Message from 

the Principal

A fabulous end to the Term

Camps Week

Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all. 

 - Aristotle

Aristotle, along with many others of his time, placed great emphasis on the importance of a rounded and balanced education, one that developed the whole person. Play, physical training, music, debate, community engagement, and the study of science and philosophy were all to play a vital role in forming the body, mind and soul.

The wisdom of this ancient Greek philosopher continues to be enthusiastically embraced by educators today and lies at the heart of our holistic educational philosophy at Kinross Wolaroi. The past week has seen our students embrace a myriad of activities over Camps Week, all designed to challenge, extend and enjoy. We have had students engage in the joys and challenges of new experiences, some camping under plastic in the outdoors, abseiling down cliff faces, others participating in service to the community; music camps or Year Group Retreats and activities.

Students have been taken out of their comfort zone, challenged and have discovered new confidences, many forging new friendships. Camps play an important role in developing the whole person. I have received considerable feedback from many quarters complimenting our students for their positive and enthusiastic approach to the activities they have undertaken. I had the pleasure of visiting our Year 7’s at their Camp at Lake Burrendong and the Cadets at Top Valley Station. A great deal of activity being enthusiastically embraced and plenty of fun enjoyed.

A considerable amount of planning, preparation and supervision needs to take place for these valuable activities to be conducted. I am most grateful for all our caring and generous staff who have done so much to ensure the great success of Camps Week, many of whom have spent days away from their families. Thank you!

Over the past week we have had students engaging in valuable community service initiatives. We should all be very proud of the positive impact they have had upon others and of their genuine care and concern for those less fortunate than ourselves. I have been delighted by the messages I have received commending our students and staff for their kindness.

The Services Manager of Uniting Wontama Aged Care sent me the most delightful email this morning expressing her heartfelt thanks to our students. An excerpt of her email states: 

We are quite humbled to be provided with such a thoughtful and generous gift from the students. Our staff are hard-working, kind and caring people and are often not valued in the ways that they deserve. Aged care is a hard industry and in current times are facing additional challenges. The staff were delighted yesterday when we distributed these (gifts) and wanted their heartfelt thanks to be sent back to the school students. We would also like to send our appreciation to the teachers and School Administration for their support and guidance they would have given the students to accomplish such a magnificent and large undertaking. It was truly a gift of a blessing in disguise.

In a similar vein, another member of the local community wrote to commend our students: 

Today I was out shopping when I overheard some young people asking an elderly lady if she'd like any help. At that stage I didn't know they were students from your school doing community service . I was just impressed by their manner and how polite and kind they were, and I couldn't help thinking what a lovely bunch they were! Anyway I couldn't let it go without letting you know what an asset to your school these students are. 

I am immensely proud of our students and what they do for others and achieve in such a diverse range of endeavours. It is greatly important we appreciate how fortunate we are and that we use our advantages in life to serve and help others. It is clear that we have many students and families who appreciate this and for this very reason we are able to enjoy such a warm and caring community here at Kinross Wolaroi.

Over the past week we have also seen many of our students achieve excellence in a number of areas of our rich co-curricular program. 

Congratulations

Polocrosse

Last week three of our students played for NSW in the Australian Polocrosse Nationals, held in Ballarat.  Zoe Stevenson, Ryan Weston and Erica Stuart (all in Year 9) played in the NSW Open Junior Team. They competed throughout the week, making it to the Grand Final on Saturday, where they were defeated in a tough game by a very strong QLD side. 

Erica was awarded the best No. 2 player in the Junior Mixed Division for the competition, a wonderful achievement. 

Erica’s older sister Julia Stuart (Class of 2020) played for NSW in the Under 21 Women’s team. They won the National Championship, defeating QLD in a nail biting final. Julia was awarded the Best No. 2 player in the Under 21 Women’s division. 

Debating

The Kinross Wolaroi Debating team participated in the HICES Round 2 debating competition at the end of March. Our Middle team - Years 7 and 8’s - were valiant in rhetoric, however were unfortunate in defeat. 

Our Seniors and Open teams were amazing, and both won their debates, despite the challenges due to student absences. The teams shuffled and saw Issy Wong Year 9, Alice Scholte and Nina Smedley from our Senior KWS 1 step up into the Opens. 

Above the team results, Kinross Wolaroi students were awarded the following individual results:

• Issy Wong won the best debater in the Open’s Round for KWS 2. 
• Shubhang Nagar won best debater in the Opens Round for KWS 1
• Elle Armstrong, KWS 2 came 3rd
• George Hogg won best debater in the Senior Round for KWS 2
• Anabelle van Wyk, Senior KWS 2 was placed 3rd
• Chaitra Avirneni KWS 1 Middle was placed third.

Australian National Rowing Championships, Lake Nagambie, Victoria: 28 March to 3 April

Kinross Wolaroi topped the School rankings and took home six medals - one gold, three silver and two bronze, an amazing achievement for our dedicated rowers and coaches. 

In a field of 95 clubs including major players such as Sydney Uni and ANU, Kinross Wolaroi School achieved an outstanding equal 12th place overall, sharing the position of top performing School at the Australian Championships. 

The School had two crews qualify for the Schoolboy’s Coxed Quad Scull ‘A’ Final, winning a silver medal with Fletcher Smith, Charlie Neville, Nicholas Brown, Alec Hoskin and cox Angus Petersen. The Schoolboy Quads silver was the first medal the boy teams have won in a number of years at Nationals, showing a resurgence in boys rowing at the School. 

The same crew went on to deliver gold in the Schoolboy’s Coxed Quadruple Scull Sprint.  

The boys scored another silver in the Under 17 Men's Coxed Quadruple Scull for Nicholas Tancred, Tom Day, Oscar Cleary, Oliver Smith and cox  Angus Petersen. These boys raced up an age group and will be able to compete in this same division in 2023, when the National Championships head to Champion Lakes in Perth.

Alec Hoskin put in a fabulous performance to win bronze in the Schoolboy’s Single Scull. 

The girls’ teams also delivered medals, with a silver in the Under 19 Women’s Coxed Eight, featuring Audrey Gill, Milly Lane, Lucy Searle, Lucy Scammell, Ayla Ryan, Annabelle Woods, Hannah Richardson, Georgia Sweetapple and cox Georgia Robson. There was also a bronze in the Schoolgirl's Coxed Quadruple Scull in the ‘A’ Final for Lucy Scammell, Hannah Richardson, Lucy Searle, Annabelle Woods and Georgia Robson. 

The Nationals’ result was a great conclusion to a season that saw one of the schools’ best performances across all competitions, even in the face of disruptions from COVID and heavy rain.

Round Square Post Card hosts

Late last week seven of our brave boarding students hosted their first Round Square Zoom Postcard meeting. The topic was "Boarding Life around the World" and involved 55 students from around the world: India, China, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. 

Our students had to deal with participants for whom English was a second language, connection dropouts, uncomfortable silences when no-one answered their questions, and had to problem-solve on the fly for the meeting hour. It was an authentic student-driven learning experience for everyone who attended. 

The students involved included Ashton Quinn-Wooten, Lucy McIsaac, Mhairi Whylie, Izayah Walker, Daisy Smith, Harry Chase and they were led by Maka Mutiyiri, who was unflappable, highly organised and a wonderful leader for the younger students.

Congratulations to those students for creating such a warm and hospitable atmosphere.

We have much to be incredibly proud of and grateful for. I am constantly amazed at what our wonderful students achieve, their efforts and contributions make the School a rich and vibrant community where achievement is aspired to, respected and supported, and where kindness and contribution to others are valued. 

Thank you, Mrs Sue-Ann Gavin

I am immensely grateful for the marvellous support and contribution of Mrs Gavin over the past term as she superbly fulfilled the role of Acting Head of Senior School. Her excellent organisation, commitment to the students and staff has been hugely appreciated by all.

I know she is very much looking forward to redirecting her focus to the continued development of our TREE program and no doubt to a restful break over the Easter period. 

Happy Easter

As we approach the holiday break I thank you all for your support as we have managed the continuing challenges of COVID and wish you a restful break and very happy Easter. 

Take care.

With very best wishes,

Dr Andrew Parry