Kinross Wolaroi Family Bulletin

From the Principal

Dr Andrew Parry

The busy and engaging life of our wonderful school is seeing our students heavily involved in all dimensions of our exciting educational offering, the academic, cultural and athletic.

 

Students have been carefully preparing for and undertaking academic assessments. Years 9, 7, 6 and 3 have been involved in The National Assessment Program of Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), musicians have held performances including appearances at the Orange Chamber of Music Festival, rehearsals for the upcoming musical ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ are in full swing, the Round Square Committees are doing wonderful work exploring their IDEALS and our Summer Sports season is drawing to a close with teams playing finals, regattas being contested and ISA Swimming and school Athletic Championships being staged.

 

With our students leading such busy and enriching lives, it is helpful to remind ourselves of the importance of challenging all aspects of ourselves. Clearly, academic learning is central to any school but it is not the sole goal of a quality education, a belief held by many educators for over two thousand years. The ancient Greeks and Romans captured this balanced view of education in the Latin phrase ‘Mens sana in corpore sano’ meaning, “a healthy mind in a healthy body”.

 

Many of my colleagues who lead Independent Schools would argue what happens outside the classroom to be just as important as what happens inside. Of course exam results matter, but not as much as the qualities that allow students to leave school in a position to thrive in the fluid, ever-changing world of the 21st Century (Khalid, S & Jafar, A, 2022)1. Emotional intelligence, reaction to failure, optimism, perseverance, resilience and the ability to improve and adapt on one’s feet are increasingly important. Students need to be able to work collaboratively in teams, to know how to learn, self-manage and to be self-reflective. We need to invest in whole people, not just academic marks, as so much successful workplace participation will be relational, and therefore interpersonal skills and co-curricular breadth are highly relevant.

 

Participating in sport and co-curricular programs has been shown to provide numerous educational benefits for students, including the promotion of physical and mental health, the development of social skills, and the enhancement of academic achievement. These programs contribute to producing healthy, well rounded, and resilient young people, preparing them for success both inside and outside of the classroom.

 

One of the primary benefits of the sport and co-curricular programs is the promotion of physical health. According to the World Health Organisation, “regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health (World Health Organisation, 2021)2."  Through sport and co-curricular programs, students are encouraged to engage in physical activity on a regular basis, which can have long lasting effects on their health.

 

In addition to physical health, sport and co-curricular programs also promote mental health.  A study published in The Journal of School Health, found ”participation in the extra curricular activities have been shown to be a protective factor for mental health problems amongst adolescents” (Fredricks, J.A., & Simpkins, S.D., 2013)3. Participating in these programs provides students with a sense of belonging, purpose and accomplishment, all of which contribute to positive mental health. Lindsay et al., (2021)4 also report positive mental health outcomes, including reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, improved self-esteem and improved cognitive function.

 

Furthermore co-curricular programs help students develop social skills, such as communication, teamwork and leadership. By participating in these activities, students learn how to work with others towards a common goal, how to communicate effectively, and how to take on leadership roles when necessary. These skills are invaluable in both academic and professional settings, and can help students succeed in their future careers.

 

Co-curricular participation provides ample opportunity for students to be challenged or extended beyond their comfort zone, enabling growth in confidence, self-esteem and self knowledge. For it is only by being extended beyond one’s capacity and trying new experiences that students can discover what they are truly capable of.

 

Finally, sport and co-curricular programs can enhance academic achievement. A study by Eccles and Border (1999)5, published in the Journal of Educational Psychology found, “participation in extra-curricular activities related to higher academic achievement, even after controlling for prior achievement and demographic variables." Participating in these programs helps students develop time management skills, which can translate to better performance in the classroom. This has been clearly demonstrated by a number of our rowers and swimmers. Participating in the broad co-curricular life of the school also helps students feel more connected to the school, which in turn can lead to higher levels of motivation and engagement in their academic work.

 

I hope this summary provides a little background into the many physical, social and academic benefits of our broad and holistic educational offering. Our offering promotes physical and mental health, the development of social skills and enhances our students' academic achievement.

CONGRATULATIONS

Cricket

 

Congratulations to the Under 14 Sixers who on Saturday won the local Orange District Junior Cricket Association’s Under 14 competition, defeating Cavaliers Cricket Club. Fletcher Byrne stared in the match, scoring an unbeaten 53*. Thanks to Mr Bruce Kerridge for his efforts throughout the season with the Under 14 Sixers.

 

Further, our Kinross Under 15 side went above and beyond, winning the Orange District Junior Cricket Association’s Under 16 competition on Saturday. The win is testament to the team’s culture, and provides excitement for the future. Congratulations also to Mr Matt Byrne for his efforts with the Under 15 side.

 

Our First XI are into the Orange District Cricket Association's 2nd Grade Grand Final this coming Saturday, after defeating an in form, minor premiership winning, Orange CYMS. Harry Priest starred, taking four wickets with the ball, and remaining unbeaten (45*) in the run chase. The final is set to be played against Cavaliers Cricket Club at Riawena oval on Saturday, 1pm start. Good luck.

 

Rowing National Championships

 

Congratulations to Kinross Wolaroi alumni Isabella Scammell, Freya Neville and Alec Hoskin who have been selected for the Under 21 Youth Eights for NSW at the Interstate Regatta at the National Championships. This is a wonderful achievement and great representation at the elite level for Kinross Wolaroi School at the National Championships. To see our young ex-students being recognised is a testament to our excellent program.

 

Congratulations to all our Kinross Wolaroi School rowers for their amazing efforts over the weekend at the School Girl and School Boy Head of the River held at the Sydney International Rowing Regatta.

 

School Girl Head of the River results:

  • 7 races entered – 6 crews won gold
  • 37 of 41 girls returned home with a gold medal
  • Equal 1st on the medal table with Queenwood
  • Winner of the junior point score

School Girl Highlights

  • Winning both Year 9 1st and 2nd quad
  • The best school girl HOR results in school history

School Boy Head of the River highlights

  • 9 races entered – 4 crews won gold, 2 won silver and all crews were in A finals
  • 30 out of 43 boys returned home with a gold or silver medal
  • The school finished 3rd on the medal table

School Boy Highlights

  • Winning all three Year 10 quads
  • Our Year 9 boys quad finished 2nd in front of the GPS competitors
  • Second and third quads finished 4th behind GPS schools.

Congratulations to all students, coaches, staff and supporters on the wonderful success. 

 

George Hogg

 

George Hogg is a passionate member of the Young Labor Party who is interested in making 'the world a more just and equitable place'. To learn more about the world of politics, George arranged work experience with Labor politician Andrew Charlton, and has also secured a second week of work experience in the PM’s office. These fabulous opportunities have come about due to George’s proactive application directly to Mr Albanese’s office.

 

Congratulations George on your initiative and great work ethic. This experience will provide a marvellous insight of the operations of a political office.

 

Zoe Bird and Alice Wilson

 

I am pleased to announce Zoe Bird and Alice Wilson have been offered a place in the 2023 TEN4TEN Leadership Dialogue. The quality of entries were most impressive and it is testament to Alice and Zoe on their excellent applications to Regional Development Australia (RDA) Central West. 

 

This is a magnificent opportunity for Zoe and Alice to network with local community leaders, visit Parliament of Australia in Canberra, as well as Parliament in NSW. There are many events and activities this program offers including the opportunity to meet Nedd Brockman.

 

Congratulations Zoe and Alice on your placement in the highly regarded 2023 TEN4TEN program.

 

Kinross Wolaroi Triathlon Team

 

On Sunday the our Triathlon Team competed at the last event of the season, the Orange Triathlon Club Championships. The morning was highly successful for all students. 

Pictured below: 

  • Sophie Martin 1st Female Orange Triathlon Club Champion (Sprint Distance – Open Age Group)
  • Jess Thompson 1st Female – Super Sprint Open Age Group
  • Zoe Wood 3rd Female
  • Ashton Montagliani 3rd Male – Super Sprint Open Age Group

STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mrs Pauline Churchward – Music Teacher

 

Mrs Pauline Churchward has joined our Music faculty in a full-time capacity. Pauline comes with immense experience and is a highly regarded music educator. Recently Pauline was a Music Teacher at Nowra Anglican College, however some may recognise Pauline as she was previously a Music Teacher at Kinross Wolaroi School in 2013. Pauline was Head of Music at Knox Grammar School in 2010, and has extensive experience as a Senior HSC Music Marker for over 20 years and a HSC Music Judge. She is a professional and passionate secondary music teacher who facilitates workshops to enhance HSC music outcomes for her students.

 

Pauline has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Sydney University, Diploma of Education from Wollongong University, and A.Mus.A in Piano.

 

Please join me in welcoming Pauline to the Kinross Wolaroi School Community.

 

Mrs Kylie Bennett & Mrs Zoe Morris – Junior School TREE Field Officers

 

We recently called for Expressions of Interest for the Junior School TREE Field Officer and were delighted to receive such strong applications from people who have so much to contribute to this area.

 

I am pleased to announce that Kylie Bennett and Zoe Morris have accepted the positions of Junior School TREE Field Officers. These positions were created in the Junior School to develop innovative learning programs and form new partnerships with local businesses. I look forward to seeing their enthusiastic contribution in the Junior School. 

 

Please join me in congratulating Kylie and Zoe as they take on these exciting positions.

 

 

(1) Khalid, S & Jafar, A. (2022). The Role of Co-curricular Activies in Developing Skills for the 21st Century Workforce. Journal of Education and Practice, 13(6), 14-19.
(2) World Health Organization. (2021). Physical Activity. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity
(3) Fredricks, J.A., & Simpkins, S.D. (2013). Promoting positive youth development through extracurricular involvement. Journal of School Health, 83(11), 729-736. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12080
(4) Lindsey, R., Schipperijn, J., O'bien, N., & Okely, A.D. (2021). Associations between physical activity and mental health among children and adolescents: A systematic review. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psyciatric Nursing, 34 (2), 70-78.
(5) Eccles, J.S, & Barber, B.L. (1999). Student Council, volunterring, basketball, or marching band: What kind of extracurricular involvement matters? Journal of Educational Psychology, 91(1), 71-83. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.91.1.71