WELC & International Student Reports

Message from the International Coordinator and WELC Coordinator 

WELC Update

Ms Debby Morgan 

WELC Coordinator

WELC has had a wonderful start to the year. We have had 34 new students start at our Language Centre and are currently running four classes. Our students come from sixteen different countries and speak fourteen different languages! This gives our students the opportunity to practice their English every day to communicate with other students. Our students have shown an enthusiasm for learning and are working well with other students. Students are enjoying learning English through a variety of different subjects including the Elective classes (Art, Drama, Cooking and Sport), Wellbeing classes and extra-curricular activities including Sport and Music.

In Week 5, students went on an excursion together to get to know each other better. Students walked to Zone Bowling and played a game of bowling, then had lunch together before walking back to school.  Although many students hadn’t played much bowling before, they all had fun and participated enthusiastically, enjoying the time spent together.

Also last week, the School Nurse came to visit and checked many of our students eyes, ears and teeth. Recommendation letters have been sent home for further checks if necessary. Many of our Year 7 and 10 students had their immunsations last week. If parents want their students to be immunised, they can book into sessions at the Westall Hub or in Clarinda. These sessions occur once a month.

This week we ran Parent Teacher interviews. These meetings are a great opportunity for parents, staff and students to discuss a student’s progress and what they can do to improve. Students in the Language Centre are assessed on an EAL Continuum when they start at our school and the aim is for them to progress two points along that continuum. There is no competition between other students, the aim is just for each student to individually make progress. We had many parents attend this night but we encourage parents to contact the school if they didn’t have a meeting and would like to talk to a class teacher. We also encourage all students to set aside time each night to revise work covered in class and to regularly do activities to help them remember new words they learn in school and to help their English. One thing to help is Reading Eggs – all students have access and should be doing this at home regularly to improve their reading skills.

Debby Morgan – WELC Coordinator

WELC ART ELECTIVE

As part of the annual Valentine’s Day celebration on February 14, the class created optical art hearts. This style of art uses repeated lines and shapes to create striking visual effects, such as the illusion of movement or a three-dimensional image.

                                                                       What is Optical Art?

Optical Art is artwork that plays tricks on our eyes. 

What do you see in this famous optical illusion artwork?

Do you see a young lady?

                   Do you see an old lady?      

Celebrating the New Year

Whilst New Year’s Eve celebrations occur in many countries on December 31st, the New Year does not always fall on the same date or is celebrated in the same way for other cultures.

In the Westall English Language Centre, the students come from diverse backgrounds and one class of students was asked to describe their traditional New Year.

The Chinese community welcomed in the New Year or Spring Festival on February 17 and celebrate the 15-day Lunar New Year festival. This year is the Chinese zodiac's Year of the Horse — more specifically, the Fire Horse.  Many traditional dishes served during this festival reflect wishes for prosperity, health, and longevity.  A whole fish is almost always present on the table because the Chinese word for “fish” sounds like the word for “surplus”. Families gather as well as homes being thoroughly cleaned and adding new items.

The New Year is also deeply important to communities across much of Asia who also celebrate the Lunar New Year. In South Korea, the festival is known as Seollal. Families gather, perform ancestral rites and eat traditional foods such as rice cake soup. In Vietnam, the holiday is called Tết which is celebrated on January 29. It centres on family reunions, festive meals and rituals welcoming good fortune. Celebrations also take place in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, marked by street festivals, temple visits and shared meals. 

The Japanese New Year, known as Shōgatsu,is observed from January 1st to 3rd and is a deeply significant celebration marked 

by various customs, traditional foods, and rituals that emphasize renewal and family togetherness.

The Cambodian New Year, also known as Chol Chnam Thmey in Khmer, is the most important holiday in the Cambodian calendar. This annual event takes place from April 14 to 16 and the festivities last for three days.

In Afghanistan the name ‘Nowruz’ comes from the ancient Avesta language meaning ‘new day’ and the festival symbolises the rebirth of nature, new life and new beginnings. People buy new clothes for their children. They host parties for their friends and family, and they cook a traditional food named “Samanak” on Nowruz days. It lasts for two weeks and will start March 21.

In Bangladesh, the Bengali New Year is on April 14 and celebrates culture, unity and prosperity.

 Happy New Year everyone!!                     

International Student Program 

Term 1 has been a vibrant and exciting start to the year for our International Student Program, filled with connection, celebration and unforgettable experiences.

Excursion to Gumuya World

Our first major event was our excursion to Gumbuya World. Students showed great courage taking on the exciting (and sometimes scary!) rides with impressive valour. After the thrills, many headed to the water park to enjoy the fast slides or relax while gently drifting along. It was wonderful to see students stepping outside their comfort zones, supporting one another, and simply having fun together.

January Birthday Celebrations

We continued our special tradition of celebrating students born in January. Each birthday student was invited to bring two guests—international or local—to join the celebration. We shared lunch, cut the cake, and enjoyed a relaxed and joyful time together. These gatherings are always a meaningful way to strengthen friendships and create a sense of belonging within our community.

Lunar New Year Celebration – 17 February

On 17 February, we celebrated Lunar New Year together. As many of our international students come from Asian backgrounds, this occasion is especially significant. Being away from family during such an important festival can be challenging, so it was heartwarming to see students celebrating with their friends at school. They enjoyed bubble tea, delicious food, ice cream, and a range of engaging games. We wrapped up the celebration with a lucky chair activity, filling the room with laughter and excitement. The atmosphere was full of joy—students eating, laughing and truly enjoying each other’s company.

Term 1 has been a wonderful reminder that beyond academic success, building connection and community is at the heart of our International Student Program. We look forward to many more memorable moments throughout the year.

Ms Summer Bao

International Coordinator