From the Principal

Welcome back to a new term. Term 3 is always a busy but a highly satisfying term. I hope you have returned rested and ready to enjoy the many challenges and opportunities that the new term will provide.

For our Year 12 students it is your final term of schooling at Kinross Wolaroi. There is still a great deal to be done, to enjoy and experience. Make the most of your opportunities, appreciate your friendships and finish strongly. You have had a very good year. Make sure you complete your time here knowing you have given your best and made the most of the wonderful opportunities Kinross Wolaroi provides you. The term will go quickly.

Student Exchange

In Term 3 we welcome ten exchange students from Germany, France and Japan. A very special thank you to all our families who have so generously offered to host our visitors. Hosting exchange students affords a fabulous opportunity to develop new friendships and learn about other cultures. Some of you will also develop your foreign language skills.

Later in the Term we also will be starting our Year 8 exchange program with other Australian Round Square schools – these are shorter exchanges over a period of two weeks.

Please do all you can to welcome our new members to our community and make them feel at home. Our school has such an excellent reputation for community and for supporting each other. I encourage you all to step out of your comfort zone and help our exchange students settle into life at Kinross Wolaroi.

School Musical

I am very much looking forward to seeing our School Musical ‘The Little Shop of Horrors’ at the Orange Civic Theatre on Saturday night. We have such an outstanding reputation for our Performing Arts and I am sure it will be a fabulous production – a true reflection of our cast's abilities and immense dedication. I hope many of you also get a chance to see it - it is always a real highlight on our school calendar.

Sabbatical Leave

Over the final weeks of last term I had the privileged opportunity to take some sabbatical leave to visit some of Britain’s leading independent Boarding Schools. It is always very helpful and informative to look at how the other schools operate, the programs they offer and to engage with other educators.

My leave provided scope for me to explore some of the themes that have evolved from the school and community focus groups, who have been contributing to our next Strategic Plan 2024-26. Emerging themes include the synergies between academic and wellbeing programs and how they mutually reinforce a positive educational experience; human resources – people and culture leadership - how do we continue to attract and retain quality staff, particularly during a period where the teaching profession faces significant challenges around the world; the development of future ready students; and the value of an engaged and active alumni.

As we are about to embark on the construction of new boarding facilities and renovation of academic spaces, it was highly valuable to look at similar developments in other schools.

The schools visited included Wellington College – located near London, Oundle School in the beautiful market town of Oundle, and St Edward’s School, Oxford. Each have strong academic and co-curricular programs and cater for 650-850 boarding students.

The opportunity to meet with many staff in each school, to discuss their roles and philosophies and to spend time with fellow Heads to share ideas and challenges was of immense value. Although we educate students at different ends of the world our challenges and experiences are remarkably similar.

Schools will do things differently because we all have particular environments and contexts in which we operate. It was also greatly affirming to appreciate how well we do so many things at Kinross Wolaroi and to be reminded of the breadth of opportunity we provide for such a diverse range of students. We have a great deal of which we should be very proud.

I was delighted to hear how strongly our students finished last term. I received many reports from staff and families regarding the marvellous Music Festival concert, the excellent Careers Expo and the highly valuable and well designed Study Camp.

HSC Study Week

Our Year 12 students spent the last week of Term 2 busily engaged in an HSC Study Camp. Throughout the week students engaged in subject specific HSC study and revision sessions. For some of these subjects, the school engaged an external company – Elevate Education – to run workshops that were designed using data from previous HSC results. Students completing practical subjects with Major Work components also had the opportunity to dedicate time to their projects. Students were grateful for the opportunity to consolidate and revise in preparation for their upcoming Trial HSC exams and their final term of secondary schooling.  

Over the holiday break our students were involved in a variety of school activities:

Cadet Courses

One hundred and four students engaged in the Cadet Promotions Courses. Three courses were conducted, including for the ranks of Corporal, Sergeant and Cadet Under Officer. The staff were delighted with the positive and committed approach of our students and are very much looking forward to working with the new Cadet leadership group. At our recent assembly four of our course participants delivered an excellent presentation.

SKIING

Fifty students participated in a most enjoyable ski trip to Thredbo during the holidays. They were fortunate to have some good quality snow during their week away. Kinross Wolaroi also entered a team in the Interschool Snowsports for the first time and achieved excellent results, with Jett Johnson and Thomas Karrasch both qualifying for the State Championships and Thomas receiving a Bronze Medal in moguls.

Rugby Camp

Thirty-three Senior Rugby players attended rugby camp in Sydney over the last four days of the holiday period. During the camp they attended the Wallabies' Captain’s run before the test match, attended the Wallabies vs Argentina match, trained on Bondi Beach and were hosted at St Andrew’s College at Sydney University, where they had lunch and a tour of the College.

Lucy Searle (Year 12) – Henley Royal Regatta

Lucy Searle won the Raynor Cup at the Henley Women's Regatta, with Talisa Knoke-Driver from Sydney Rowing Club. This outstanding result saw them qualify for the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup Quad race at Henley Royal Regatta.

At our Assembly this week, Michael O’Mara – The President of the Commonwealth Games NSW with Melissa Ashton-Garard the Chief Executive Officer of Rowing NSW, presented Lucy Searle with a $1,000 scholarship in acknowledgement of her excellence. 

Lucy has had an outstanding year being NSW State and Australian National Champion and Gold Medallist. A fitting reward for her immense dedication, courage and desire for excellence.

Congratulations Lucy on an amazing achievement.

Staff Changes

We welcome the following new Staff to the Kinross Wolaroi community this Term:

Ms Tania Laffey – Science Teacher  (Senior School)

Please make Tania feel welcome as she joins Kinross Wolaroi School as our Science Teacher to replace Bailey Hillard. Tania comes to us from St Joseph’s Catholic School in Cloncurry with a focus on Mathematics and Chemistry and has a passion for encouraging enjoyment and success in students. Tania has a Bachelor of Education from Griffith University.

Mr Matthew Campbell – PDHPE Teacher and Sports Co-ordinator (Junior School)

We welcome Mr Matthew Campbell to the Junior School. Mr Campbell has a passion for promoting physical fitness and a demonstrated ability to coordinate sports programs effectively. Mr Campbell graduated from Charles Stuart University. He has worked at Mona Vale and for the last 7 years at Nashdale Public School. Over this time Mr Campbell has gained extensive experience in delivering quality teaching and learning programs in alignment with NESA requirements. 

Mr Campbell is experienced in organising well-coordinated sports events. Securing notable success in inter-school competitions, with teams achieving well and individuals receiving recognition for their performances. Mr Campbell is an active member of the Orange sporting community and is often seen at Emus where he has undertaken many roles including player, coach and board member. We look forward to his contribution to the Junior School as we continue to build sporting opportunities for our students both within the school and in the Orange community and beyond.

Ms Abbey Norris – Teachers Aide

We are pleased to introduce Abbey Norris as a Teachers Aide starting this week. Abbey is an experienced Early Childhood Educator and Disability Support Worker.

Mr Jackson Hill – Teachers Aide

We welcome Jackson Hill as a Teachers Aide. Jackson has previously assisted at Anson Street School and St Mary’s Catholic Primary School

Staff returning from leave

• Ms Ash Hiskens – Maths Teacher
• Mr Norm Moore – PDHPE Teacher
• Mr Jason Smith – HSIE Teacher and Blackman House Head Mentor
• Mr Bryan Thomas – HSIE Teacher and Dean House Head Mentor
• Ms Ann-Margaret Gunther – Director of Pre-Kindy

Staff on leave

• Mr Henry Adams – on Leave Term 3
• Ms Alex McManus – on Maternity leave for 12 months 
• Rebecca Whiteley – Long Service Leave for Term 3
• Mark Pritchard – Long Service Leave for all of 2023

Congratulations

National Latin Examinations

The National Latin Exam was held on-line again this year in March and our students have achieved very pleasing results.

Fourteen Year 8 students received awards for their results:

Sam Knox was awarded a Silver medal ‘maxima cum laude’ with a score of 93%.

Percy Meates, Georgia Philippe, Niamh Rourke, Lily Moe, Tom Mason and Saphira Ladbrook were awarded a Commendation certificate ‘magna cum laude' with scores of 80% and above.

Anna Childs, Jack Dale, Chaitra Avirneni, Skye Napier, Noah Martin, Imogen Christmas and Rohan Kotasthane were awarded a Commendation certificate ‘cum laude’ with scores of 75% and above.

In Year 9 Alice Scholte received a Commendation certificate ‘magna cum laude’.

In Year 10 Bridget Horne and Kajan Kandeepan were each awarded a Gold medal ‘summa cum laude’ with scores of 95% and 85%. Elijah Cunningham received a Commendation certificate ‘magna cum laude’ with a score of 70%, and Krishan Kandeepan and Hannah Jones were awarded Commendation certificates ‘cum laude’ with scores of 68% and 65%.

In Year 11 Hugo Reynolds received a Commendation certificate ‘magna cum laude’ with a result of 78%.

In Year 12 Gordon Suthers scored 85% and received a Silver medal ‘maxima cum laude’.

Fleur Connick 

Fleur Connick (Class of 2015) was the winner of the 2023 John B. Fairfax Family Young Australian Journalist of the Year Award for shortform journalism. Fleur is a reporter for Guardian Australia’s rural and regional network and her three stories on the Murray-Darling River water quality and mass animal kills won her this prestigious journalism award.

Women’s Ashes Selection

In June, Former Australia captain Alex Blackwell presented Baggy Green cap No.183 to former Sydney Thunder teammate Phoebe Litchfield ahead of Australia's Ashes Test against England at Trent Bridge. Phoebe's family were all there for the important event. In the past few days the team defeated England in a very tight One Day International to win the Ashes.

We couldn't be prouder of Phoebe, who is a graduate of the Class of 2021.