From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to Term 3, which is the last full term for our Class of 2026, our incredible Year 12 student leaders.

Term 3 is an exciting and busy term across our community. On Tuesday we commenced our Years 4 to 7 interm swimming lessons, while last night (Thursday 23 July) we enjoyed gathering with parents and students at our 2027 Year 11 Parent Information and Careers evening, which flowed into the Careers Expo today. There was a wonderful feeling of community, positivity and possibility as our Year 10 students considered their school pathway through Years 11 and 12.

Throughout this term there will be many highlights to celebrate and enjoy, including; our visiting author (Mark Greenwood), Year 10 Subject Selections, the festival day that is JWACS Founders’ Day, the Anglicare Sleepout - in support of the homeless, Inter-House Athletics Carnivals for both Primary and Secondary Schools, our School Production – Unicorn Girl, as well as Book Week (with all the fun of dressing up) – and that’s just the first half of term!

I am deeply appreciative of the staff, students and parents who are so active and involved, making our school the vibrant, inclusive and enjoyable community that we are at John Wollaston.

Scholarships 2027

I have pleasure in announcing the recipients of the John Wollaston Academic Scholarships for 2027. Congratulations to the following students:

Year 5 2027 Academic Scholarship

Isaac Bullock from John Wollaston Anglican Community School

Amber Hardy from John Wollaston Anglican Community School

Year 7 2027 Academic Scholarship

Diya Arun from Woodland Grove Primary School

Milana Bradford from John Wollaston Anglican Community School

Year 11 2027 Academic Scholarship

Richard Peter from John Wollaston Anglican Community School

The School would like to congratulate and thank all students and their families who participated in the Academic Scholarship process in 2026. We look forward to inviting registrations for the scholarship examination process in 2027, where Academic and All Rounder Scholarships for entry into Year 4, 7 and 10 in 2028 will be offered.

We look forward to announcing those awarded the new Allrounder Scholarships for students entering Year 4 at John Wollaston in 2027 shortly.

Staffing

As we start this semester, we are delighted to welcome back Mr Derek Heatherly our Business Manager from a period of Long Service Leave, Ms Marjan Van Dijk, who comes back into Primary Arts and Ms Jaquie Fisher as our returning Head of Year 7.

I am also pleased to have the opportunity to introduce and welcome those new to our community, who are commencing with us at the start of this semester:

• Mrs Lisa Barrett, our incoming Head of the Arts
• Ms Tatia Sly, who is well known and loved in the community, as our Primary Japanese teacher while Mrs Heidi Crawford enjoys a period of Long Service Leave to start Term 3.
• Mr Charles Wood joins us for the remainder of the year in Primary Music, while Ms Hollie Burbage enjoys her leave across the semester.
• Ms Yiming Zhong, in Secondary Science, covering for Mr James Winter
• Mr Gary Bordoni, returns to us in Secondary Humanities for Mrs Pauline Galley

With Mr Winter and Mrs Galley enjoying a term of Long Service Leave, I am very grateful to those staff who step into their Head of House responsibilities for Term 3 - Dr Teagan Kavanagh (Acting Head of Charter) and Mr Rory Marchant (Acting Head of Hale).

The final changes relate to Mr Quentin Hess, is away recovering from an injury, with Mr Craig Wilkinson stepping his classes for the first four weeks of Term 3. We are delighted to have Mrs Edith Muhl step in as Head of Scott House for that period.

School Calendar

2026

This year the significant dates for the conclusion of the Academic year are as follows:

Year 12

Valedictory Dinner: 6:00pm, Thursday 15 October

Valedictory and Prize Giving: 6:00pm, Tuesday 20 October

Final day for Year 12 students: Wednesday 21 October

Year 11

Final day for Year 11 students: Thursday 19 November

Praise and Thanksgiving: 6:00pm, Wednesday 2 December

Year 10

Final day for Year 10 students, Wednesday 2 December

Praise and Thanksgiving: 6:00pm, Wednesday 2 December

Years 7 – 9

Final day for Years 7 – 9 students: Wednesday 9 December (3:00pm)

Praise and Thanksgiving: 1:15pm, Wednesday 9 December

Years 2 – 6

Final day for Years 2 – 6 students: Wednesday 9 December (12:00pm)

Praise and Thanksgiving: 9:00am, Wednesday 9 December

ELC

Final day for ELC students: Friday 4 December (12:00pm)

ELC Nativity: 9:00am, Friday 4 December 

2027

As we finalise the School Calendar for 2027, we would like to share some early information regarding some small changes to the beginning and end of the year timings. Please note that 2027 will begin with a staggered start to the year. This means that:

• We will welcome our Pre-Primary to Year 8 students, along with the Year 12 Class of 2027, to the school community on Tuesday 2 February. For our Year 7 and 8s this will allow the School to provide further specialised transition programs. For our Year 12s, their purpose-built program seeks to ensure their final year of schooling has a positive, focussed and supported start.
• Years 9, 10 and 11 students will commence on Wednesday 3 February.

The 2027 significant dates for the conclusion of the Academic year are as follows:

Year 12

Final day for Year 12 students: Thursday 21 October

Year 11

Final day for Year 11 students: Friday 19 November.

Please note, Year 11 students will be invited to return for the combined Years 7 to 11 Praise and Thanks service at 9:00am on Tuesday 7 December.

Years 7 – 10

Final day for Years 7 – 10 students: Wednesday 8 December (12:00pm)

Praise and Thanksgiving: 9:00am, Tuesday 7 December

Years 2 – 6

Final day for Years 2 – 6 students: Wednesday 8 December (12:00pm)

Praise and Thanksgiving: 9:00am, Wednesday 8 December

ELC

Final day for ELC students: Friday 3 December (12:00pm)

ELC Nativity: 9:00am, Friday 3 December

The Praise and Thanks service for those in Years 7 to 11 will be at 9:00am on Tuesday 7 December, allowing our whole Secondary School to join together for that significant community celebration.

We recognise that this is a small change from our previous practice in which the Year 10 students finish the year a few days in advance of those in Years 7 to 9. However, the pattern of Public Holidays in 2027 has meant that we will need to align the final day for those across Years 7 to 10 in order to maintain the three-week break in the middle of the year and continue to meet the mandated requirements for student attendance across the academic year.

I hope you enjoy this edition of the Wollaston Wrap.

Have a wonderful term!

Tim Russell

Principal

First Day at School

Perth Observatory Incursion | Year 2

Samoa Immersion | Year 10