Secondary School News

Chapel and Service Council coordinate the Winter Appeal

Dean of Teaching and Learning, Mrs Rebecca Piccolo

It has been a busy and productive time for our staff and students at John Wollaston during Term 2. The 2024 theme of 'Opportunity' has certainly been embraced by all and a wide range of excursions and activities have been made available to students.

The Perth Zoo has been a popular destination for our Secondary students this term. The Year 12 Psychology ATAR and General classes visited to investigate how learning theories, such as classical conditioning, operant conditioning, systematic desensitisation, and social learning theory are applied to the care and management of zoo animals. Year 7 students consolidated their understanding of the Linnaean classification system through case studies and hands on activities.

Zoo Excursion | Year 7

Year 7s also participated in the Virtual Reality Overshare Incursion, facilitated by the Constable Care Foundation. This experience gave our Year 7 students the opportunity to experience a ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ virtual reality zone. Students were able to choose their actions, and experience the consequences of, sharing a video online. There was much discussion after the experience, about the possible outcomes of online decision-making.

“I learned that your actions do have consequences, and can affect other people not just you, it can affect your friends.” Sophie McCabe.

“It was very relatable and it showed that whenever you say something to someone, you have to realise what you’re saying and if it’s nice and honest. If you lie, it can make them feel upset or they might feel like nobody cares.” Violet Lanskis

“The tasks made me think how bad your actions can affect other people.” Emma Fenn

VR Overshare | Year 7

The Year 10 cohort have begun the Keys4Life Program. This program aims to upskill young people with positive road user attitudes and awareness around how to be responsible drivers. Students will also have the opportunity to sit their Learner’s Permit Theory Test. Parents and carers attended an information evening to learn about the licensing system, how to make driving lessons enjoyable and safe, and how to start these conversations at home.

A select group of Year 9 students participated in the Try a Trade – Carpentry and Brick/Block Laying course. This three-day course provided an opportunity for students to experience various activities in the construction industry.

Try a Trade | Year 9

The Year 11 ATAR and General Drama students ventured to the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts for a night of theatre. The students were lucky enough to watch their set text ‘Girl Asleep’ be performed by third year acting students. The story follows a 14 year old girl as she comes of age through a party that turns into a quest to find herself. The piece challenged the student’s perceptions of theatre by exploring the themes through presentational theatre and with the actors so close you could almost touch them. After a short break, the students were treated to ‘Beautiful Burnout’, a gritty exploration of just what it takes to become a boxer. Dynamic dialogue was matched with fantastic physical theatre to produce a stunning piece that left the audiences tugging at their hearts by the end.

The students took so much away from the trip and for those students in the class that dream of going to WAAPA, it was great to see the actors after the show and to compliment them on their performance. Who knows, we may have the next WAAPA star amongst us already.

Theatre Excursion | Year 11 ATAR and General Drama

Years 11 and 12 Semester 1 examinations have commenced this week, and we extend our best wishes to all our students during this important period.

Learning Area Spotlight – English

Opportunities abound for students in the English Learning Area.

In Week 4, the Year 10 Emerging Writers returned to Fremantle to immerse themselves in the wild mind of Madison Godfrey, author of two poetry collections How To Be Held (Burning Eye Books, 2018) and Dress Rehearsals (Allen & Unwin Imprint JOAN, March 2023).

Students enjoyed an engaging presentation and participated in a range of writing opportunities such as creating Haikus like the one below:

wide eyes search, then stop

her small body, built to run

but she has grown soft

Saskia Sullivan.

Madison also set students a task to write about their own Utopia (a perfect, impossible place). Students engaged with this prompt and came up with some wonderful writing using a range of language features:

The couple behind us like horror

But we prefer romantic comedies.

Our laughter leaves no room for sorrow

The popcorn begins to defy gravity

We are blinded by actor's teeth

The screen is the rising sun

And us?

We become brutes with bated breath

Anticipating the awaiting goodbye

A kiss that lasts a lifetime

Lila De Sena.

Years 11 and 12 ATAR English students had the opportunity to take part in an intensive preparation session for their Composing Section of the examination run by English teacher Mrs Kate Campbell.

Students found the workshop engaging and extremely helpful in their preparation process for their ATAR English examination. Feedback from the students who participated was positive. Many commented on how the workshop presented strategies for shaping ideas for writing prompts and also provided them with activities that could assist when writer’s block occurs. Students were also able to work in teams to write and share their ideas and writing styles.

Finally, last week saw the culmination of our Year 10 students’ preparation of their Persuasive Speech group presentations around a contemporary community-based or global social issue inspired by their study of the novel, When Michael Met Mina by Randa Abdel-Fattah. Students presentations were inspiring, empathetic and convincing which suggests their understanding of the importance of sharing their ideas on issues that are having an impact on the lives of people in our community and our world.

Upcoming Event – An Evening with the Universities

The School is delighted to present the first session of the Year 10 course selection process: "An Evening with the Universities." This event will be held on Wednesday 29 May from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. An Evening with the Universities will provide a fantastic opportunity for Year 10 students and parents to receive the latest information about the available courses and various pathways to entry into Western Australia’s leading universities: The University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Murdoch University, Edith Cowan University, and Notre Dame University.

Parents can RSVP by following the link provided via SEQTA direqt message or by contacting Mrs Rebecca Piccolo for more information.