newsletter week 10 term 1 2016 - | woodthorpe word docs/newsletter week 10... · woodthorpe...

WOODTHORPE NEWSLETTER Issue

Regional Principal Update – Paul Maher As we sign-off on what has been a very fast-paced and action-packed term, it is time for teachers and students to reflect on what we have achieved. It is also time to enjoy some rest and relaxation, to recharge the batteries and then set new goals for Term 2.

Much has been happening across the region in our 7 campuses, from Primary School through to senior levels. Some initiatives and events have been student driven and others have been suggested by our professional staff. Two outstanding events were the Year 11 & 12 Leadership Excursions that occurred earlier this term for Meridian & Woodthorpe School students. The events were thoroughly enjoyed by all and well supported by parents and Campus Administrators from both States. Although the activities were different in WA & SA, it was pleasing to see that senior students from both regions had the opportunity to be involved in leadership activities that challenged their mindset.

We have fantastic leaders at Woodthorpe & Meridian School, both students and educators alike, and the Management Teams are very keen to see both parties develop even more! As leaders it is our job to develop the next leaders – whether they be our staff or students. A Distributive Leadership Model, including student-empowered leadership, can contribute to a High-Performing School, which is the ultimate goal of any educational institution. It is important to remind all students, however, that process and communication is a vital cog when formulating and presenting proposals to the professional staff for approval.

I encourage all stakeholders in our schools to continually think about how to be a solution focused, problem solver in all walks of life. Ask yourself questions such as ‘what can I do to improve?’, ‘who can I ask for help to get better?’, ‘what can I do when I don’t know what to do?’ Constant improvement and constant reflection are the keys to ongoing success. Student Leaders are currently putting together some ideas to actively promote the 2016 theme of ‘Maximising Your Potential’, and we look forward to seeing the impact that this initiative will have on the students for the remainder of the year.

Some of you may recall that Ms Tammy-Anne Caldwell did a wonderful presentation last year relating to the research behind growing our brains, and the impact that positive vibes can have on our children’s learning. The concept behind a ‘growth mindset’ is dedication, hard work and a love of learning. Find your style, build resilience, enjoy your teaching and learning and set your sights higher every morning.

Finally, I’d like to recognise the outstanding efforts of our teaching and non-teaching staff at all 7 campuses, who are a brilliant team and are developing a strong culture of teamwork and collaboration. As the national ‘guinea pigs’ for cross-state collaboration, it is so pleasing to see the staff networking and sharing of ideas to improve the educational outcomes for our students. I’d also like to thank the Management Teams for financially supporting the collaborative cross-campus visits between our campuses and two States! Best wishes to all for a safe and wonderful holiday break!

7th April 2016

REMINDERS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

Uniform

Winter uniforms are to be worn from the commencement of Term 2.

Dates

Term 2 2016 commences Tuesday 26th April 2016.

Willetton Parent/Teacher Interviews – Years 7-12: Tuesday 10 May 2016 from 2.00 – 5.00pm.

Important Matters

Working With Children Check School Fees

Please see notes regarding these matters under Important Dates & Reminders – page 17.

NEWSLETTER Week 10 Term 1 2016

NEWSLETTER WEEK 10 TERM 1 2016 2

Head of Campus Report – Dean Robinson

The second half of Term One has again been busy at the Willetton campus with a focus on academics to finish off the term. Some highlights for the last five weeks of Term One include the Year 5 Excursion, Surf Life Saving Fundraiser, candy stall fundraiser and the introduction of Body Combat during Girls Friday Sport.

To finish off the term, there will be an End of Term Assembly. This is a chance to reflect on Term One, give out some awards, and be entertained by some drama and music performances. There will also be a House Cross Country competition. All students who take part will have the chance to earn points for their house.

Interim Reports have been emailed home and a paper copy has been sent which is a great opportunity to reflect on the start of the year and to set goals for the remainder of the year. I encourage all students to relax and refresh over the holidays and set their sights on maximizing their potential in Term Two.

Farewell to Mr Bochenek from the Willetton Campus

Mr Garry Bochenek will be transferring to the Southern Campus - Gnowangerup site, effective from the start of Term 2 2016. Mr Bochenek has been an outstanding contributor at the Willetton Campus for 7 years. Over this time, he has built an excellent rapport with students, staff and the community. He has shown a

passion for education and has always had a fun and active classroom. Mr Bochenek has taken the lead with sports in the primary area assisting with sports days and coordinating activities such as the Jump Rope For

Heart. We are confident he will have an immediate positive impact on the students and community in Gnowangerup and Albany. It is very much a win for the school to be able to keep Mr Bochenek in the

OneSchool system. We wish Mr Bochenek all the best for the rest of 2016 and beyond.

https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwintqfz3PjLAhXMJ5QKHRvrDFwQjRwIBw&url=http://www.daviesskyschools.org/Content2/558&psig=AFQjCNHqS-7Yx5yE0i8pYACgCQP-nQiTxw&ust=1459987860057139

https://rebel-performance.com/goal-setting-9-rules-thatll-help-get-sht-done/


STAFF PROFILE – MS TARYN WONG

After becoming a regular visitor at the Willetton Campus last year as a relief teacher I was lucky enough to be able to take on the position of Digital Technologies Teacher at the start of this year.

The start of this year in this new adventure has been rewarding and thoroughly enjoyable with staff, students and parents making me feel as though I have been a part of the school community for many years.

I am looking forward to exploring the world of technologies and computing with the year 7, 8 and 9 students

with plenty of interesting topics to come, following on from our first term which we have spent learning

about programming using the Python language which encourages logical thinking and an increased

understanding of how computers work and can be used to suit our specific purposes.


ALBANY Primary

Albany Primary finished off Term One of 2016 with a Fish for the Future incursion and their first scientific experiment of the year. Most students have remained focused and displayed excellent effort to consistently try their best and always keep improving, this term. This sort of awesome attitude will see them continue to grow and increase their knowledge and skills next term too… Enjoy the photos and the upcoming holidays!


CUNDERDIN

Year 3-6 Art By Ms Packham

This term we have been looking at a style of artwork called “Cubism”

Cubism is a style of art created by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. These artists looked at art in new ways and began to “break apart” objects and paint these shapes on a canvas. Cubist paintings show objects from many angles. Most cubist art is made up of shapes: cubes, spheres, cylinders and cones.

We looked at many different pieces of art by Picasso and experimented with drawing our own cubism pieces learning about warm and cool colours and blending colours.

The children used oil pastels and water colours to create the master

pieces that you can see on this page, based on Paul Klee’s work.

Paul Klee was interested in how a painting made someone feel rather than making it look realistic. Often the figures in his paintings appear more like objects rather than people. His art is called abstract because his subjects are not portrayed realistically.

All of the children had a lot of fun creating their fish master pieces. They are all on display in the Primary Hall for any parents wishing have a look at our budding young

PICASOS


CUNDERDIN & DALWALLINU

SLT Car Wash

The Cunderdin and Dalwallinu campuses have been very busy since the start of the term organising fundraisers. We have very much enjoyed being part of the SLT and it has allowed us to coordinate many different activities. One of these activities included a community car wash that we run on Friday the 18th of March. The SLT plus a few recruits from Year 12 spent the best part of 3 hours washing cars for people in the community. It was hard work but the money earned, which is going towards our Canberra excursion, was very much needed. Thank you to all the people that supported us on the day, and hope they were very happy with the job that we did. Hopefully the cars can stay as clean now as when they were returned.


SOUTHERN

Southern Campus Playgroup

The year 9 and 10’s from Southern Campus have been busy planning and organizing a Playgroup as part of their Child Care class.

The girls carefully selected activities that would be age appropriate and help these young children develop their fine or gross motor abilities, their social skills, and allow them to be creative.

The girls and I would like to thank the parents who took the time to bring in their children so the girls could put their class theory work to the test. We are all looking forward to running the program again in Term 2.

Ms Connell


SOUTHERN … cont

Digital Technologies

In Digital Technologies, like all the country areas, the Southern Campus has been working on programming the Lego Mindstorm robots to complete a set routine. Whilst ‘playing’ with lego sounds like fun, there are important learning principles being practiced. These include Problem Solving and Systems Thinking. This is becoming a more relevant part of IT (or Digital Technologies as it’s now known) as we adopt the DT component of the new Australian Curriculum.

As this is a new approach, I (and my DT colleagues no doubt) are learning at the same time (although for me, at a slower pace) than the students, who are doing a great job of persevering through the problem solving elements - even when we teachers may not have all the answers to their questions.

Mr Kay


SOUTHERN CAMPUS UPDATE

As we approach the final week of this term, we can look back at another productive academic term. I have been most impressed with our students’ focus and dedication to their various tasks, as well as their work rate in the Learning Centre. Interim reports have been emailed home and a paper copy has also been sent for parents and for students to take the time to reflect on the progress they have made this term. Most students should be congratulated and praised on the improvements that they have shown across various areas, however, just as important is to take notice on areas of weakness that they need to work on to further improve their rate of progress.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to both staff and students for their patience with all the issues we have had with our internet. This is being addressed, but probably not as fast as we would like it to be.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Southern teachers for their dedication and enthusiasm in helping all our students to reach their potential. A special congratulate to Ms Jenna Connell with her ability to fit into the leadership role in Gnowangerup site. Your consistent approach and bubbly personality has helped both staff and students settle into a good routine at both sites. I would also like to express my appreciation to Mr Kay, Ms Hendry and Mr Davies for travelling between the 2 sites each and every week.

This year we have increased our travel for our students between Albany and Gnowangerup. Our students need to be congratulated on the way they have handled themselves week in week out with minimum fuss. I also need to thank the various parents who have taken time from their busy schedules to drive the bus between the 2 sites.

Likewise, I would to thank everyone for supporting the fundraising for the Canberra trip and wish the students all the best.

Finally, I would like to wish Mr Harvey all the best, as he leaves us to travel to Colombia to start his next phase of his life with his family. He will be missed by the Gnowangerup community as he has dedicated his life in educating our primary students in the past year and a half. As he leaves us, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Mr Bochenek to Gnowangerup site, to continue on the good foundation Mr Harvey has set for our students. He will be starting with us next term.

From Mr S Veerappan and Mr M Imberti


SOUTHERN … cont

Art at Southern campus

Southern campus students have been very busy at their Art projects under the expert guidance of Ms McIlroy and Ms Gray. At Southern campus, Ms Hendry and Ms Connell are watching their progress with excitement!

Year 9/10 students are exploring portrait drawing with a difference, morphing a human face with other elements to create a multimedia portrait. They have done many experimentations and preliminary drawings. This group have been very patient, as we have been working in our new building which is not quite set up for Art classes!

Year 7/8 students are focusing on drawing also, creating a multimedia drawing of a sea creature. They have also done many preliminary exercises, including some spectacular experimentations with expressive drawing. I have been very pleased to see how Year 7 students have adapted to life in secondary school, and the terrific effort that they have put in to their Art works so far.

Banjo Imberti is very proud of his work


SOUTHERN … cont

Newsletter Article by Maddison Davies

On Friday the 11th of March, all country campuses travelled to Willetton for a CCV. Some year groups had scheduled excursions for this day. The Year 8’s were one of them. We landed at Willetton and then left on coaches to Point Peron.

In the weeks leading up to our excursion, we had been learning about coastal landscapes and how the weather affects the coast. We had also done work on the subject of Coastal Management. We had been learning how to complete different pieces of field work such as cross-sections and field sketches.

When we arrived at Point Peron, we discussed what we would be doing first with our assigned group and then started our exploration of the headland. We had to sketch stacks, headlands, bays and human impact on the environment in that area. We were able to view spectacular sights of the beach and also see how the waves had deposited sand and, from the satellite images, how longshore drift had impacted the shape of the beach. Being able to do the activities as a group was really helpful because we could get them finished effectively and efficiently. We even were able to wet our feet which was a cooling sensation compared to the burning sand.

Overall, we had an extremely pleasant day. The whole class was well behaved a distinct majority of the time and we got all of the field work done that we could. For future years, I would encourage you to take opportunity of your excursion to the coast, if you do it, because it has many benefits and allows you to better understand the coast, how it changes, and how it can be preserved.


WILLETTON

English Department

It has been a very busy term for the English Department with all students across the school working very

hard to complete texts and assessment tasks. Year 7 students have enjoyed ‘Lighthouse Girl” and “Hana’s

Suitcase”, Year 8 students “Running Wild” and the documentary series “Orangutan Diary” while the Year 9

students have been exploring Afghanistan through the “Parvana” series. Year 10 students have been

particularly busy, adjusting to the new 2/2 model, but have enjoyed both the novel and film versions of

“War Horse”. The Year 11 and Year 12 classes have been busy with their various courses, both reading and

writing a variety of texts. The Year 12 students have just completed their first piece of creative writing for

the year, and many have produced excellent pieces. The task was to take a different viewpoint on a

contemporary issue or event, and here are two samples of the work they produced. Ms T Pearce

The Gift of Voice

I live in a land unknown In spite of resistance, stiff

This land overshadowed You traversed the road to defend

Supressed, in danger and torn A nation at ransom

You raised your hand Rights ravaged and robbed

And said, You reached the unreachable

We’ll come … I thank you.

Some say the fruits of waging war Who could but agree

Aren’t worth the lives who’re lost What benefits – yes,

They say they miss the days of old Divided still, insurgence rife

Hussein Saddam But a lifeline you left

The tyrant! To build upon

No stealing money that… Some will see a legacy

Was meant to nourish children Of blood, and trauma – true

No building of his palace… But I look at the gifts you gave me

While neglect, inequity Things I never knew

No Kurdish persecution…

Being taken in the night You’ve ousted murderous rule

No fear of mass destruction… You’ve breathed in us a stir

Genocide Of democracy and voice

Of tolerance and choice.

My country has a constitution

Each citizen has rights From bullets to ballots

The woman, the minority From thraldom to freedom

All cultures recognized America, we thank you for

The gifts that you have given

Hope, rights, and life. By: Jemimah Wallis


WILLETTON .... cont

We are sad So I hear But who could be downcast in an Expanse Like ours? The sun mingles with the dust As it slips slowly behind the mountains The breeze plays wistfully with my burqa Chasing the smell of baking naan up my nose Soft leather sandals carry my feet over the honey coloured rocks Fabric as soft as fur kisses my skin Then bashfully, quickly pulls away Childish laughter echoes around the village The holy grail of happiness rebounding off trees The goats bleat-isn’t is funny how our food lives? But the west is happy?! So they claim But who can be happy in a Griping grey mob Like theirs? Grey pillars block the golden rays And the wind whips at coats Wrapping them tightly around black clad legs Pushing the putrid smell of a sewer up an unsuspecting nose They recoil, springing back from the intrusive fume High heels tottering down concrete curbs Screens staring up into the eyes of their captives Dollars and Cents, Cha-Ching! Barking horns invading ears Bouncing around the street like gunshots Isn’t it strange how their food is always in a box?

By : Jasmine Sivewright


WILLETTON … cont

Year 9 Child Care

Students have been busy in Child Care this term working on 2 assessment tasks. The “All About Me” involved students looking back into their childhood history including birth and earliest memories. There were great stories of mischievous toddler acts and “piders up noses”. The second task involved the students researching the nutritional requirements during pregnancy and then cooking a lunch to reflect these nutritional needs. A selection of photographs from the tasks show the excellent work that was produced. We would like to farewell Breana Scarlett who will be returning to New Zealand after spending Term 1 with us here at Willetton. We wish her well and the class

will miss her. Ms Carter


WILLETTON …. cont


WILLETTON …. cont

Home Economics – this term the year 10 food students have been investigating Vegetarianism. They then planned a 3 day menu for a vegan or lacto-ovo vegetarian. From their menu they selected one meal to make and serve as part of their assessment. Each student selected their own recipe and the range of meals chosen and made, shows just how diverse a meal without meat can be. Ms Raffaele


WILLETTON …. Cont Year 10 Stand Up Paddleboarding - Mr Lamont


WILLETTON …. Cont


IMPORTANT DATES AND REMINDERS:

2016 Term Dates :

Term 1 Concludes 8th April 2016

Term 2 26th April 2016 - 1st July 2016

Term 3 18th July 2016 - 23rd September

Term 4 10th October 2016 - 15th December 2016

Uniform

Please remember that winter uniform is to be worn from the beginning of Term 2.

From the Accounts Department : 2016 School Fees - Pleeeeeeease pay if you haven’t already done so.

There is still $263,000.00 outstanding from 2016 Term 1 and $125,000.00 outstanding for 2015 and beyond, totalling $388,000.00.

Carrying such a large outstanding amount is putting severe strain on our resources. It is critical for all parents to ensure their school fees are paid on time to ensure we are able to continue to fund the expenses of our School. A big thank you to those who have paid and or applied for fee relief.

OneSchool Fee Relief 2016 - Please click on the links below for information regarding Fee Relief.

Fee Relief Process

Fee Relief Initiative 2016

Fee Relief Application 2016

If you have any queries regarding your account or for payment options, please do not hesitate to contact Woodthorpe School Accounts Office :

Ms Anna-Marie Crocker

Email [email protected] and/or phone 6250 2092.

Laptops & OneSchool USB Sticks : Please click on the link OSG ICT Abuse Guidelines.docx to review the Consequences for ICT Abuse.

Working With Children Check : Please ensure that all staff & volunteers use the postal address of PO Box 1494, Canning Vale DC 6970 in their WWC application, whether on line or paper copy, to ensure correspondence from the department comes to the central location where records are kept.

http://woodthorpe.us11.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=bc4310479f0db995f489e8a23&id=91c260e85b&e=0f64eb52fa

http://woodthorpe.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bc4310479f0db995f489e8a23&id=f1d339e9c3&e=0f64eb52fa

http://woodthorpe.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bc4310479f0db995f489e8a23&id=054ad7c2c2&e=0f64eb52fa

mailto:[email protected]


nnnnn


NEWSLETTER Week 10

Term 1 2016 Woodthorpe

School

8 Woodthorpe Drive WILLETTON, WA 6155

Ph : (08) 6250 2000

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