Lester Prize Youth Award

Congratulations to Eloise Levy, graduating class of 2019, who was awarded the 2019 overall winner in the Years 11/12 Category of the Lester Prize Youth Award (Formerly Black Swan Prize for Portraiture) for her artwork Returning to Your Roots.

The Black Swan Prize for Portraiture, one of the country’s richest prizes for portraiture has been renamed The Lester Prize in honour of the award’s leading patron, Richard Lester.

The Lester Prize Youth Award encourages the creative talents of young, aspiring and emerging artists. It is open to all High School students across Australia and children in care at the Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH).

The Youth Award allows entrants to showcase their works and present their unique artistic perspectives; helps build their confidence to further their art practice; and allows them to share their stories with the wider community.

Eloise is to be commended on her win in this prestigious and highly competitive award, with entries of an incredible standard coming from all over Australia.

The Youth Lester Prize finalists works will be displayed at Brookfield Place’s Tower 2, 125 St Georges Terrace, Perth until 29 November, as part of The Lester Prize Youth Exhibition. This is a free event open to the public.

Returning to your Roots

Oil on Wood

When a tree is cut down, rings are revealed. The more rings a tree has, the more mature the tree is. The tree symbolises change over the passing of time. I chose to paint on the medium of wood, to reflect my subject's raw, natural talents and to pay homage to his traditional roots. As an immigrant, Vereniki Duarara made the life-changing move from Fiji to Australia to start a new life pursuing his rugby career. His new home sees him playing rugby under the Norfolk Pines synonymous with Cottesloe. From palm trees to pine trees, he surges ahead, with the hope of a bright future in Australia.

The subject of my artwork is Vereniki Duarara, a young aspiring rugby player from the remote village of Serea, Fiji. Vereniki's talent was recognised by an Australian family, who sponsored him in relocating to Perth, Western Australia to pursue his career in professional rugby.

Whilst at times he may be homesick, Vereniki understood the weight of this opportunity. It was either take the risk, or lose the chance. He now surges ahead, with the hope of a better future. Vereniki Duarara’s story serves as a reminder- take every chance you get in life.

We remember – lest we forget

It is an extraordinary sight to see the College community gathered on the Chapel Lawn on a late spring morning. On Remembrance Day last Monday, assembled among red Remembrance poppies, our College collectively paid respects to the tens of thousands of soldiers who have lost their lives in wars in service to our nation. Guest speaker, Lieutenant Colonel Saad Omari, reminded the College community that the freedom we enjoy today came at great cost, and Australia has a lasting debt to the “men and women who sacrificed their future for ours”.

Lieutenant Colonel Saad Omari is a former student who completed his Officer Training at the Royal Military College Duntroon. During his career he has had postings throughout Australia and overseas, including deployment on operational service in Bosnia, East Timor, The Solomon Islands and Afghanistan. He is currently the Chief of Staff of the 13th Brigade based at Karrakatta. The College was honoured to have Lieutenant Colonel Saad Omari to give the address and raise the flag – and we are very grateful that he could give his time to be with us.

The Chapel Lawn was enhanced by recycled poppies, crafted by Year 8 students in a workshop led by Michael Alvares, and co-ordinated by Dr Margaret Yoon. Our Remembrance ceremony was led with dignity and competence by our senior students. They were assisted by other students from Secondary and Primary – including Year 6 students who shared their learning from the Australian War Memorial – and by Music staff and students. It was especially heart-warming to have three of our Year 11 students taking time out of their exam preparation to assist – special thanks to Nick Brennan, drummer; Sophie Manners, 2020 Head Girl, and Ashleigh Smith, 2020 Faith & Mission Captain.

They shall not grow old,

as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them,

nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun

and in the morning

we will remember them.

Sustainability report

On Thursday 24 October, a representative from Waste Wise Schools WA assisted the College in carrying out a Waste Audit for the purpose of determining how much and what type of waste our College produces. The Year 6s completed the audit for the Primary in the morning and the Year 8s and 10s for the Secondary in the afternoon. The results of this audit will be a valuable tool going forward in measuring improvement in the College’s programs to reduce waste going to landfill, with the information gathered from an audit identifying items that have the potential to be reduced in number, reused when appropriate and recycled where possible.

At the College Day of Invitation held at the beginning of this term, 2019 College Sustainability Captain Harry Sapsworth was awarded the College Sustainability Award. The award provides funding support for the winner for tertiary studies in the area of sustainability. Harry hopes to study Chemical Engineering or Veterinary Science. Studying Veterinary Science would enable Harry to be involved in rural sustainable agriculture and animal production. However, if he ends up being allocated a place in Chemical Engineering, Harry hopes to specialise in re-cycling, waste management and green chemistry. Harry is to be congratulated for an outstanding submission and it is hoped the award will assist him in his studies at university.

Also announced at the Day of Invitation was the College Sustainability Captain for 2020, Jasmin Collins. Jasmin provided a strong and passionate vision for the role in interviewing for the position and 2020 looks to be a productive, innovative time for sustainability at the College under her leadership.

Thank you to all Year 8s for the beautiful red poppies made for our Remembrance Day assembly on Monday. Their efforts made the assembly very special, all the more when it was realised they were made from recycled plastic drink bottles.

Christian Thompson

College Sustainability Coordinator

VET Qualifications

This week a number of our students received confirmation that they have passed their VET qualifications. Pictured is Luke Bajada Year 11 who received this Certificate after completing a CERT III in Community Services with Fremantle Education Centre.

Parents' Association Liason 2020

It’s that time of year when the current coordinators vacate their positions and we seek new year group coordinators and we are therefore seeking new parents to take on these coordinators roles.

The role can easily be undertaken by a team of 2-4. It will only require 3-5 hours a term of your time in total.

I know you've heard it before, it is really fun and doesn't take much effort. All you have to do is organise morning coffee dates and two adult functions throughout the year - normally mid-year and one at the end of year. Roster sheets for canteen duty, staff morning teas and anything else the school requires are prepared for you and all you have to do is place them out the front of the lecture hall in February on the night of your relevant parent information night, and send out reminders throughout the year.

On Friday 6 December, we have scheduled a Welcome Lunch for all new 2020 coordinators.

I am always available and happy to take phone calls from anyone that needs my assistance along the way. Ric Del Pizzo our College contact has an open door policy and is always available for any matters that coordinators need help with throughout the year.

We have a fabulous website for coordinators that contains a toolkit with all the information you need to do the job. There are schedules, calendars and lists of functions by year Group, all precedents are in place, everything is well organised, even templates to aid you in requesting volunteers at the beginning of the year.

So please, grab a friend and have a go. It is a very rewarding experience and I can guarantee you will have a great time!

If you have any questions do not hesitate to call me on my mobile 0419 886 722 or email sharon@aquino.com.au

Sharon Aquino

Secondary Convenor

Drama

Coming soon in Drama

Year 9 Drama night

Coming in 2020