Message from
the Principal

Dr Andrew Parry

Term 4 Commencement Update

Term 4 has commenced with much energy and enthusiasm. The gradual easing of restrictions imposed upon us due to the pandemic has been warmly welcomed and we will continue to monitor guidelines as the Term progresses.

As we welcome students back this Term, I pay particular tribute to the 2020 Year 12 cohort and their dedicated and caring teachers who have worked hard together to steer their way through this most challenging and complex year. The aim of course is to ensure the best outcome for every student as they graduate this year and move into future study and work.

The Year 12’s are to be commended for the mature and positive manner in which they completed Term 3. Their resilience, good humour, grounded approach and clear fondness for the School and peers shone brightly, setting an outstanding example for the remainder of the School.

HSC exams commenced with the first English paper on Tuesday, a paper that was well received by students and staff. I am sure we all recall how good it was to finally get started and have the first exam under your belt!

The School Student Leadership team spent the first day of the recent vacation exploring their role and establishing their goals, both individually and as a group. Their enthusiasm, initiative and commitment to really making a difference, where their contribution will leave a legacy for future cohorts was palpable, creating considerable excitement and hope amongst us for the year ahead.

Recently, Mrs McCalman and myself had the pleasure of lunching with our new leaders and hearing of their hopes and plans. Their approach was inspiring and I have no doubt that they will leave our School a far better place for all within our community. You will find later in this Bulletin, personal profiles of our Student Leadership team for 2020-2021.

They will build upon the worthy traditions of our fine School and more than this, demonstrate initiative and vision to create new practices and establish new traditions. They will not simply replicate the past, they are eager to improve the lives of our students and the many dimensions of the School, both inside our gate and outside, by enthusiastically addressing the needs of the present.

Mark C Crowley, in his book ‘Lead from the Heart: Transformational Leadership in the 21st Century’ reflects upon qualities of effective leaders and his assessment of Abraham Lincoln provides all who wish to lead helpful insights. Some 150 years ago Lincoln, the highest regarded of all US leaders, seems to have intuitively understood the key to leadership, something that remains uncommon knowledge today. Engagement and performance are mostly influenced by feelings and emotions. Lincoln fundamentally cared about people and made every effort to demonstrate that to them. Through kind and encouraging words, and authentic gestures and exceptional thoughtfulness, he assured people of their individual significance. He was most essentially a human being who identified with the challenges people faced and the sacrifices they made. His tremendous influence was due to this.

Lincoln’s own words describe what he believed to be at the heart of effective leadership:

“In order to win a man to your cause, you must first reach his heart, the great road to reason.”

We are an inclusive and respectful community

As we all know, Kinross Wolaroi is a school that welcomes students from a number of diversities and communities. This cross section of diversity provides for a rich and welcoming environment within our school. As a community we encourage our members to fully support our model of inclusion and welcoming. Our school values include inclusiveness and respect. By this we mean that as a school community we accept and welcome that diversity is an integral part of our lives in Australian society and we honour this acceptance by treating all members of our community in respectful, inclusive and equitable ways. These are values we strongly role model as part of our School and hope that as part of our school community families respect and support these rights afforded to all.

Should you find that you encounter a diversity represented in our School that you do not understand please do not hesitate to contact the Deputy Principal, Mr James Boyd or the Head of Student Wellbeing, Mr Tom Riley to discuss your questions. We welcome the opportunity to create a space for improving our school community to be one which excels at inclusion, dignity, equity and respect.

Staffing Changes

APPOINTMENTS

Announcement – 2021 HOD positions

Following the completion of interviews for three Head of Department positions, I am delighted to announce the following appointments, all of which will commence in Term 1 of 2021.

Mrs Serena Lewis - Head of English

Recently, Mrs Serena Lewis expressed her wish to be considered for the Head of English role as it would allow her to focus her energy on her passion for English and being in the classroom. Serena is well known to the Kinross community, and is currently our Head of Teaching and Learning.

I am thrilled to announce that Serena is the successful applicant for this position. Although she will leave a huge hole in our Senior Management Team, I have every confidence that she will lead the English Department most capably. Prior to her role as Head of Teaching and Learning, Serena has had extensive experience as the Head of English and Language faculty at a large co-educational school in the UK. During this time, she also led a consultative group which advised AQA (the NESA equivalent in the UK) and was the advisor to school leaders in the UK on English curriculum. She has also been involved in leading highly successful whole school literacy development in a number of schools in Britain and Australia.

She is very excited that she will be in the position to assist with the delivery of English as a key component of the School’s Strategic Intent of Best Practice Learning. We will be advertising in the near future for a Head of Teaching and Learning to commence in Term 1 of 2021.

Ms Natasha Terry-Armstrong - Head of Social Science

I am pleased to announce that Ms Natasha Terry-Armstrong has been appointed to lead the Social Science faculty. Natasha recently joined us and has over 12 years of teaching experience across a number of leading Schools in Sydney including SHORE, Riverview and Santa Sabina. She has been Head of Faculty at Riverview and Head of School Management at Antipodeans where Natasha had the opportunity to lead a team in delivering educational travel experiences for young people, across Australia and New Zealand.

Natasha has a Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Teaching from Sydney University, and a Master Business Administration in Educational Leadership from CSU. Natasha was also the recipient of the SHORE James Fellowship Award to pursue study at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in USA. She has contributed to educational journals, Commerce and Business Studies textbooks and has experience as a HSC Business Studies presenter. Natasha’s list of leadership professional development is quite extensive, all which sees her well positioned to lead our Social Science Department into the future.

Mr Ben Doyle – Head of Mathematics

Mr Ben Doyle has been acting in the role of Head of Mathematics this year whilst Michelle Hill has been on Long Service Leave. During the interview process Ben outlined a clear vision for the Department and strongly values the unique talents and experience of his colleagues. He also enjoyed the challenge of upskilling with his Department in order to deliver successful online lessons during the COVID lockdown. Ben has shown strong leadership, energy and professionalism during this very disruptive year and is well placed to lead the Department in a progressive and cohesive manner.

Ben has been teaching for 15 years in both Australia and the UK. He came to Kinross Wolaroi from Orange Anglican Grammar School and prior to that he was with St Vincent’s College, Potts Point where he held various roles, including Head of House and Head of PDHPE and teacher of Mathematics. He has enjoyed a variety of co-curricular activities throughout his teaching career.

Ben has a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) specializing in Mathematics and PDHPE, a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Technology Queensland and a Masters of Education (Honours) from University of New England.

I am sure you will join with me in wishing Serena, Natasha and Ben every success in their new roles.

RETURNING IN TERM 4

Tina Moshkanbaryans returns from Maternity Leave and will commences her Foundation Teacher Fellowship in Term 4.

Trish Finch returns to cover Paul Mirrington’s Long Service Leave. This will be Trish’s last term with KWS as she heads into retirement in 2021.

Congratulations

Australasian Philosothon

Eight students represented Kinross Wolaroi at the Australasian Philosothon last week via Zoom, with the event hosted in Melbourne. The field of 180 participants was extremely tough with very interesting and challenging topics. I am told that the event was an excellent experience and a great insight into a world of complex thinking and discussion.

Particular mention should be made of Archie Lamont’s result of 86 and Toby Gough’s 93 and nomination for Most Promising Philosopher. Well done to all who attended this event.

Swimming

Five swimmers from the Performance Squad travelled to Sydney Olympic Park on the weekend to compete in the first race meet since March 2020. Some fast times were recorded with all five swimmers coming away with new Personal Best times:

Catie Crisp, Year 11 posted a new PB in the 100m Backstroke
Kyla Brown, Year 8, in the 50m Butterfly, 100m Backs, 50m Backstroke and 200 Individual Medley and placed 3rd in the 200m Breaststroke
Charlotte O’Hehir-Corones, Year 8 in the 50m Freestyle, 50m Butterfly (2nd), 50m Backstroke, 200m Individual Medley, 100m Freestyle and 50 Breaststroke (1st)