From the Principal’s Desk
Final Days of 2025
Term 4 is always a phrenetic time with staff supporting students to complete their work towards course and qualification completion, planning for the following year and finalising end of year celebrations. In all these areas staff and students have been on task and have done justice to their years efforts. Of course, there will be some stories of mixed success but in general all students will be well positioned to move to their next stage of education, whether here at North Lake in Year 12, TAFE, apprenticeships, or the world of work. For our IEC students movement into Year 11 courses will be their commencement of a mainstream education. Many students will continue their IEC journey to hone their English skills and preparation for mainstream. At Fast Track many students may require another year to consolidate and prepare for their next life experience.
I congratulate all staff and students on their achievements this year and look forward to another successful year in 2026.
Term 4 Events
Rotary Endeavour Scholarship winners 2026
Each year our wonderful friends at Booragoon Rotary sponsor six $500 scholarships for deserving Year 11 students. Students have been nominated by staff and shortlisted by key leaders including Student Services. “Deserving” are the key criteria and not necessarily the most academically able and we have another outstanding list of recipients for 2026.
Alex Noun
Nazi Nazari
Nurul Syafikan (Lucy) Syahrul Nizam
Jar Sudngam
Pete Areemit
Lenayah Turvey (Fremantle Fast Track)
Students were invited to a presentation evening on October 28 at the Deep Water Point Dome restaurant with their parent or carer. Key staff involved also attended. Students either presented stories of their journeys or had those read by their nominating teachers. The Rotary members in attendance always remark on the exceptional quality of our young people and this year was no exception.
My thanks to Antoinette, Judy, Craig and team, and Bree for their diligence in this process. Ravi and Tasha take credit for carriage of the preparation of the students who delivered their stories to those assembled.
Brooke, our PR and Communications Officer also managed to gain a significant spot in “Perth Now” covering the event and our students.
Year 12 Valedictory
I say each year this celebration just gets better. The organisation, student presentation, family attendance and noteworthy participation by current and past students was again exceptional. My thanks to Colleen and her team of Craig, Tarryn, Dean and Sarah along staff who met and greeted family all helped to make this another memorable celebration.
Our prize winners:
Ampol Award – Elisha Pamplona
ADF Future Innovators – Matthew Biggins
ADF Long Tan – Rosanna Marshall
Rotary Values Awards – Krish and Minnie Clarke
North lake Excellence Awards – Matthew Biggins, Jerry Ko, Pietra Gonzaga Balbino, Elisha Pamplona and Bisma Shaheen
IEC and Fremantle Fast Track Achievement Ceremonies
These celebrations are a fitting finale to a campus year, and this year was no exception. The IEC celebration was held on Friday, November 28 and attended by all transitioning IEC students, families, staff and special guests. Amongst our guests were the Campus Council Chair, Alan Genoni. Alan was a former Campus Principal and experienced school leader over several years. In company with Alan was His worship The Mayor of Cockburn City, Logan Howlett and his wife Pat. The contribution the City of Cockburn makes to our Campus is significant and has been for many years. The award winners and other details are reported later in this newsletter.
The Fremantle Fast Track celebration was also well attended by students, their families and staff from both FastTrack and the main campus. Many special guests included members from Booragoon Rotary Club, Campus Council and the City of Fremantle. Parents were able to visit the classrooms to see the work that has been done by students and to discuss their achievements from throughout the year. Following a sumptuous brunch, students and staff mingled and discussed future directions. These celebrations always highlight the development and progress made by each young person in their journey to be the best version of themselves and again is a credit to the dedication of the Fremantle Fast Track staff and the leadership of Antoinette Morris and Paul Mawby.
Staff Farewells
Jenny Hart, has been teaching for 47 years, the last 33 here at North Lake and is now finishing with us and retiring at the end of the year. Jenny has guided many students through courses in HASS and Psychology, and in 2024/5 has been our Coordinator for International and SIDE students. Her positive can do nature will be sorely missed.
Dean McKenna, similarly, has been teaching for more than 40 years, the last 18 of which have been with North Lake as a Fast Track Coordinator, Music Specialist, Design and Technology teacher and level 3 Program Coordinator. His role in planning and organising special events will be a resource hard to replace in the years ahead. Again, Dean is moving into retirement, but we suspect we may see him regularly to assist in special projects, music events and certainly relieving in Design and Technology.
Miranda Free, another long-term teacher of Mathematics having commenced in primary schools. We managed to steal her from SIDE and have certainly benefitted from her expertise especially teaching some of our IEC students. She will also retire and enjoy both family and travel opportunities.
In all three cases we wish them a deserved long, happy, and healthy life after work.
Brooke Rolfe, our PR and Communications Officer, has also decided to move on after a whirlwind 5months with us. Her impact in presenting our Campus to the world through social and print media has been significant and impactful. Our loss is The West Australian’s gain and we wish her every success into the future, you never know we may feature in The West sometime soon.
Staffing changes and additions for 2026
Judy Natale, moves back from Coordinating the IEC to a role in Quality Teaching as well as a new project in Literacy and Numeracy Support. Judy’s work effort and “can do” attitude has seen the IEC flourish under her leadership. We’ll miss her dedication in the IEC but plan to take advantage of her skills and expertise across the campus in her new role(s).
Jessie Threnoworth, an experienced Level 3 leader will take over the reins of the IEC for at least Semester 1, 2026 backfilling both Judy and Sakura Ashton who continues her leave. We have been lucky enough to see Jessie in action, and she brings some great skills to the position.
There will be new teachers in Mathematics, EAL, IEC, and at Fast Track. I will report who they are and how they have settled in our first newsletter of 2026.
Vale Susan Ford
It is with great regret that I inform the wider campus community of Susan’s sudden death. Susan was a long serving member of the Fast Track team (18years). In that time, she has been a solid member of the Fast Track Family. Her contribution over a significant career at Fast track was immense and her input into the future will be sorely missed. I know our students, staff and community join with me in sending our condolences to Susan’s family and to her Fast Track family.
In conclusion, I thank all staff across both campuses including all our non-teaching support staff, our cleaners and gardeners and extend my gratitude to the Campus Council membership for their contributions and support in the varied and many ways they do, I am hoping we can expand our numbers next year as we will have some of our number moving off the Council at the end of this year. Please spread the word of our unique and effective Campus to all that ask and the contribution we make to the care and support of young people in their educational journey.
Have a lovely festive season, and a wonderful New Year!
Gary Anderson
Principal