College News

The third term has been an extra busy one (when is there a quiet term though?), and we would not like to have it any other way. We continue to be very grateful for the opportunities and lifestyle we are enjoying in Western Australia, whilst keeping friends and family in the Eastern States in our thoughts and prayers.

Subject selection has been completed for our students entering their senior years of schooling; complete with individual selection interviews for each of our Year 10 students. The interviewers have all commented on the maturity of students in discussions held. Our Year 11’s have reviewed their progress and pathways, we are looking forward to see their continued growth over the next term. I would also like to congratulate the 14 Year 11’s who have successfully applied for Flexitrack High through Murdoch University, exiting times are ahead for these students.

Our Year 12 students are moving towards their final assessment period, prior to their Trial WACE Examinations or the submission of final units of competencies. There are also many students who have received offers from universities for placements in 2022 based on their Year 11 results, congratulations! As mentioned in a recent letter to our students from SCSA, these offers do provide security moving into the final weeks but we strongly urge students to remain committed to achieving their personal best. In the coming weeks we will commence selections for our Years 7 – 10, 2022 students.

Book Week was held in our Library and what a celebration of literature it has been, as students and staff of all ages explored the theme ‘new worlds, old worlds and other worlds’. The week commenced with visits from two prominent authors Julia Lawrinson and Briony Stewart. Julia Lawrinson, shared her writing journey and incredible positive energy with our secondary students. Julia shared stories of growing up in Kelmscott, treasuring classics such as Helen Keller and Little House on the Prairie and her inspiration for her soon to be released book, Swedish super band ABBA (she must have known Mrs Cox is a huge fan)! Coupled with her bubbly sense of humour, our girls were encouraged to live, laugh and importantly write. It was inspiring to hear how our life experiences shape a person.

Writer and illustrator Briony Stewart joined our Primary students and they were thoroughly entertained as Briony wove stories, her creative journey and incredible artistic talents together. Briony was able to show the students how to keep their imagination alive, through simple strategies such as turning seemingly simple shapes drawn by friends into mini-masterpieces. We were most impressed by the thought provoking questions asked by all students throughout each session. The final activity which the children were involved in was a step by step process of creating ‘Lenny’ from her latest collaboration in ‘Bedtime Stories’. Wow, we have so much talent in our primary school.

Staff nestled down in our Alice in Wonderland themed reading corner for their annual 6 hour read-a-thon. Students explored the ‘magical wardrobe’ straight from Narnia to rescue old books and to give them a new home. Scavenger hunts were enjoyed across the week in our primary classes and all students competed for a book voucher in our daily book quiz (Year 8 – 9 Watson won twice in the week!). Lunch time saw primary and secondary students engage in cubby building to create their ‘other worlds’ and clever shadow puppet making!

Book Week finished with an absolute bang as old, new and other worlds collided. The morning began with the outstanding Year 2 Assembly; where the children took us on a journey from the ‘olden days’ listening to stories via the radio to our golden favourites through to movies which all originated in books. Of course the week would not be complete without our parade; how awesome our are staff and students! Well done to our Secondary students who also joined in the celebrations. Thank you for celebrating a love of books with us.

I would like to congratulate our Arts Team and our incredible students who have been very busy participating in the Arts Showcase and the Catholic Schools Performing Arts Festival. Whilst the results have been absolutely outstanding, our students must be congratulated on the manner in which they have represented not only the College but themselves. I was privileged to attend performances by our Primary Choirs and Primary and Secondary Dance Troupes; we have so much talent at our College! Wow! Thank you for sharing this with us.

God bless

Janine Walsh