Endeavour House News

Another term has gone by in Endeavour. Even though it was an eleven week term, it does feel like it went by quickly, once we survived those first seven weeks without a break. That was tough! If we can manage this term with the cold, wet weather and the power outage, then we can manage anything. 

Mr Colgate ran a woodwork session with our Year Seven girls every Wednesday afternoon this term. He started in Term One with the Anchorage Year Seven boys and will continue on with Year Eight girls next term, it will be wonderful to see what they will create. Thanks to Mr Colgate for his time and expertise. He is paid with his favourite melting moment biscuits. 

Social skills continue to be the thing we converse about the most in Endeavour. Middle School is such a challenging time for our students, and we work hard to support them in learning the skills to manage social skills and friendships.  Recently, I met with Ms Sheryl Moncur as she hosts a ‘Wellness afternoon’ for staff on Wednesdays and we discussed that as we teach students reading and writing and we also need to teach them social skills. This is a constant in Endeavour. Linda Stade has a website, I highly recommend for information on girls’ social skills, more on Linda Stade can be found on the Wellness page. Recently, I met with the Year Seven girls and we discussed ‘frenemies’. They see this inappropriate  behaviour a lot and they need to be taught the skillsets to manage it. We will continue to work on this throughout the year. 

This week we held a special end of term dinner, Chef Nick Harvey came to Endeavour and to help prepare dinner with our girls, Chef Tyler Sibert went to Anchorage to work with the boys.  It was a lovely evening, preparing food together and we all enjoyed the rice paper rolls and sushi. The coriander debate was held once again. Thank you to Chef Nick and Chef Tyler for their expertise and patience in allowing us to have a lovely meal prepared together.

Next semester we welcome Miss Alice Nixon to Endeavour as the In-Residence Supervisor (IRS). Miss Sienna Ball has decided to reduce her shifts, focusing on her studies and be a casual supervisor, so we invited Alice to join the Endeavour team. Alice is studying Science and Physical Education teaching at Curtin University and grew up in Yerecoin. She boarded in Perth, so understands boarding and the joys and tribulations of being a boarder.  

Audrey Cherry was our only June birthday with Brianna Cunningham turning 15 on the last day of term.  Happy birthday girls.

Faith Bin Omar and Charlie Ritchie were lucky enough to go to the Year Nine Yalari Camp in Alice Springs this term.  They had a great time meeting up with all of the Yalari Scholarship students from all over Australia. This camp is an amazing opportunity for the girls to reconnect with their culture, further friendships and reflect on the opportunities that they are receiving through the Yalari program. 

Next term, we will reopen boarding a little earlier than usual as there are Parent Teacher Interviews (PTIs). The boarding house will be open from 1.30pm so that boarders can return whilst their parents/caregivers are at PTIs. 

Enjoy the time with your lovely girls for the holidays.

Mrs Tara Ball | Head of Endeavour House