Wee Waa High News

Principal's Message 

Principal’s Message 

As Term 1 so draws to a close, like everyone in the community, I have watched with excitement as our new school has been quickly taking shape. I am sure you will agree that it looks impressive and reflects the modern era of education. Given the state-of-the-art resources and equipment our new school will have, we are attracting strong interest from potential new enrolments for 2024. 

 

On the topic of enrolments, I am pleased to share that our student numbers for 2023 are currently sitting at 150. This represents 25 additional students on the same time last year.  

 

Student attendance is a subject I am keen to talk about. Attendance across Australia has been down on pre Covid levels due to the upheaval it caused to students on a number of occasions, and for considerable lengths of time, pivoting to Learning From Home and then back to school. Some students have struggled to make the transition back to learning full time at school. 

 

The Department of Education released compelling statistics that demonstrate how and why ever day of attendance matters. Those statistics include;

  • If a child misses one day per fortnight, it equates to four weeks per year and over the life of their education it is more than a year of education missed. 
  • One day missed a week is eight weeks a year and two and a half years of education missed over the schooling years.  

Our students at WWHS were even more challenged due to relocating to a temporary campus while we wait for the new school to be built. Added to that was the constant flooding throughout Term 4 last year. Because of this, we have dedicated significant focus this year to attendance and student wellbeing and have put in place a range of programs and strategies to boost attendance, and we have started to see the results. Part of these strategies include rewards to attendance and participation and extending our breakfast program from three days to five. 

 

We were pleased to learn earlier this term that Wee Waa was included in the list of schools to receive flood hardship grants of $500 per student. Many parents have been choosing to utilise some of these funds for a daily canteen credit and / or the purchase of school uniform items. Information on this grant can be found in the News From Around The School section of this newsletter.

 

To more good news. Several of our students have achieved considerable success already this year in a range of areas including;   

  • School Captain, Mackenzie Jones who was awarded the Young Citizen of the Year for the Narrabri Shire 
  • Nate Dewson who won several of his events at the North West Swimming carnival and will now complete in Sydney at the state championships 
  • Brody Slee who set a new school record for the 16 years boys 100 metres freestyle 
  • Millie Collins who set a new record for the 16 years girls 66 metres (two laps) butterfly  
  • Brittney Schwager who has just returned from Taumarunui on New Zealand’s North Island where she played in the NSW mixed junior (under 16s) polocrosse team against New Zealand. The team took out the series, playing victoriously over the two-day competition. 
  • Caitlyn Coutts-Smith and Mackenzie Jones were selected to be Junior Judges at the upcoming Sydney Royal Easter Show. 
  • Charlie Jenkins, having won the Wee Waa LIONS Youth of the Year went on to compete at the district competition 
  • WWHS’s Under 16s mixed team placed second in the inaugural Yowie Cup while Georgia Horne won the dash for cash individual speed race

Investing in programs that support the wellbeing of our students has always been of paramount importance at WWHS. Student wellbeing is critically to their education outcomes. This year our wellbeing programs include; 

  • Daily breakfast club 
  • RAISE mentoring 
  • Active Play with Jake Packer and Ellie Hatton 
  • Year 7 has just returned from a week-long camp at Broken Bay’s
  • Rules in relationships  
  • Years 9 to 12 had the opportunity to participate in the highly acclaimed day-long personal growth and workforce readiness program, EDGE 

Congratulations to Ms Olivia Bray and Mr Andy Kiely who have both recently attained Proficient Teacher status.

 

We’ve been delighted to welcome aboard some fantastic new teachers this year in;

  • Scott Hogden who is with us on a year-long Rural Exchange from Ballina Coast High School
  • Amber Conomos, former dux and Vice Captain of WWHS, Amber Conomos commenced the year on a 12 month contract but has recently accepted a permanent role with us 
  • Cameron Cripps-Kennedy joined us for a term-long practicum as the final step in completing a Masters of Teaching. Cameron has enjoyed the experience so much that they have accepted a temporary teaching contact for Term 2
  • And to Sarita Mallinson who returns in Term 2 on a term-long contract

Each of these teachers are making a significant contribution to the education of our students and to the culture of our school

 

As term one draws to a close we bid farewell to Mr Jason Riley who, after teaching at Wee Waa High School for several years in our HSIE department and relieving as the head teacher, has accepted a transfer to Brisbane Water Secondary College to continue his teaching career. We wish Jason and his family all the best. 

 

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Easter and term break.

 

Yours sincerely 

Jacqueline Neil 

Relieving Principal