Message from 

the Principal

As we approach the conclusion of what has been another very challenging Term where we have been presented with considerable disruption. I would like to thank our community for the manner in which this has been embraced.

Again we have needed to be adaptable, inventive, creative and certainly patient. Our students have been admirable in how they have approached learning remotely and adapted to new and different means of assessment. With both our Year 11’s and 12’s undertaking online examinations in recent weeks, their capacity to do things differently has been an immense credit to them. I am also very proud of the Academic Staff for their effort, creativity and determination to ensure the quality of our remote learning delivery and assessment procedures have been of the highest standard. Our Staff, Heads of Academic Faculties and Ms Anthony, Mrs Collett and Mrs Hayward have been marvelous and I am immensely grateful for their outstanding contribution this Term.

We feel greatly for our Year 12 students who have experienced two years of disruption as they have worked towards completing their Higher School Certificate. Not only have they experienced the stresses associated with the uncertainty around their academic program, they have missed so many of those usual ‘rites of passage’ that we all experienced as we completed our schooling. Those special times with friends and events at school, all of which provided memories to cherish.

We have been liaising with our Year 12’s and receiving their feedback as to how they would like us to try and create some special times such as Graduation and it has been agreed that dependent on NSW Health advice and Guidelines we shall endeavour to hold a modified ceremony at the conclusion of the HSC in a similar vein to to last year. In many ways I felt the Graduation Ceremony of 2020 was a more intimate and personal affair. 

HSC 

At last we have some clarity around the HSC following last week’s release of the NSW Premier’s ‘Roadmap to Freedom’. The Government has confirmed that the HSC examinations will run in full, commencing on Tuesday 9 November and concluding on Friday 3 December. Students' personalised timetables have been published via Students Online. HSC results are expected to be released at 6am on 23 January 2022 and ATARS will be released on 20 January.

Holidays and Term 4

In the recent ‘Return to School Roadmap’ circulated by the NSW Government it was noted that LGAs where lockdown is lifted could potentially return to school earlier than Monday 25 October, however all students in NSW will commence a staged return to face-to-face learning from this date. This means that we will most likely commence Term 4 in Remote Learning. Of course, we will be monitoring the advice closely and will communicate any changes in this situation. 

Mentor Farewell and Graduation

At our Year 12 Student meeting last week we discussed the format for the Year 12 Mentor Farewell and Graduation - our students were keen to hold on for a chance to attend this in person and we are keen to support them. Because graduation is impossible to stage right now, there was general agreement that we should move this event to the end of Term 4 – that is, early- to mid-December. There seems to be some hope that we will be able to stage a larger event such as this later in the year. Clearly the event will still be subject to NSW Health guidelines and restrictions. To be completely honest, I can offer no guarantees except that we will celebrate this wonderful and beleaguered Class of 2021 in the very best way that we can. With so many unknowns, the exact date and format for a mentor farewell and graduation event will be confirmed as soon as the possibilities come into clearer focus.

Staffing

Mrs Sophie Grivas – Teacher Librarian – resignation

Mrs Sophie Grivas has advised that she will not be returning to Kinross Wolaroi School after completion of her Maternity Leave this year.  Sophie has and her husband Mark have taken up an opportunity for Mark to complete his anaesthetist training in Gosford. Sophie will be greatly missed by her students and colleagues alike and I wish to extend our best wishes to both Sophie and Mark in their new chapter. Sophie has promised to visit us with young Annabel when the opportunity affords itself.

Mrs Lisa Pengilly – Teacher Librarian – ongoing role

In light of Sophie’s resignation, Lisa Pengilly has been appointed to be the ongoing Teacher Librarian. Lisa is well known to the Kinross Wolaroi community, being a Junior School teacher here since 1997. Her skills will see her be a fabulous asset to the service-oriented Library team who support our students from the Junior School through to Year 12. 

Mrs Jade Georgiou – Maternity Leave extension 

Jade Georgiou has advised that she will not return to Kinross Wolaroi as planned at the conclusion of her Maternity Leave as she wishes to spend a further year caring for her young family.

Miss Kate Cutcliffe - Acting Head of Student Wellbeing

 I am delighted that Kate has offered to serve the School as the Acting Head of Student Wellbeing in Term 4 of this year. Kate is an active member of our Wellbeing Team and has been Head Mentor of Gordon House in 2021. Kate has a Bachelor of Physical Education from the University of Wollongong where she graduated as the Dean’s Scholar with Distinction. She has a Certificate in Gifted Education (University of Sydney) and has also conducted research at the Hong Kong Institute of Education on Body Image as part of the New Colombo Plan. Prior to joining us at Kinross Wolaroi, Kate was the Year 6 Transition Coordinator and Year 7 Advisor at Orange High School overseeing the welfare of over 230 students.

Mrs Antonia Suthers – Acting Head of Gordon House

As a dedicated and committed member of the Gordon House pastoral team I am delighted that Antonia will act as the Head of Gordon House during Term 4. Mrs Suthers is a highly experienced member of staff who has made an immense contribution to student life over many years. Antonia is currently 2IC of our English Faculty, Gifted and Talented Mentor, MIC Water Polo and Mentor in Gordon House. 

Antonia has a Bachelor of Arts (Macquarie University), a Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) from Central Queensland University, Postgraduate units in English Literature and Literacy Theory (USQ) and has completed the School’s Leadership Colloquium (National Excellence in School Leadership Initiative).

Head of Brown House – Mr Paul McRae

I have recently met with Paul McRae who has indicated his desire to step down as Head of Brown House at the end of the year. After 8 years of distinguished House leadership Paul wishes to shift his focus professionally towards the classroom and the PDHPE faculty.

Our students and families have been very fortunate to have had Paul’s dedicated and caring leadership, professionalism and genuine interest in the welfare of our students over the last 8 years. Paul has created a wonderful environment within his house where students have been able to develop and flourish with confidence.

I am most grateful to Paul for his early notice that will provide ample opportunity for a very smooth transition of House leadership. Please join with me in congratulating Paul for his immense contribution to the Brown House community.

Head of Brown House – Mr Ben Ronald

I am delighted to announce that Mr Ben Ronald will succeed Mr Paul McRae as Head of Brown House at the commencement of 2022.

Ben joined KWS from Shore in 2018 and has made a most positive impact across many dimensions of the School. He is a gifted and dedicated member of our Social Science Faculty, a caring and committed Mentor and has been an outstanding Master in Charge of Cricket. In each of these roles Mr Ronald has clearly demonstrated his capacity to effectively work with students, staff and parents and has shown a genuine concern for the wellbeing of others. His ability to build strong teams and to inspire his students will see him highly successful in this role.

He possesses a vision to develop a friendly House spirit, a culture of student accountability and an environment of respectful relationships between students, staff and families. It is Mr Ronald’s intention to build upon the fine legacy left by Mr McRae by growing individual students’ confidence to become leaders of their personal educational experience while retaining a collective pride in the House and wider School community.

Mr Ronald has a Bachelor of Sports Studies (Commerce) and a Graduate Diploma in Education. 

I am sure you will join with me in congratulating Ben on his appointment to this key role within the School and wish him every success as he leads Brown House into the future.

Congratulations 

Duke of Edinburgh Awards

Gold Award: -

Catie Crisp has recently received her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. It is a fantastic achievement in what has been a disrupted 2020/21. She has been a fantastic Duke of Edinburgh participant and a great ambassador for the school. 

Silver and Bronze Awards

Congratulations to the following Silver and Bronze Duke of Edinburgh recipients. They have been rewarded for their hard work and commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh program. Certificates and pins will be awarded at the next possibly opportunity when we are back at school.

Silver Awards: -

Toby Gough (10); Alex Williams (12); Luke Dominello (10); Ellen Arundell (11)

Bronze Awards: 

Lucy Searle (10); William Deshon (10); Sophie Martin (10); Cale Slack Smith (10) - Bronze Award; Greta Borne (10); Fletcher Smith (10); Henry McElroy (11); Thomas Patton (10); Hugh Thompson (10); William Pearce (10); Max Reidy (10) 

Australian Science Olympiad Exams (ANU) - Stefanie Wong

With many schools across Australia in lockdown, the ANU have reported that it was great to see so many students sit the Australian Science Olympiad Exams.  Kinross Wolaroi has been advised that Stefanie Wong has achieved a High Distinction in Earth and Environment Sciences. This is in the top 10% of students who sat the exam.

This achievement has earned Stefanie an invitation the 2022 Australian Science Olympiads Summer School and she will be receiving a special congratulatory note from the Dean of the Australian National University's College of Science. Well done Stefanie!

Wellbeing Wednesday: Principal’s Awards

I was delighted with the tremendous manner in which many students embraced the opportunity to engage in some self-directed learning and other activities last Wednesday where time could be spent away from screens.

The following students did an outstanding job last Wednesday, and will receive a Collins Book Store voucher and a Spilt Milk voucher for their efforts. 

Well done to: Isobella Montagliani; Sophie Smith; Lachlan Simmons.