Senior School News

An Eye to the Future – Year 11 2027 

Term Two is a very busy and exciting time for our Year 10 families. Not only do these students have the pressure of examinations in Week 8 and OLNA, but they also will enjoy a rejuvenating Retreat in Week 10. 

Perhaps the most important home and school Year 10 event is the 2027 Subject Selection evening in Week 6 on Wednesday, May 27. This is a crucial event for our Year 10 students as it is the time that they begin to make firm decisions which will direct them to their post-school reality. With ongoing shifts in school and tertiary education, exciting new Year 11 and 12 pathways, and the dynamic nature of our world’s employment landscape, it is strongly advised that all Year 10 students and their parents attend the Subject Selection evening. 

Testing Times are Upon Us 

Senior School students have recently been completing their 2026 round one for Online Literacy and Numeracy (OLNA). With students needing to meet associated literacy and numeracy benchmarks to achieve their West Australian Certificate of Education (WACE), these assessments have been an important and at times stressful process. 

Year 12 students who are enrolled in any General or Foundation courses have their ESTs between May 18-20. Timetables were shared with students and their caregivers last week. In addition, Year 11 and 12 Examinations are scheduled for May 25 to June 5.  

It goes without saying that this period can provide our students with a certain amount of heightened emotions. It is important that our Senior School students support each other, both in and out of school. In regards to the latter, students are implored to think of their peers and their bigger ‘assessment picture’ when organising social gatherings. I ask our community to keep these students in their prayers as they move through these assessments.  

Mental Health Change Agents 

A significant societal change in the last decade has been the amount of importance associated with having open dialogue about one’s mental health. This reality manifests itself into many areas of modern life.  

Zero to Hero is a not-for-profit organisation which aims to educate, engage and empower young people to support and maintain their own mental health and prevent suicide in the community. With our society needing more passionate young people who are mental health change agents, this organisation aims to equip the next generation to recognise when someone may be struggling and encourage them to seek help without shame. 

Four of our Senior School students – Sienna Young, Logan Woods, Sacha Chidoko and Krys Marie-Louise seized the opportunity to attend Camp Hero, a five-day camp which aims to mentor attendees so that they can become mental health change agents. As part of this camp, these students completed safeTALK, a nationally recognised suicide prevention accreditation that teaches them how to help someone who may be in need of support. 

Sienna and Sacha share their reflections with the community: 

Zero to Hero created an environment where everyone felt supported, challenged, and included, which made it such a valuable experience. What started as a group of complete strangers (who were all too nervous to start a conversation) quickly turned into people I could laugh with, talk to, and genuinely rely on. Honestly, the biggest highlight was realising that a place full of strangers, mentors, and a lot of millipedes somehow started to feel like a second home.  

I learnt a lot about myself, especially how much I enjoy stepping outside of my comfort zone. I discovered that I am more capable of connecting with new people than I thought, and that those connections can turn into genuine, lasting friendships. I also learnt valuable skills around communication, resilience, and how to better support others. Going into the camp not knowing what to expect pushed me out of my comfort zone. It helped me grow in confidence and taught me to embrace uncertainty rather than avoid it. 

My biggest piece of advice would be to just go for it and not overthink it. It can feel a little intimidating signing up for something where you do not know anyone or what to expect, but that is honestly what makes the experience so special.  

~ Sacha Chidoko, Year 11 

Camp Hero was an amazing opportunity, and I feel extremely grateful that I was chosen to go. I feel like we all shared such close bonds and became really good friends through this experience. I learned many things, both in the way I view myself but also in the way I view others - especially in the topic of mental health. I think the lesson we had from Safe Talk about suicide prevention was extremely valuable and I now feel like I view mental health problems through a much clearer lens and feel significantly more comfortable helping those around me who might be struggling.  

A challenge I found was learning to be open with my emotions. There were multiple occasions where we were encouraged to be vulnerable with our experiences. At first this felt a little awkward and difficult, but when I arrived back home, I felt significantly calmer and able to express my feelings with a lot more clarity than before. 

To other students thinking of attending Camp Hero in the future, I would say to just go for it. The camp is a once in a lifetime experience. It’s best if you don’t know anyone else who is going to the same camp as you. Although it might be a little hard in the beginning, I can guarantee I wouldn’t have been able to open up as much as I did if the people there knew me and had pre-conceived ideas about me as a person. Think of it as starting with a clean slate with no expectations. 

~ Sienna Young, Year 11 

University Open Days 

Now is the time of the year that universities hold their Semester One Open Days. Typically held on Saturdays, these events provide students with an amazing opportunity to see what university life is all about. During Open Days, key information is delivered about degrees that are on offer, and there are many ‘hands on’ activities to enjoy. 

Interested Senior School students and families are encouraged to browse university websites to register for these events. 

Regards, 

Mr Jason Meynell

Head of Senior School (Year 10 to Year 12)