College News
Wellbeing Day 2023
The fourth annual Senior School Wellbeing Day took place on Friday 13 October and it may go down as the best event yet. Conceived and organised by the O’Connor House Council, the day consisted of a range of activities and events to promote positive wellbeing, kindness and connections among our College Community. The theme for this year was Mind, Body, and Environment. The activities on offer reflected this theme.
The day started with a special Running Club event, where an amazing group of staff, students and community members congregated on the College oval to start their Wellbeing Day off with some exercise in a fun and exciting environment. In Tutor Group, each student created an origami star with a positive message written inside. This will be delivered to one of our Service Partners for them to hand out to their residents. It was a lovely activity to promote kindness and compassion. A huge thank you to the Wellbeing Council and Reverend Liz who organised this activity.
Throughout the day, students engaged in a wide array of activities including arts and crafts, photobooth sessions, chalk drawing, sports, rowing, games, recycling activities, and plant cultivation and flower potting with two of our College Grounds Staff, Mr Stephen Worley and Ms Ella Melton. Students also enjoyed themselves at the ever-popular Petting Zoo whilst our talented Rock Band provided live entertainment.
Also, for the first time, Mr Damien Stevens and his Year 12 Health Studies class created Wellbeing Information Stalls that were set up at the breaks to educate our students on how best they can take care of themselves. We also had Forrest House run a Containers for Change stall where they also showed students how to propagate plants. Some of our College staff shared their favourite jokes with the College Community via email to start of the day on a positive note.
Year 11 O’Connor student Amrit Jessy also produced a video starring students and staff from the All Saints’ Senior School, based on how they support and nurture their own wellbeing, which was very well received. Finally, the Year 12s were involved in a special Wellbeing Period during PEP, which was run by Mr Damien Stevens. This session promoted the power or play and joy as well as a sense of togetherness as our most senior students approach the end of their time at the College.
We also did not forget about our staff with the Senior School Wellbeing Team putting on morning tea for our Senior School Staff. Year 12 Health Studies students, Maya Marriott and Chloe Lane also designed and distributed sleep information cards and sprigs of pressed lavender to all Senior teaching staff to kick start the day. Parents were also offered the opportunity to meet with one of our College Psychologists, Mrs Susana De Oliveira at Wanju to discuss how to help teenagers with their wellbeing.
The day had a real carnival atmosphere, which was exactly what we wanted for a day that highlights wellbeing. The event struck a great balance between providing a positive and engaging experience and raising awareness around mental illness and the available support resources.
We were incredibly well supported by the Parents & Friends Society who sponsored our Petting Zoo and Photobooth. These two activities were popular amongst our students and could not have occurred without the support of the P&F. A huge thank you to President Ms Kate Dallimore and Treasurer Ms Angela Roos for all of their work and support leading up to the event.
The fourth edition of our Wellbeing Day proved to be a resounding success, and our sincere gratitude extends to the dedicated efforts of our staff and students who contributed to its triumph. We also express our appreciation to the active involvement of our community members in the various activities. A special acknowledgment goes to the O'Connor House Council, whose exceptional contributions were instrumental in making the day a tremendous success.
If you have any ideas or would like to get involved in our 2024 Wellbeing Day, please contact me on oliver.beath@allsaints.wa.edu.au.
Mr Oliver Beath
Head of O’Connor House
Year 11 OED Whitewater Kayaking Expedition
A group of Year 11 students recently ventured on a thrilling kayaking expedition along the Avon River. The day was filled with fun, adventure, and a whole lot of laughs.
Day 1: Gear Up and Go! The adventure began with bleary-eyed students and kayaks that looked too sleek for their own good. They set off to learn new skills at Walyunga National Park which left the students with big smiles as they all progressed rapidly with the amazing instructors, guiding them throughout the day.
Day 2: Nature's Beauty on the Lazy River! Nature's beauty met teenage energy as the group explored the Avon River (T-trees section). Between the spills, the skills through tree sections and the pristine wilderness, students formed bonds as strong as their paddle strokes.
Day 3: Memories The final day marked their triumphant return to Walyunga National Park. Cold and tired, but smiling, they paddled from WNP to Bells Rapid in the morning whilst enjoying some new rapids and the warm sun.
In just three days, the Year 11 Outdoor Ed class left behind a trail of laughter, inspiration, and unforgettable experiences.
Mr Kaillan Howard
Health and Physical Education Teacher
Celebrating Our Emerging Engineers: Winners of the Low Carbon Footprint Design Competition
We are thrilled to announce the outstanding achievements of a group of five talented students from our school, who stood as the victorious team in the Emerging Engineers Competition 2023. Grace Shackleton and Nicola Fallon from Year 8, alongside Felicity Simon and Saskia Catalan from Year 9, and Domonique To from Year 10, excelled in this challenging competition.
Organised by OceanWorks in partnership with Girls in Engineering (GiE), the competition tasked students with designing a low carbon footprint solution to power a house in 2040. In a world grappling with environmental concerns and the depletion of fossil fuels, these young minds displayed exceptional creativity, innovation, and dedication to addressing one of the most pressing issues of our time.
The girls presented a unique and sustainable solution based on Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs). These MFCs harness the energy produced by bacteria in wastewater to generate electricity. This innovative approach not only showcased their engineering ingenuity but also demonstrated their commitment to sustainable and eco-conscious living. Their vision for a low carbon house in 2040 aligns with the global shift towards renewable energy sources and eco-conscious housing solutions.
We commend these students for their remarkable achievement and their dedication to critical and creative thinking, teamwork, and independent research. Their victory is a testament to the bright future of engineering and their contributions to a sustainable planet.
We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to the supervising teachers, Mrs Bassett and Mr Keskinidis, for their unwavering guidance, support, and mentorship throughout the competition.
We further extend our gratitude to the sponsors and organisers of the Emerging Engineers Competition for providing this incredible platform for our students to explore STEM fields and create solutions that will shape our world for the better.
Congratulations once again to Grace, Nicola, Felicity, Saskia, and Domonique for their outstanding performance in the competition. We are immensely proud of their achievements and look forward to witnessing their continued success in the world of engineering and innovation.
Mr Steven Scotti
Director of the Design Hub
ASC Rowing Season Recap and Learn to Row Program
Another All-Schools Rowing Season under our belt and what a season it was!This year saw the introduction of 10 students to the 2023 ASC Rowing program with nine Year 8 students and one Year 12 student joining the ranks. These students have shown tremendous aptitude for the sport and have each enjoyed their own respective success throughout the season.
The results from the season are a testament to the hard work and commitment of our young rowers. We’ve tallied up an impressive count of medals, which includes:
- 5 Gold
- 14 Silver
- 15 Bronze
One of the highlights of this season was the Rowing WA All Schools State Championships, which saw All Saints compete in 24 different events. Of these, seven made it to the finals. Notably, majority of the races involved younger athletes competing in higher age divisions.
Looking ahead to the 2024 season, we are incredibly optimistic about what the future holds for ASC Rowing. The remarkable achievements of our students this season provide a solid foundation for even greater success in the next.
Learn to Row Program
ASC Rowing will be conducting Learn to Row sessions for students in Year 8 and above during Weeks 4 – 6 of Term 4. Sessions will be held at the Curtin Boat Shed and will run during the normal rowing club training times which are:
- Mondays: 3.45pm - 5.45pm
- Wednesdays: 3.45pm - 5.45pm
- Saturdays: From 7am
For more information, please contact Head Coach, Nick Tejchman Nicholas.tejchman@allsaints.wa.edu.au
Mr Nicholas Tejchman
Head Rowing Coach
ASC Running Club Secures a Top Three Finish in the Education Minister's Running Challenge
A big congratulations to the ASC students who participated in the Education Minister's Running Challenge, which was held over six weeks during August and September. The challenge aimed to encourage students to build healthy habits and motivate them to make fitness a priority, helping them lay the foundation for a healthier future.
With a staggering 1,343 students signed up for the challenge and 11,108 logged activities, All Saints' College finished as one of the top three schools with 41,696 minutes of logged physical activity.
This is an amazing achievement that reflects the dedication, enthusiasm and teamwork of our students. A special congratulations also goes to Rhys Miller (Year 9), Ella Riches (Year 10), and Ophelia Goh (Year 7), who emerged as winners of the competition in their respective age groups.
We are very proud of all those who participated in the challenged for their efforts and commitment to staying healthy and active.
Mr King’s Trip to Indonesia
During the October school holidays ASC’s much loved VET co-ordinator, Mr Paul King, travelled to Indonesia as part of an Australian teaching delegation to participate in the Guru Relawan Program. Mr King spent his time abroad teaching students at the vocational school SMKN1 Surabaya.
The students were given the opportunity to participate in career-based lessons which included job interview skills and strategies. Mr King’s knowledge and expertise was extremely valued by those who participated.
The Australian Consulate General also hosted Mr King and the rest of the teaching delegation to a reception, which made the trip even more special. The connections made with such visits not only impacts on individuals, but also adds value to the ongoing constructive relationship between Australia and Indonesia. Well done Mr King!
Dr Angela Nicol Represents ASC at International Academic Conference
Our Junior School Relief Coordinator, Dr Angela Nicol, recently represented All Saints’ College at the International Academic Forum Conference on Education (IAFOR BCE2023) which was held in Barcelona, Spain from 19 – 23 September. Over 350 delegates from 65 different countries attended, covering a wide range of topics and research, spanning from Early Childhood to Tertiary Education.
Angela spoke on ‘Teaching Mathematics as a Language’; an area she is passionate about and has been practising for many years. This has resulted in her receiving offers of collaboration with international educators from Finland, Norway, and Israel, and significant praise from other Australian delegates. Angela chaired a conference session on Learning and Teaching Experiences, and prior to attending the conference, critiqued 60 abstracts as a member of the Conference International Review Committee. She received certificates as a presenter, session chair, and conference reviewer.
IAFOR is an international and interdisciplinary think tank which brings together academics and thought leaders, providing opportunities for discussion, facilitating intercultural awareness, and encouraging the exchange of research ideas. This is Angela’s third conference presentation for IAFOR.
We congratulate Angela for presenting at this education conference and thank her for representing All Saints’ College at this significant international event.
