Term 4, 2019

GIRLS ACADEMYNEWSLETTER

Esperance Girls Academy | www.girlsacademy.com.au

ESPERANCE

Esperance Senior High School

NAIDOC CELEBRATIONSDuring week 8 of Term 3, Esperance Senior High School celebrated NAIDOC 2019: Voice, Treaty, Truth with an assembly and whole-school fun and cultural activities. Esperance Girls Academy, Clontarf and the Follow the Dream program all worked together to make this event a big success. The week started with a special morning tea for invited guests and students. X Factor winner Isaiah Firebrace performed on the quad for the whole school. The highlight of the week was the boys and girls dancing on a beautiful sand mural they had created. Thank you to all the girls who represented us by dancing, speaking at the assembly and helping to run the lunch activities.

DEADLY THOUGHTSJohnine Graham, a local Aboriginal mental health worker, came in to run Deadly Thinking sessions with our Year 7 class. The girls learnt about social and emotional wellbeing in a culturally appropriate and compelling way.

HEALTHY MESSAGEOn 21 November, Esperance Girls Academy hosted a Health Pit Stop day. The Ear Bus, school dentist, GP Robyn McIntyre, and representatives from Escare, Hope Community Services, Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Esperance Aboriginal health officers all had stations which the girls rotated through during the day. Thirty six girls participated and enjoyed lunch with our volunteers. There was a quiz challenge given to all girls and the winner will be announced at our next Shining Bright awards.

ARCHERY ANTICSDuring week 3, we set up an obstacle course in the school gym and played archery tag. We held a picnic and giant jenga on the grass quad afterwards.

ACADEMY AWARDSOn 25 November, the Academy held its annual Academy Awards. Thank you to all our volunteers who helped make the night a great success and to all the families who came to support the girls. Goodbye and good luck to our four Year 12 graduates, Juanita Callow, Frankie Kennedy, Ashleigh Taylor and Kyeesha Kaewhanam. The room is so quiet without you all and we miss you so much but are very proud of all that you have achieved while here with us at school.

Congratulations to all our award winners, you should be very proud.

• Be the Change Academy Rising Star - Nitika Penny-McDonald

• Dedication Award - Ruby Dowling• Form Award - Ashleigh Taylor• I am Me, I am Beautiful Selfie Award - Mikayla

Lawrence• Junior Sportswoman of the Year - Sarah May

Douglas• Senior Sportswoman of the Year - Frankie

Kennedy• Shining Bright Attendance Award - Jody

Greatz, Mikeyiah Bennell, Talisha Dempster, Tahiesha Clements, Sharlee Greatz

• Most Improved Award - Aeishah Muir• Cultural Connections - Quawsian Thompson• Junior Academic Award- Eleisha - Ray Adams• Senior Academic Award - Alidea Stack• Academy Ambassador – Ashleigh Taylor• Ricky Grace Be the Change Award - Juanita

Callow

GRADUATION CEREMONYCongratulations to Alidea Stack, who was awarded the certificate of merit for Aboriginal education, certificate of merit for Vocational and Education Training (VET) business workplace learning, and a prize for AIT at Esperance Senior High School’s graduation ceremony on 27 November.

BACK TO SCHOOLThe first day of school for next year is Monday, 3 February 2020. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe and fun holiday.

NATURAL WONDERSAt the end of October, the Tjaltjraak Rangers came to Girls Academy and presented two sessions on native plants and culture. The girls were shown traditional ways our local plants can be used for cooking, medicine and shelter.