

This award is the highest honour for language teachers in WA. The Hilde Dixon Award recognises and congratulates excellence in the teaching of languages and the commitment to language education in the classroom and through involvement in language professional associations in Western Australia. It is also designed to increase the status of the language teaching profession.

It is fantastic to see Bianca recognized at this level.

Nathan Harvey: Head of Languages

Bianca Petale with Year 10 students (R to L): Matt Carpenter, Chloe Winter, Kaylee Burnett, Tori White and Adoni Kanaga Mugendran

GENERAL ITEMS

ASTRONOMY TRIAL

Imagine how long it takes you to travel a billion, billion kilometres into space. Can't imagine? Not surprising. But over in Science, Mrs Marina Pitts and Mrs Jane Huck, together with some Year 10 classes find themselves doing the next best thing. They are photographing what is at the end of that billion, billion kilometres, or more.

It all started through Ms Pitts' PhD studies in Physics at UWA where, due to (she freely admits) her obsession with Astronomy, she heard about a remarkable Our Solar Siblings Astronomy Program, created by Dr Michael Fitzgerald, of Monash University, and Professor David McKinnon of ECU, Joondalup. Almost at the speed of light, Mrs Pitts rushed to meet them and delightedly accepted their offer to allow Willetton's science students to trial their new program (the first in WA to do so). Back at school, Computer Technicians Joe, Adam and Wendy got to work, installing all of the required software. This enabled students to select astronomical objects that they wanted to capture by the Les Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network, and then receive the images within a couple of days.

Mrs Pitts and Mrs Huck set the classes to work through the program, which aimed to increase their understanding of telescopes and uncover the nature and lives of stars. The students then demonstrated their computer abilities using the software which allowed them to colour their chosen images through the use of different filters. Registrar, Mr Jega, printed those remarkable images in colour.

This amazing venture, which captured images a billion, billion kilometres away, also captured the attention of the library and, before a long, the images found their way to the library display walls, allowing us all a better understanding of the Universe. In case you are unable to get to the library to see the displays before the end of the year, a few of the images appear here.

Annie Girard: Acting Librarian

Messier 78

Messier 78 is a reflection nebula located within the Orion nebula and is a part of Charles Messier's catalogue of comet-like objects. Messier 78 is 1600 light years away and is 5 light years wide. It is visible because of the light from 2 stars, HD 38563A and HD 38563B, being reflected off the dust particles in the nebula.

Filters	Exposure
Bessell-Blue	300.0s
Bessell-Red	120.0s
Bessell-Green-Visual	180.0s

Colour Imaging by Matthew Grady Year 10

Cigar Galaxy

The Cigar Galaxy is a starburst galaxy also known as Messier 82, and exists in the constellation Ursa Major. It is five times more luminous than the whole Milky Way, and is 12 million light years away. At this moment this is all we know.

Filters:	Exposures
Bessell-R	120.0s
Bessell-B	300.0s
Bessell-V	180.0s

Image taken with 1m0a telescope at Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network, McDonald node.

Colour imaging by Andrew, Xin Ru and Maham Year 10

Messier 66

Messier 66 (also known as NGC 3627) is an intermediate spiral galaxy about 36 million light-years away in the constellation Leo. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1780. M66 is about 95 thousand light-years across with striking dust lanes and bright star clusters along sweeping spiral arms. M66 is part of the famous Leo Triplet, a small group of galaxies that also includes M65 and NGC 3628. Four supernovae have been observed in M66.

Images coloured by Rahul and Josiah

Bubble Nebula

Image taken with 1m0a telescope at Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network McDonald node, Texas, USA

Filters used:	Exposures
Bessell-R	75.0s
Bessell-V	100.0s
Bessell-B	180.0s

Colour imaging by Vanessa, Praneetha, Aparna Year 10

Orion Nebula

The Orion Nebula is a nebula in the constellation of Orion, over 1334 lightyears away. The nebula is several light years in size. It is one of the most popular celestial objects and is used to study many astronomical concepts.

Taken from Siding Spring, New South Wales, with a 1 metre telescope

Filters	Exposure
Bessell-B	300.0 second exposure
Bessell-V	180.0 second exposure
Bessell-R	120.0 second exposure

Colour Imaging by Sota Year 10

Curtin University Autism Project

Resource Unit Garden Program 2015 - Cool Crops

This year, the Garden Program has seen the students concentrate on cooking as an addition to their normal gardening activities.

The students relocated garden beds and re-established plantings of herbs and plants. An additional part of the program has been furthering their studies in business enterprise. They have decided as a major project to create Cool Crops Cookery Book which will be available for sale early next year in time for Easter and Mother's Day.

The students continue to incorporate every aspect of the gardening program into their learning: from enhancing skills such as health and safety, how to move soil, unloading and loading wheelbarrows, growing produce and looking after the plants. As well, how to hold and use knives and peelers correctly, prepare food, food handling skills, choosing or creating recipes for our cookery book, cooking various recipes, presenting the finished food for photographs, serving food to others, sharing food with their peers, learning maths and other curriculum.

Here are some of the photographs from the program this year and what they have achieved which has been a might effort by all. Well done, Jessica, Kane, John, Matthew, Melissa, Jared, Justin, Harrison and all the other students who have helped from time to time.

Justin, Kane, Jared & John replant the new gardens

Chicken with Broccoli & Bok Choy cooked by the students for the Cool Crops Cookery Book

Sirpa Lahti: Garden Program Co-ordinator

ACADEMIC EXTENSION IN YEAR 8 ECONOMICS

This term our class was studying Economics and while we have a many activities planned, there were some who could benefit from some academic extension. This extension group completed a series of activities to complement the class program and broaden their knowledge of economic systems.

The students were given a scenario where they were shipwrecked on a deserted island and had to create a government style and economy to maximise their chances of survival and satisfy as many needs and wants as possible. Apart from examining the values placed on certain skills and job roles in society, students were asked to evaluate their experiences working in a group and how to evaluate their own contributions.

It is our practice at Willetton SHS to encourage all students to achieve their full potential by providing extension and enrichment for those with the ability and drive to excel and this group of students have proven their determination to succeed. Below are some comments from the group members.

Ms Bettermann: Teacher HaSS

Being part of the Year 8, HASS extension group is a great experience, as it gives me a chance to work with people that I normally wouldn't. It also gives me the opportunity to share my ideas in a fun environment.

Hannah

Being a part of the extension group was a great experience. It gave me the opportunity to share my ideas and learn new things from other people. I was also able to make new friends.

Leticia

Being a part of the extension group has reinforced my skills of being able to handle working in a group. I learned how to listen to people when they share their ideas, all the while to openly share mine. Together, our group tackled the challenges that arose when more than one minds were at work on the same task.

Sonali

Leticia Leo, Emily White, Meng Zhun Yuen, Hannah Gibson

The HaSS extension program provides a great experience for me and others to extend our learning past the norm. The program also provided a great chance for me to make new friends, especially since I don't normally hang around with the people in the group. The activity that we are currently doing is called Ship Wreck. We are stuck on an island and we have to establish our new economy. This extended our learning as we had to think about survival tactics, and what needs and wants are required for survival.

Brodie

Brodie Hood, Jordyn Moses-Montague, Oben Mc Houll, Sonali Grover.

The top 8 students in our class were chosen to be in the HaSS extension group by our teacher, Ms Bettermann. The group included Emily, Oben, Brodie, Jordyn, Hannah, Sonali, Letitia and me. We are assigned with a task- Ship Wreck, which is related to the economy, the topic the Year 8s are currently studying. It is an amazing experience to be working with my fellow classmates cooperatively together as a team.

Meng Zhun

Being in extension helped me in my group working skills and communication skills. The HaSS extension group is a group of students working on a project to solve how to start an economy on an island. We were chosen for our work ethic in class and our grades. I just want to say thanks to Ms Bettermann for creating this group it has helped us a lot.

Emily

YEAR 10 OUTDOOR EDUCATION

The Year 10 Outdoor Education students have been participating in a range of exciting activities this term.

One of our groups has been kayaking on the Swan River and are now learning to snorkel at our local beaches, experiencing the Omeo Wreck Dive. The other Year 10 group enjoyed a fishing, kayaking and fish filleting day excursion in Week 9.

They have also had the opportunity to enjoy Mountain Biking Lessons through Rock and Roll Mountain Biking, which will prepare them well for their Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation next year.

Rianda Clemons: HPE teacher

THE ARTS

Lower School Drama Showcase

On Monday November 30 in the Performing Arts Theatre, 86 drama students from Years 7 to 9 and the Year 8 Drama Club were involved in the Lower School Drama Showcase.

The drama students have been developing the following skills during the course of their studies:

• Vocal communication (pitch, tone, projection, pause, emphasis & pace)
• Non-verbal communication (body language, facial expression, use of space, levels, status, mime & masks)
• Improvisation and script work

The Year 7 and 8 students were selected as the top students from their classes in the improvisation task, whilst the Year 9 students were studying a specific form of theatre, Commedia dell'arte or Gothic Theatre. These performances were all created and developed by the student with guidance from their teachers. Similarly, the Drama Club performance was workshopped by the students with direction from Ms Grigson. The evening was well received by the 144 audience members.

Clare Talbot: Drama Teacher

Lower School Dance Showcase

After a semester of creating and developing their dance skills, 90 students eagerly performed in two dance shows. Dance is an important Arts discipline which develops the individual's kinaesthetic/physical awareness and ability, but also their understanding, appreciation and knowledge of different cultures and styles in society.

The dance students should be proud of their performances. Thanks to all staff involved.

Cheryl Venter Dance Teacher

Music Wrap Up

We have had another successful year.

Our thanks to the students who have been supportive and diligent in their contributions.

In first term, we took students to the Opera, Madame Butterfly.

This was part of the Festival of Perth and was one of the most contemporary productions of Madame Butterfly. It was a joy to watch.

This was followed by the end of Semester 1 Music Concert, which showcased the preparations for the Festivals for each Ensemble. It was a most successful evening with a sell out in our newly refurbished Theatre.

Second semester saw the Production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat, by a talented group of students. The two leads Tom Mac Donald and Erin were outstanding.

There followed by Festival Season.

First was the String Ensemble who earned the wonderful result of Excellent and then Junior Band who received an Outstanding Award, Senior Band received an Excellent Award and Choir and Guitar Ensemble received Outstanding.

The final Concert for the year was preceded by the excursion to the Lion King at the Burswood and then back to school for the final Lower School Music Concert.

This was a triumph of hard work by the instrumental teachers and talent from the students.

We would like to thank the Instrumental teachers for their wonderful optimistic and dedicated work.

Saxophone	Debra Porteous	Percussion	Iain Robbie
Violin/Viola	Deanne Rochat	Vocal	Ryan Huxley
Cello	Alita Monkhourst	Oboe/Bassoon	Linda Luce
Double Bass	Mark Tooby	Flute	Kate Hare
Classical Guitar	Robbie Ann Rossi	Clarinet	Lisa Gerritsen
Contemporary Guitar	Wayne Slater	Brass	Jenni Templar

Our thanks finally to all the terrific parents for all their support and encouragement

Pip Forster and Jenni Templar

This past week, performances in music, drama and dance culminated after many weeks of rehearsing, refining and reflecting.

The week saw 309 students participate in the lower school showcases and 675 people attended.

Applause and gratitude to all the staff for their hard work and dedication to The Arts.

To the students who performed and the technical crew, thank you for your passion and commitment in contributing to the success of these events.

To those appreciative audience members your attendance and support of our students is a vital ingredient.

From all The Arts staff wishing you and your family a prosperous and healthy 2016.

UNDERSTANDING RACISM

Here at Willetton SHS there is an ever increasing use (or misuse) of the words, "that's racist" or "you're being racist" from the students across all year groups.

Racism is destructive. It disempowers people by devaluing their identity. It destroys community cohesion and creates divisions in society. It is the opposite of the democratic principle of equality and the right of all people to be treated fairly.*

With the growing unease in today's society, we need to look at this issue. It is an appropriate time to look at what is said and how it in turn can disempower all of us, not only at Willetton but as people who choose to live in Australia today.

Racism is a global phenomenon which is influenced by a range of historical, social, political and economic factors. It takes different forms in different contexts and as a result has been defined in many different ways.*

I have seen and heard of our students misusing this term and when asked "why did you say that?" or "what made you feel that this was happening to you?" most responses came from a misunderstanding of the term. We hope families can better define this with our younger people. This may empower all of us and take away some of the fear that terrorism has developed within society today.

Racism has its roots in the belief that some people are superior because they belong to a particular race, ethnic or national group. The concept of race is a social construct, not a scientific one.*

Students in our School and indeed our community are from many different backgrounds, which create the beauty of our multi-cultural society we should be passionate about our heritage and where we came from. Our origins should be our strength and not the disadvantage that is being portrayed by a few people who are being … well embarrassing to be near when they use this form of put down. I encourage all students and indeed people in Australia today to question the need to use these terms. Are they using the word and its meaning correctly? If they are, then maybe we need to support them in the place that it is occurring so as to not allow people to cast aspersions. On the other hand, if you are seeing people who are not using the words in the right time and place then maybe we need to ask them to use the term correctly.

It is only by us as individuals questioning the type of statements made by people that we may create change in our fellow people.

Nathan Barrow Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer (AIEO)

GOOD NEWS FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD

WA Secondary School of the Year Scholarship

It is with great pleasure that we announce the WA Secondary School of the Year Scholarship for 2016 is awarded to Year 7 student Jack Killoh.

Jack is a worthy recipient of this leadership scholarship. At such an early stage of his high school career he has become an integral part of not only his cohort but also the school. He is always at hand to help the Year 7 coordinator and is a member of many extra curricula groups. One of Jack's passions is the school's Interact Club where he is respected and well liked, stepping up as the interim President during the Year 12 semester 1 exams.

Jack showed through his written application and excellent interview that he is innately a philanthropic individual who thinks of others and how he can help through his own education and the education of others.

Jack will do both himself and the school proud throughout the next five years and beyond, and we congratulate him on an exemplary start to high school.

We also congratulate the following students who were shortlisted as finalists for this scholarship – Agastya Bakshi, Kate Donovan, Felicity Dureau, Ilona Pinto and Tiffany Simpson. Continue to make the most of the opportunities offered to you at school.

School Board Thank You

We would like to acknowledge and thank the wonderful parents who have volunteered their time to help the school with various projects this year– much could not have been achieved without your wonderful support. Special thanks go to the members of the Willo Parent Group, the bookshop, second hand uniform shop and canteen volunteers. Your faithful contribution to the school is recognised and very much appreciated.

The School Board would like to wish all members of our school community a very special Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year. We look forward to working together with you again in 2016.