Around the Senior School
The Orchard Fundraising
In McLachlan House this year we are focusing on our charity drive initiative ‘The Orchard’. The Orchard provides a safe haven for women and children escaping domestic violence in Orange. The Orchard does this by providing free accommodation and recovery support to approximately 72 families from the Orange area each year.
We have chosen The Orchard as our charity, due to the overwhelming statistics surrounding domestic violence in Australia. It is estimated that 1 in 6 women have experienced violence by an intimate partner; and on average, 1 woman a week and 1 man a month is killed by a current or former partner. Domestic and family violence is also the leading cause of homelessness in Australia. Therefore, as a House, we wanted to raise awareness around this issue and help those within our community that have experienced domestic and family violence.
In McLachlan House this term we will be creating emergency bags to help women and children who have had to leave their accommodation due to domestic violence, without warning or preparation. These bags can assist in making their transition to the Orchard easier and less overwhelming. Within McLachlan, every year group will make an emergency bag, with necessities. This includes winter jackets, towels, toiletries, small toys, bedding, long life food, nappies, and wipes. Through making these bags we also hope to create awareness around domestic violence and highlight all the amazing work The Orchard is doing within our community.
If you have anything that you would like to contribute, please drop it off at Mr Brotherton’s office.
Thank you,
Annie Dedman and Michelle Hayes
McLachlan House Leaders
Year 12 Retreat
It is now a week since we returned from the Year 12 Retreat and I am still smiling, reminiscing on how much fun it was, and how valuable an experience the students have had for the start of Year 12.
Having been the Year 7 Coordinator when this cohort went off to Year 7 camp at Lake Burrendong, I am pleased to report that they were a LOT more organized, responsible, and accountable this time around – maturity is a wonderful thing! Getting on the busses and arriving at Lake Burrendong was practically seamless. The addition of many students since Year 7 has made the year group even richer and more diverse, and they are quite an extraordinary collection of lovely young people.
Once we arrived at Lake Burrendong and got settled, we immersed ourselves in the Retreat and Sport & Rec activities, ate more fruit than was previously thought possible, and generally bonded with staff and students. The three days flew past and with only a few mishaps, we survived a busy and energetic program.
Retreat activities over the three days revolved around individual and group reflection on issues like Who Am I? What is my place in the world? What do I want to be my legacy at KWS? Students had time and space to think, to get involved in dynamic group discussion, and to get to know each other. Students were guided by dedicated KWS staff members who created safe and trusting environments in which the students could express themselves. Huge thanks to our School Chaplain, Dr Rev Rosalie Clark, for the thoughtful and relevant Retreat activities and for her inspirational words over the three days.
Sport and Recreation activities included mountain bike riding, initiatives, and archery tag and were supervised by wonderful Sport & Rec Staff – Matt will live in our collective memories as a fascinating and inspiring role model. Also, we were guided in many activities by Mitch, the reigning Australian Scissors, Paper, Rock Champion – I kid you not, it’s a thing. The students and staff are to be commended on the enthusiastic attitude in which they engaged in these activities and for their incredible teamwork and support of each other.
The entire cohort was praised by Matt at the end of the Retreat as being incredible students to work with: he was very impressed by their behaviour, friendliness, and maturity.
The weather gods smiled upon us and for the three days we had sunny skies and warmth. The dam was full and absolutely stunning, attracting all manner of wildlife. The girls in Cottage 2 literally had waterfront vistas while the rest of us just marveled at the views from various aspects around the site – Whitsundays move over, Wellington is where it is at!
We are all delighted at the way this year’s cohort has actively embraced a unified and harmonious way forward into 2023. The Retreat made this possible and I am grateful to all the staff and students who made it so.
From Mrs Claudia McCalman, Senior Years Coordinator
Debating Team 2022 Dudley Cup Champions
Kinross Wolaroi has won the prestigious Dudley Cup after competing in the Dudley Cup Debating Championship for 2022. The Year 9 Debating team have been awarded the Dudley Cup Perpetual trophy as a result of winning the championship on Thursday evening, 20 October. They competed against a fellow Kinross Wolaroi team of students from Year 8 and 9 who were declared this year’s runners up.
The Dudley Cup Debating Competition which began in 1998, is hosted by Orange Rotary Club and sponsored by Dudley Private Hospital to give local youth from Years 9 and 10, a voice in their community. Kinross Wolaroi entered two debating teams in September, Term 3, to compete against other local schools. We excelled on the day of the competition finishing in 1st and 2nd place after competing in a series of three debates against teams from Canobolas High School and Orange Christian School.
On the evening of the 20 October, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the competition, the Final was held at Duntryleague Golf Club. In attendance, Dr Andrew Parry, Mr Trent Chapman, local Rotarians, and representatives from Dudley Private Hospital, were impressed by the excellent display of intelligent reasoned debate that took place.
The topic argued was ‘That today's youth is a lost generation.’ The reasoning from teams demonstrated knowledge and wisdom beyond their years. CEO of Dudley Private Hospital Paul McKenna presented the winning team of Sala Ormes- Smith, Anabelle Van Wyke, George Hogg, and Ollie Kraus with the perpetual trophy declaring them 2022 champions. Our runners up were Lulu Clinton, Gretel Sobotta, Alice Scholte and Issy Wong.
MIC Debating
Mrs Justina Holland
DUKE OF EDINBURGH
Adventurous Journey in Camps Week
As part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award participants are required to undertake an Adventurous Journey (AJ). Students in Year 9,10 and 11 who are enrolled in the Duke of Edinburgh who wish to travel to Kosciuszko National Park to complete their AJ are asked to email Mr Callaghan- lcallaghan@kws.nsw.edu.au as soon as possible.
The expedition will be capped at twenty students. Participants will camp in the National Park and complete day trips over the four days with a mountain bike and hiking component each day. The Duke of Edinburgh Award requires participants to self-cater for their AJ. This AJ is for Non Cadets.
Dates: Sunday 4 December- Wednesday 7 December
Location: Kosciuszko National Park
Cost: Approx. $150.00
Duke of Edinburgh at Kinross Wolaroi
The Duke of Edinburgh is a non-competitive self-development international program available to all young people which encourages them to set and achieve goals at a level appropriate to their needs and aspirations. The award is comprised of three levels, each progressively more challenging.
BRONZE - 14 years and older
SILVER - 15 years and older
GOLD - 16 years and older
If you are currently in Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 and are thinking about completing the Bronze, Silver or Gold Award please email lcallaghan@kws.nsw.edu.au or come and see Mr Callaghan.
“Duke drop in Fridays” are every Friday of the Term in Room 86- Anderson Centre at 100pm.
Study Hub
Formerly known as Homework Club
A reminder that Study Hub is on this week Monday through to Thursday – 3.30pm-5pm.
WHERE: Bennett Building, Rooms 21 and 22
WHO: Anyone from year 7-12 who would like to complete homework in a quiet environment or with assistance
WHAT’S COMING UP:
In Week 4, we will have the following study sessions:
- Monday afternoon – Science revision with Mrs Litchfield – Year 10
- Wednesday afternoon – Business Studies with Ms Symons – Year 11
- Wednesday afternoon – PDHPE/CAFS with Mrs Fardell – Year 11
- Wednesday afternoon – History with Mr Paine – Year 9/10
SNACKS PROVIDED: Of course!
We hope to see you there.