From the Principal

Welcome back

As we embark on a new academic year, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all of our new and returning families. It is an immense honour to serve as Principal of our wonderful school and I look forward to us working together to ensure a successful and rewarding year for all of our students.

It has been a wonderfully positive start to the new academic year with students and staff refreshed and invigorated following their summer break and excited by the opportunities and challenges that 2023 will hold.

We welcome many new students across all levels of the school and several new staff to our community. We commence the year with a record boarding enrolment for the School, a fitting acknowledgment of the quality of our residential experience.

The start of a new school year is an exciting time filled with opportunities for growth, self-discovery, and new experiences. It is also a time for us to reflect on the role that education plays in shaping our future. 

Education plays a crucial role in shaping our future by providing individuals with the necessary knowledge, skills, and values to succeed in a rapidly changing world. It helps individuals to develop critical thinking, problem solving, and decision-making skills, which are essential for personal and professional growth. Additionally, education provides individuals with opportunities to explore their interests, discover their passions, and develop their unique talents and abilities. The broad and diverse offering at Kinross Wolaroi provides ample opportunity to achieve these goals.

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela

Education also has the power to shape society and create positive change. By educating our students about important social, political, and economic issues, they are empowered to make informed decisions and take meaningful action to create a better future. Learning is a lifelong process, and it continues to shape our perspectives and beliefs long after we have left the classroom.

"Education is not just about going to school and getting a degree. It's about widening your knowledge and absorbing the truth about life." - Shakuntala Devi

Education is essential for personal, professional, and societal growth, playing a vital role in developing the whole person, the intellectual, social, emotional and physical dimensions of our being. It empowers individuals to reach their full potential, to be the best versions of themselves and make a positive impact upon the world.

The respected educator and author, John Dewey argued that “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” This is a powerful reminder of the importance of creating a dynamic and inclusive learning environment where students can thrive and grow as individuals. Educators need to foster a culture of inquiry and critical thinking, where students are encouraged to explore and question the world around them.

It is important that our students make the most of their time at school, taking full advantage of all the wonderful opportunities available to them that provide enjoyment, challenge and personal growth.

As we commence this this new academic year, I encourage you to play an active role in your child’s education. By working together with our teachers and staff, we can create a vibrant and supportive learning community ensuring that all students are able flourish and develop in the rich and engaging environment that our school offers.

I very much look forward to a successful and rewarding year and to working with you to ensure the success and personal growth of our students.

Summer Activities

Over the summer break many of our students were involved in camps and activities. Our Senior Cricketers played a few matches, the Swim Squad were busily training throughout the summer and achieved some very positive results at the NSW Age Championships. Our rowers were involved in three camps over December-January. Over 90 rowers worked to develop their skills and condition in readiness for their Regatta season this term. We have established an outstanding reputation as one of NSW’s premier rowing schools and I have no doubt that the crews’ efforts and dedication will see this maintained. Some of our rugby players participated in a Sydney University Rugby Club camp held on our Wolaroi Campus and we received some wonderful news from the world of polocrosse. Three of our students have been selected in the Australian Youth Team: Zoe Stevenson, Erica Stuart and Ryan Weston. For Kinross Wolaroi to have three members in this National team is outstanding.

Welcome to our new staff

We welcome a number of new staff to our community. I am greatly impressed by the calibre of staff that we are able to attract and I look forward to seeing their special and unique contributions to our school. 

New Staff in Senior School

Mr Henry Adams – Social Science teacher

Dr Signe Ernist - Languages teacher

Miss Madi Jones – Science teacher

Mrs Jo Lenton – Music teacher

Mrs Kathryn Whiteley – Mathematics teacher

Mrs Helen Vere - Mathematics teacher

Rev’d Peter Robinson – Interim Chaplain

New Staff in Junior School

Mrs Libby Chapman – Classroom teacher

Mrs Brooke Church – Co-Ordinator learning Enhancement (Pre-K-Yr6)

Ms Annie Dawson – Classroom teacher (12 months)

Mrs Lindsay Irik – Junior School Strings Co-ordinator

Miss Olivia Sleeman – Classroom teacher

Gap Year students

From the UK: Alex Champion, Joy McCluskey, Finley Morris, Ethan Phillipson

From South Africa: Rasmi Chetty, Charlize Trieloff

New Responsibilities 

Mr Liam Callaghan – Coordinator of TREE

Mr Trent Dyer – Director of Systems and Analytics (Term 2)

Mr Bailey Hilliard– Science teacher

Ms Sarah O’Gorman – History teacher 

Ms Kate Rohr – English teacher

Mr Matt Tink – School Sergeant 

Mr Nathan Zinga – Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator

Mrs Michelle Thompson – Academic Coordinator

Mrs Katrina Flynn – Acting Head Mentor – Blackman House

Miss Brooke Hamilton – Acting Head Mentor – Dean House

Long Service Leave

Mrs Ash Hiskens - Term 1 & 2

Mr Jason Smith - Term 1 & 2

Mr Bryan Thomas – Term 1 & 2

Mr Mark Pritchard (Junior School) – all of 2023

Lockdown/Fire Drill: 11.25amTuesday 14 February

Please note the School will be staging a practice drill for a lockdown or fire emergency on Tuesday 14 February at 11.25am across both the Senior and Junior Schools. This will include practicing a classroom lockdown followed by an evacuation procedure.   

Practice in these drills is essential to ensure that both staff and students understand what is expected of them in an emergency, so that they can remain calm and follow the correct procedures. All of this ensures their safety in an emergency.  

We are informing families about the drill to avoid any misunderstandings or alarm on Tuesday when the drill takes place.  

Congratulations

Brianna Fuller (Class of 2019)

Congratulations to Alumna Brianna Fuller (Class of 2019) for her success with the Australian Defence Force. Briana loved being part of the Cadet Unit while at KWS. In 2019 she was presented with an ADFA Education Award and commenced at the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2020. Last December Brianna graduated with an Arts Degree and received the highest award for an Army Officer Cadet, The Chief of Army Award. Well done, Brianna. 

Phoebe Litchfield (Class of 2021)

Phoebe Litchfield who is very well known to many of us – a 2021 graduate made her Senior Australian Cricket debut in the Women’s One Day International series against Pakistan. Phoebe made a wonderful start to her international career scoring unbeaten back-to-back half centuries in her first two matches.  

'Surreal' debut the stuff of dreams for Litchfield (cricket.com.au)

Bianca Fuller (Class of 2022)

Bianca Fuller, Class of 2022 has recently been accepted into the Australian Institute of Sport, Swimming Squad after her selection last year into the NSW Target Transition Squad. Bianca is training under the Australian Olympic Coach, Shannon Rollason. We wish Bianca the very best in her pursuit of an Olympic Medal. 

Anabelle van Wyk, Year 10

Anabelle has received the Australia Day Award of Highly Commended, Young Citizen of the Year for her extraordinary musical achievements. You may recall that last year Anabelle played her Saxophone in Carnegie Hall, New York and has been a member of the Sydney Youth Orchestra’s Symphonic Wind Orchestra for the past two years.

Australian Youth Team - Polocrosse

Well done to three of our champion riders who have been selected in the Australian Youth Team for Polocrosse: Zoe Stevenson, Erica Stuart and Ryan Weston

Lazo (Year 12) and Zaro Jalal (Year 6)

Over the December school holidays, Year 12 student Lazo Jalal and his brother Zaro Jalal, Year 6, attended the Oceanic Rubik’s Cube Championships which were held in Melbourne. There were almost 1,000 competitors in this competition! Both Lazo and Zaro achieved PB’s in every event they competed in. Congratulations to both of these students. 

COVID Update for Term 1

We know that being together in the classroom is the best thing for our students. This term we will continue to implement several measures to allow us to prioritise both the wellbeing of our students and a consistent and productive learning environment.

You can review the School's current settings for COVID-19 here:

https://www.kws.nsw.edu.au/news-and-updates/coronavirus-updates