Around the Senior School

Pink Stumps 24 Hour Walk-a-thon

Student - Caitlyn Milne

This Friday and Saturday (31st of October to 1st of November) we are holding our McGrath Foundation Pink Stumps 24hr Walk-a-thon! So far we have raised over $18,000 to support women and families facing breast cancer, and are aiming to walk a lap for every dollar donated. Thank you to everyone who has donated, especially our major sponsors: Pinnacle Physiotherapy and Gracie’s at 4 Pines Brewing! We would love support from our wider school community to help us walk these over the 24 hours, and all students are encouraged to walk during lunch and after school!

Year 7 Locker Transition

Friday 24 October

Last Friday, 24 October, the Year 7 Quad was full of excitement during Wellbeing time, as students gathered their belongings to take an important step in their secondary school journey — moving from the dedicated ‘Year 7 Quad’ and locker area into their Wellbeing House areas. This move marks a significant step in Year 7s senior schooling, as they enter their house areas, where their lockers will be situated for their remaining time at Kinross Wolaroi. The occasion was celebrated with great enthusiasm; as music and laughter rung through both the Quad and House spaces.

In continuation of a valued Kinross Wolaroi tradition, our new House Captains assisted students through this transition, and took them to their house areas, where the rest of the house waited to welcome them.

Thank you to our Year 7 Mentors, Head Mentors, and House Captains for their support in ensuring the process was smooth and memorable.

Finally, congratulations to all our Year 7s on this milestone — well done!

Mr Will Waterson

Year 7 Co-ordinator

Cadets

This year has been full of adventure for our Cadets. Last term, the Year 8 cadets took to the trees at Treetops Adventure and challenged themselves on a scenic bushwalk and hike.

Meanwhile, the Year 7 cadets experienced their very first overnight camp out at Nangar National Park where they learned the basics of fieldcraft, teamwork, and resilience in the outdoors. The platoons split early in the morning, with the boys arriving at the park around 9:30am ready to begin their first trek on bivouac. While they were on their way, the girls remained at school and took part in a range of activities, including the swim test, first aid relays, camouflage and concealment, and the DYSL challenge. Later that day, the girls travelled out to camp, where both platoons set up at their night locations before taking part in evening activities. The following morning, the girls set off on their trek while the boys returned to campus to complete their scheduled activities. HQ also had a great time out at camp, ensuring all the Cadets were on track during their treks. They all had a lot of fun and are looking forward to Annual camp next year.

Annabelle Kerridge, Adjutant KWSCU

To give a closer look at what the experience was like, one of our Year 8 Cadets, Grace Segger, has shared her experience from the Treetops excursion:

The day started at 8:45 when we were loaded onto the bus armed with nothing but lollies. Our first stop was the Treetops obstacle course, complete with tiny ziplines, jumps, and balance beams with what felt like a 100-meter drop below us making my heart drop every time I fell. Two courses later, we had conquered our fears of heights, but not without a bit of screaming, clinging to ropes, and praying our harnesses would catch us.

Next, we took a 3km hike to the Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains. Along the way, we got lost once or twice and had the occasional fall, but we managed to find our way. At the end, we were in awe of the stunning views that had accompanied us along the way. Before we got back on the bus, we treated ourselves to some yummy ice cream and took pictures with the Three Sisters.

Finally, we made our last stop at McDonald’s and stuffed our faces with burgers, more ice cream, and chips. By the time I got home, I was exhausted and very full, but it was totally worth it for the adventure and the awesome memories we made.

Grace Segger, Cadet

Year 8 Treetops excursion:

Year 7 Bivouac:

Exciting Tech Upgrade: Six New Core One Prusa 3D Printers Powering STEM Innovation

The TAS faculty is proud to announce a major enhancement to our STEM facilities with the arrival of six brand-new Core One Prusa 3D printers. This upgrade reflects our commitment to providing students with access to cutting-edge technology that supports creativity, innovation, and hands-on learning.

Four of these advanced printers have been installed in the Senior School STEM room, creating a vibrant space for students to explore design, engineering, and digital fabrication. These are complemented by two additional printers in the Junior School, ensuring that students from all year levels can engage with 3D printing technology.

The Core One Prusa printers are known for their precision, reliability, and ease of use—making them ideal for both beginners and experienced users. The availability of open-source design encourages experimentation and compliments the CAD skills developed using Fusion 260.

In the Senior School, students will now be able to tackle more complex projects across the TAS curriculum, including prototyping, robotics, architecture, and wearable technology. The printers support interdisciplinary learning, blending design thinking, coding, and material science into real-world applications.

Meanwhile, in the Junior School, students are being introduced to the fundamentals of 3D design using TinkerCAD. This early exposure helps build confidence and curiosity, laying the groundwork for future STEM engagement.

This upgrade aligns our STEM and Technology facilities with current technology trends and ensures our students are equipped with the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world. We’re proud to be fostering the next generation of designers, engineers, and innovators.

Ms Robyn Youll, Head of TAS (Food and Fibre)

NAIDOC Week

Monday 20 October – Orange NAIDOC Week Street March and Opening Ceremony

Our Indigenous students and 8 of the Junior School leaders attended the Orange NAIDOC Week Street March and Opening Ceremony. Along with other schools and community members Kinross Wolaroi students marched down the main street into Robertson Park where the Opening Ceremony was held. After a Welcome to Country, flag raising and speeches from Orange NAIDOC Week Chairperson, Cr Gerald Power, Orange Mayor, Cr Tony Mileto, and Member for Orange, Hon Andrew Gee MP, our students explored the numerous stores that were set up around Robertson Park.

Tuesday 21 October – Orange Health Service NAIDOC Celebrations

Our Girls' Indigenous Dance Group were invited to dance at the Orange Health Service NAIDOC Celebrations. The girls performed their NAIROC routine which is to Briggs’s The Children Came Back. After their performance one of the Elders came over to say well done to the girls and that their dance had touched her in a way that made her emotional. As appreciation for performing at this event, the girls were presented with certificates and a Bottlebrush tree that will be planted in our Indigenous Garden at school.

Wednesday 22 October – NAIROC (NAIDOC Eisteddfod)

Our Kinross Wolaroi Indigenous Girls' Dance Group competed in NAIROC. Their performance was excellent and received praise from the judges. One judge saying that their performance was his favourite all day. The girls finished in second place in the High School category, only missing out on first place by four points.

Gemma and Nash presented Dr Parry with his very own Kangaroo Cloak as a farewell gift from our Indigenous Program to show appreciation for the support he has given us. This was presented to Dr Parry on stage after the girls performed in front of the Orange and Indigenous community.

Friday 24 October – Junior NAIDOC Ball

Eighteen of our Indigenous students attended the Junior NAIDOC Ball, greatly enjoying the opportunity to dress up and have a night out with students from other schools.