From the Principal

Acknowledging Outstanding Academic Effort

Our recent Academic Assembly afforded opportunity to recognise the effort and commitment shown by many of our students towards their learning.

Kinross Wolaroi offers a plethora of opportunities, experiences and challenges that enables our students to learn and grow as people. With such a rich variety of learning experiences available I hope every student can discover things that excite them and give them joy. It is important during these developmental years that interests and passions are found and pursued.

The joy of learning lies in discovering new ideas, understanding diverse perspectives and gaining knowledge that empowers students to navigate the challenges that the future will present. Education opens doors to a world of opportunity and equips learners with the necessary skills and attributes to enable them to achieve their potential and pursue their hopes and aspirations.

However it is important that our students understand that success is not determined by skills or natural talent alone. I have known many skillful and talented people who have not gone on to reach their potential. Success in anything we do in life is achieved through effort, perseverance and through possessing a growth mindset.

Having a growth mindset means understanding that one’s talents can be developed through hard work, by possessing good strategies and by responding positively to feedback from others. Research and experience clearly demonstrates that those who can adopt a growth mindset are more likely to work hard, embrace challenges, persist for longer and learn from feedback.

It has been well understood throughout the history of mankind that quality and quantity of personal effort are the greatest predictors of achievement. It is important to realise that achievement of anything worthwhile is never easy, it takes commitment, effort and at times, sacrifice. Often the journey can be tough and even unpleasant, but working through such discomfort to achieve success provides a deep sense of contentment and personal satisfaction.

We need only to look at the excellent performances in the Musical and superb Visual Arts and Textile and Design major works to see outstanding achievement. All attained through exceptional hard work, courage to embrace challenge, perseverance and willingness to learn from their mistakes.

There is very little in life that can not be achieved if we have the courage and commitment to persevere and to strive to do things better.

In the words of the highly esteemed civil rights activist and poet Maya Angelou:

“Nothing will work, unless you do."

At our Academic Assembly we acknowledged the excellent efforts of our students and I congratulate them on their courage and commitment to achieve their best. 

Well done!

Please see at the conclusion of this article those who received awards.

Artistic Excellence

The outstanding talents, skills, and commitment to excellence of our students and staff have been wonderfully displayed in the School Musical and Visual Arts and Textiles Exhibition showcasing our Year 12 students' major works.

The Little Shop Of Horrors, performed at the Orange Civic Theatre, was an amazing success. The production featured a cleaver blend of deviously catchy tunes, and a wicked use of humour which explores the existential, ageless story relating to basic human nature: unrequited love and an avaricious desire to be more than we are.

The dramatic performances, energy, choreography, and music were fabulous, reflecting the immense talent of our student and staff. Their creativity, enthusiasm and commitment ensured the production was an outstanding production.

Of course, such a production relies on the skillful and dedicated contribution of many. To our cast, crew and musicians, congratulations and thank you. You should all be immensely proud of your achievement, your school and community are greatly proud of you.

To our dynamic, creative, and inspirational staff whose efforts and abilities are amazing, thank you. Such an exceptional level of performance could not be achieved without your wonderful leadership and dedication. The Director, Alex Dunkley and her fabulous team are gifted and inspiring educators, how fortunate we are to have them contributing to our community. Thank you for all you have done to create a sensational production and to provide a truly memorable and valuable learning experience for our students.

Last Friday we were privileged to see the exceptional talent of our Year 12 Visual Arts and Textiles and Design students whose major works were displayed in the Derek Pigot Auditorium for their Annual Showcase. Once again the works were vibrant and diverse reflecting their great skill, dedication, commitment, patience and creativity. I am constantly amazed at the breadth of media and techniques employed by our students. Such variety requires our staff to possess an exceptional array of skills, knowledge, and creativity. Rarely are schools able to inspire their Art students to excel in such a diverse range of media, Kinross Wolaroi School does this every year.

Congratulations to our talented and creative students and to our wonderfully dedicated and highly skilled staff. Special mention should be made of our Heads of each Academic Department exhibiting works, Mr Andrew Orme-Smith, Head of Visual Arts and Mrs Penny Chandler, Head of Textiles and Design.

Thank you.

The Young Leaders of the Central West Summit 2023

The Young Leaders of the Central West Summit 2023 took place at The Hive on Monday 24 July. An initiative of JSCHS in 2022, the Kinross Wolaroi Prefects took the baton for this year and hosted a half day seminar workshopping ideas and issues facing the students within their schools and in their wider communities. It was attended by the student leaders of Kinross Wolaroi, JSCHS, Orange High School, Canobolas High School, Blayney High School, Orange Christian School and Anson St School.

The program was designed by Fin Shephard, ably assisted by Elle McGufficke and Annie Dedman, and aimed to amplify the unified voice of student leaders, with inter-school connectivity and collaboration being core goals for the day, helping to stop the division and disconnectedness experienced between the schools and to help increase both purpose and understanding in a regional community.

I was most grateful to have the opportunity to welcome our student leaders from the Central West and to recognise the time and effort they put into their important roles. Such a summit affords a wonderful opportunity to dissolve barriers and to unite with a collective student voice. We were delighted to have our local Federal Member, Mr Andrew Gee address the group recognising the power of a united student voice through the inspiring story of the 1965 Freedom Ride, and the impact and insight of the students involved. It was an inspiring and empowering way to start proceedings, and the student leaders harnessed that energy, and committed to a collaborative and purposeful summit.

The first session involved an icebreaker activity to allow students to mingle and chat in multi-school groups, followed by a Q&A with the first guest speaker, Pip Brett from Jumbled, who shared her remarkable business story and emphasised the importance of building a trusting and vibrant team and community; followed by a workshop utilising Pip’s ideas and suggestions about building communities at school.

The second session started with guest presenter Dr Paul Bloomfield who explained the importance of sleep in allaying mental health issues and providing an invigorated and positive total wellness in young people, and suggested strategies for feeding back this essential understanding to students in their schools. The second workshop explored the means to do this, and to instigate other health and wellbeing initiatives.

The final session had all students reconvening in their school groups to discuss initiatives they were going to adopt as a result of the summit and to present at least one initiative to the whole group. Every school had an ambitious but manageable idea to implement before the end of their schooling.

The summit was an exceptional opportunity for young school leaders to join to discuss relevant and thoughtful ideas. The atmosphere was vibrant and enthusiastic, their behaviour exemplary, and the smiles and well wishing as students departed illuminated the importance of these ongoing inter -school activities.

Thanks must go to the following organisations: for the second year, Orange City Council kindly sponsored the event; RDA Central West supported the forum with ideas and advice; and finally, Prue Swain from The Hive, who donated the space and provided the students with a nutritious and delicious brunch.

We should be immensely proud of the outstanding leadership and initiative shown by our student leaders that ensured the day was such a remarkable success. Congratulations and very well done!

Academic Awards

Da Vinci Decathlon Awards