Message from 

the Principal

Term has concluded in the Senior School with a very successful Camps Week. The Cadet Unit returned to Top Valley Station to undertake a modified program due to the training interruptions over the past 12 months; Year 7 participated in a variety of outdoor experiences at Lake Burrendong; a number of Year 10’s undertook community service initiatives within Orange or within their local community and many of our Seniors enthusiastically engaged in our Year 12 retreat hosted here at School. 

Camps week provides an excellent opportunity for our students to experience new activities that extend and challenge them physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually. I wish to commend the student body for the positive and enthusiastic manner in which they embraced the activities and thank our staff for all their excellent organisation and care over the week.

Prior to Camps Week over 80 of our musicians participated in three days of intensive musicianship bringing together our ensembles and orchestras with wonderful results. What was achieved in only a few days of concentrated work and rehearsal was fabulous and will set them up very well for the remainder of the year. 

I was most fortunate to attend a delightful evening on Wednesday 17 March where our 2020 TREE Interns celebrated and shared their marvellously enriching educational experiences. Ten of our current Year 11’s spoke so passionately about their Internships and of the valuable things that they had learned over 2020. I was delighted to see so many of the organisations who had kindly hosted our students present on the evening and also very special to be able to share this occasion with parents also.

We are most grateful for generous support of PHYSX, Gilmandyke Angus Stud, the DPIE, Danielle Louise, Fresh Fodder, Factory Expresso, Almighty Industries, Second Mouse Cheese, The Corner Store Gallery and MoJo. Without their valuable support such wonderfully enriching educational experiences based in our local context would not be possible. Thank you.

Our TREE interns should be immensely proud of the quality of their work and of the superb ambassadors they have been in the community for Kinross Wolaroi. Thank you and well done.

It has been lovely to receive some very positive feedback over the past week commending our students for being such fine young citizens. Recently our Year 11 Geographers were undertaking a field study in the Snowy Mountains. During the trip our students participated in a mountain bike ride on the Thredbo Valley track and the instructor wrote to me expressing:

“I have guided schools from all over Australia and the kids today would have to be one of my favourite groups ever. They were not only polite but really engaging and lots of fun. Respect between students and with teachers was very obvious. Makes me wish I lived in Orange so my own kids could go to your school.” 

I received similar feedback from many people in the general public about our rowers who have just returned from competing in the Australian Rowing Championships in Tasmania. Airline staff, passengers, rowing officials and spectators all commenting on how impressive our wonderful students are. They were amazing ambassadors for Kinross Wolaroi, their families and for regional Australia. 

We have indeed much to be proud of!

Congratulations

Da Vinci Decathlon

Teams from Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 recently competed in the Regional Da Vinci Decathlon held in Bathurst. The competition is designed to stretch students academically and aims to stimulate young minds. Impressively, our Year 7, Year 8 and Year 10 teams won their events, and the Year 9 group were placed 3rd. 

Australian Rowing Championships

18 of our Rowers travelled to Tasmania last week to compete in the Australian National Championships staged at Lake Barrington in Tasmania.

Gold Medallists and National Champions of Australia - Under 19 Womens Quadruple Scull  

Composite crew: Bella Scammell and Freya Neville 

Bronze Medallists - Under 17 Womens Quadruple Scull 

Crew: Ayla Ryan, Lily Robson, Lucy Searle, Lucy Scammell and Jayde Caro as Cox.

Bronze Medallists - Under 19 Womens Double Scull - Bronze Medal

Crew: Bella Scammell and Freya Neville

We were superbly represented by all members of the team as they registered excellent performances over the week. Our Girls First VIII won the B final in a time some 12 seconds faster than the A final winners. The Boys’ Four did tremendously well to make their respective finals, as did Stirling Graham in the Mens Single Scull.

Ten4Ten Leadership Opportunity

Congratulations to Eliza Ward, Ellenor Crawford and Gian Wynn for being selected to participated in the highly regarded and competitive 2021 Ten4Ten Leadership Dialogue. A wonderful opportunity for them.

Staffing

Mrs Hannah Whittemore - Head of Girls Boarding

It gives me much pleasure to announce that Mrs Hannah Whittemore has been appointed as Head of Girls Boarding at Kinross Wolaroi School to commence at the start of Term 2, 2021.

Most recently, Hannah has been Deputy Head of Boarding and Head of House at St Vincent’s College, Potts Point and previously held each role at Ascham in Sydney. She comes to us with a proven record of success in the boarding environment where she has demonstrated a strong ability to develop a supportive and nurturing community.

Hannah’s extensive involvement in the boarding program at Ascham over a period of 6 years saw her implement innovative programs and practices to support learning, promote cultural awareness, enhance student wellbeing and cultivate an environment of effective communication with families. She has earnt the respect of her colleagues as a collaborative leader and has demonstrated her ability to build strong relationships with community.

Mrs Whittemore has a Bachelor of Arts (English Literature) and a Post Graduate Diploma of Education from the Australian Catholic University and is soon to complete a Master of Leadership from Deakin University.

We very much look forward to welcoming Mrs Whittemore, her husband Ben and young daughter Ruby to the Kinross Wolaroi School community. 

New Role – Academic Administrator – Mr Paul Tierney

In recent months, Mr Paul Tierney has generously taken on a number of important new responsibilities associated with the academic life of the School. These have been in addition to his timetabling responsibilities and teaching of Mathematics. 

It is highly fitting that these important duties be grouped under the new role of Academic Administrator. I am most grateful that Mr Tierney has agreed to take on this position. 

The Academic Administrator assists in the co-ordination and administration of all components of timetabling and academic scheduling and is responsible for the administration and coordination of internal and external examinations and testing in the Secondary School and NAPLAN Years 3-9. This role also plans and administers external exams such as Allwell Testing and HSC Minimum Standards, all of which Paul has been diligently undertaking throughout the year. 

Kinross Wolaroi is most fortunate to have someone with Paul’s skill set and dedication to the School fulfilling this valuable role. 

Easter Message

I wish you all a very happy Easter and hope you can spend some special time with family and friends.

The Gospel of St John tells us:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him.  John 3:16-17

Easter is a special time to rest and reflect as we celebrate that God gave his son to die on the Cross, and who then rose again so that our sins may be forgiven. For Christians the cross of Jesus Christ is the centre of God’s offer of forgiveness to us all. 

The resurrection of Jesus reminds us that in the face of suffering and sorrow we should share in hope and joy. We are called to love our neighbours, live in peace and embrace justice and inclusion. We are seeing this loving spirit shine brightly in so many as they help others battle great challenges caused by pandemics and natural disasters in this country.

Easter provides opportunity to remember those in our community who are less fortunate than us.

Have a very happy Easter.