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Thank you to the Rotary Club of Kalamunda
We would like to acknowledge and thank the Rotary Club of Kalamunda for their generous donation of 50 student stationery packs. These packs contain essential items such as pens, pencils, erasers and exercise books, and will be distributed by our Student Services team to support students who do not have the necessary equipment.
Semester 1 - Academic Reports
Our staff are currently finalising assessments and preparing an academic report for students. These will be distributed by 30 June for Years 10 to12 and by the end of Week 1 next term for Years 7 to 9. We encourage parents to share these with their children and make a time to meet with teachers at the upcoming opportunity in Term 3.
Parent teacher meeting – 26 July
Our second parent teacher meeting for the year will be held in Week 2 of Term 3 on 26 July. Information about bookings and logins will be emailed to parents early next term.
OLNA results
The results are now in for those who sat the OLNA testing recently. These have been distributed to students and families. If you have any questions regarding these results, please contact the school and speak with our Deputy Principal – Tim Bennett.
Year 10 Course Counselling
The process of counselling our Year 10 students for their WACE courses for Year 11 and 12 is underway. Our parent information session was held on 8 June and information from this has been placed on Connect for parents unable to attend. SSO will open for course selection on 30 June, and students will have until 28 July to submit their choices.
Canteen updates
We are very appreciative of the efforts of the P&C in operating our canteen at the school. Our students and staff are able to access healthy, delicious food onsite and this is a great service to our school community.
The canteen is always looking for new volunteers to join their team in providing this service, and if you have any time you are able to help out that would be greatly appreciated. Even popping in to cover the busy service period can make all the difference. Please contact the school and ask to speak with Linda, the canteen manager if you can assist.
Canteen menu for Term 3
The canteen menu is regularly reviewed and new items added. An updated menu will be ready for Term 3. Prices have remained stable for some time, however there will be a slight increase in some items due to increases in the cost of food and ingredients.
Containers for Change
We now have new bins in our canteen area to accept these recyclable containers for change. We encourage our students to recycle these products and if you have items at home, these can be donated to the P&C using this code.
Enrolments for 2024
A reminder to our parents that enrolments for our incoming Year 7 students are due by 21 July 2023. We encourage families to enrol earlier to ensure adequate planning can be made considering we are experiencing enrolment pressure navigating the building project.
We especially acknowledge those students who have been participating in the special program testing and audition processes. These are being processed and information and families will be notified of these outcomes in Term 3.
Year 7 GAT Visual Art students
Recently our GAT art students experienced a workshop at the school with art tutor Hayley Thoms. The students created artworks with Prisma coloured pencils. These are some photos from the incursion.
Building Update
Our STEM building project is moving along well and the pad has now gone in for the new Science Block.
Wishing everyone all the best for the holidays.
Helen Deacon
Principal
Term 2 will soon be finished, and the year is ticking by very fast, as our Year 12 students move into Semester 2, their final semester of school. There is no better time to evaluate and re-assess how to effectively conclude the year achieving the best results possible. The leavers jackets arrived earlier in the term and have become a predominant feature of the Year 12 school uniform, identifying them in their final year.
It was very pleasing to see the Senior School exams run efficiently. We were impressed with the overall attitude of the students, who presented punctually and were organised for each of their exams. We are also having some good results for the large number of students who went out on Workplace Learning Placements.
Upon receipt of Semester 1 reports students will need to apply themselves to the areas requiring improvement, as they work towards the achievement of their WACE. Please heed the advice as it is not too late for every student to make the required change for the better.
Our Year 12 students need to be especially attentive in these preceding weeks to get every mark they can, resulting in the best grades achievable. Please be reminded especially at this time, that every student needs a good life balance, making sure health, study and extra curricula activities are given reasonable time allowance. Leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of getting a better overall result, make any modifications minor or major, ensure every assessment is completed and handed in, this is a particularly good place to start being the beginning of Semester 2.
Can I also remind year 12 students along with parents, that Connect is a vital part of school communication. A lot of information is available on Connect so please make some time to check any updates or reminders. Please contact me if you have any concerns on 9293 6400.
I wish all year 12 students a productive completion of Term 2 and a rest full holiday in July to come back relaxed and revitalised ready to give your all in Term 3.
Teagen Smith
Year 12 Coordinator
Congratulations to those Year 11 students who have recently completed their ATAR exams or have been on Workplace Learning. I hope this was a positive experience where you were able to gain valuable skills and knowledge. As this is the time of year where some Year 11 students may be reviewing their course selections and looking to make changes, it is important that they first discuss this with their subject teacher and carefully consider the reasons for making any changes. Any changes to courses need to be made through our Deputy Principal, Tim Bennett.
A reminder that all students are required to be in full school uniform and keep mobile phones off and away while at school. Recorded breaches can lead to a loss of Good Standing which will impact students’ ability to access certain privileges such as the end of year river cruise celebration.
Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing break. Please don’t hesitate to contact me, your child’s mentor teacher or class teacher if you have any questions. Thank you to all parents and carers for your continued support.
Amber Bullock
As we come to the end of Semester 1, I just wanted to highlight two things about Years 9 and 10.
- When I speak to students about their reports, the first thing I look at are what we call the ABE’s. This stands for Attitude, Behaviour and Effort. At KSHS, our staff report on the following attributes: Works to the best of their ability; Shows courtesy and respect for others; Is well organised and prepared for learning; Actively participates in learning, and, Meets deadlines. Our staff then give students a level in each domain, do they demonstrate the domain consistently, often, sometimes or seldom. The reason we place high value on these ABE’s are because they show the student is participating in school. We want every student to reach their potential, whatever that may be, and if they are demonstrating these ABE’s consistently, then they are giving themselves every opportunity to achieve to their full potential. I really urge you to focus on these when you receive your student’s report and have a discussion with them based around these and not just the grades. It is a great way to build goals for Semester 2 and beyond. I would also urge you to contact any staff if you have concerns about the ABE’s.
- As we approach the end of the Semester, I would really encourage all our Year 9 and 10s to think about how the world is changing. They will be making decisions about their future schooling in the next semester and if they can start planning and setting goals now, it will make these decisions a lot clearer and also more attainable. If you ever need any help with these sorts of 'career planning' decisions we are really fortunate to have the services of an amazing Careers Practitioner in Amanda Moreno Diaz (Morenodiaz@education.wa.edu.au). Ms Moreno Diaz is an amazing resource for our students and also for our parents. She is always more than willing to help start the 'pathway planning' process for you and your student about what they may want to move on to after schooling.
The Year 7s have had a busy few weeks as we work towards completing units of study and final assessments. Well done to the students who have been studying hard at home and in class to prepare for tests and assignments. It is not long now until the holidays and we look forward to rewarding those students who have maintained their good standing this semester.
When school gets busy, one thing to really focus on is organisation. Having a diary or planner to write down due dates and plan when students will do study, extracurricular activities and have family time is a useful strategy. Students are encouraged to use their school diaries for this, but they can also use a variety of different apps on their computers, or a copy of the school calendar which can be found on Connect in the Year 7 2023 Library.
It is common for students to experience stress when there are a lot of assessments due. Stress can be a good thing if it helps you to get motivated. However, if you are too stressed, you might feel frozen. Some top tips for beating stress include:
- Take care of your physical health: Getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising regularly can help regulate stress levels.
- Practice relaxation techniques: breathing exercises, meditation or engaging in hobbies you enjoy all help combat stress.
- Take breaks: make sure you make time for the things you enjoy as well as study and homework. Studying for 20 minutes at a time and then taking a short break is often more effective than studying for 2 hours at a time.
As always, please feel free to email me if you have any queries.
Kelly Walker
Year 7 Coordinator
Congratulations to all students involved in our Semester 1 Showcase; it was a wonderful evening performed to a full house of supportive family and friends. Our talented Year 11s performed their scripted monologues and 2 person scenes from 'Ruby Moon' by Matt Cameron. As part of their assessment for monologues, students found and edited their own sound effects and chose their desired lighting effects.
A big thankyou to our wonderful backstage support crew; Year 12 Alex Tickner for operating the lights and adjusting on the fly to ensure everyone was appropriately lit; and a record number of volunteers from our Year 10 Drama class ensured the evening ran like clockwork:
- Dezley Stevens as our unflappable and highly organised Stage Manager
- Jayde Angus, Ben Colley, Caleb Lyons and Seth Trainer got their ‘steps up’ as Stagehands moving furniture on and off the set between scene transitions
- Cheyanne-May Bain operated sound effects for the evening with aplomb
- David Price filmed the performances with great care and attention to detail.
Backstage Crew
Back row: Jayde Angus, Caleb Lyons, Alex Tickner, Seth Trainor
Front Row: Cheyann-May Bain, Ben Colley, Dezley Stevens (David Price not pictured)
Bump out of set: Ariel Armenti, Monique Beesley, Griffin Brincat, Ryan Farrar, Libby Guy, Jo-Lee Holtum, Rheidsyn Lowry, Odin Roche, Elyce Rutherford, Felicity Smith, Georgia Stidwell, Sean Thompson, Kai Venter.
Finally, thankyou to Tracy Sutton for providing a ‘Ruby Doll’ when the mannequin ordered failed to arrive in time from Melbourne!
Working with students who are dedicated and conduct themselves in such a professional manner is an absolute delight for me as a teacher, and I am very much looking forward to our Semester 2 Showcase. Our Year 11 students will be working on a whole class play of Hamlet in 15 minutes, as well as devising their own play. Here’s to more wonderful Drama!
Aundraea Stevens
Drama Teacher
What Type of Exercise Is Best for Mental Health?
A large new study looks at how exercise can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. When you head to your weekly yoga class or lift weights at the gym, you’re doing something good for your physical health: getting more fit today, and so protecting your body into the future.
What you may not always think about, though, is that you’re also protecting yourself from anxiety and depression—about as much as you would be if you were going to therapy or taking medication. At least that’s the conclusion of a very large new study that synthesizes decades of research on exercise and mental health.
The study doesn’t just provide this key insight—in fact, the researchers were also able to identify what kind of exercise and how much of it is best for mental health.
How Body Supports Mind
The participants (of the study) engaged in a variety of physical activities, from yoga and tai chi to aerobics and dance to strength training. In the original studies, they or their clinicians rated their symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress before and after the exercise program or treatment. The results suggested that exercising helped people reduce their depression, anxiety, and distress even more than usual treatments.
“Physical activity can be an effective treatment for mental health problems,” says Ben Singh, lead author and research fellow at the University of South Australia. He thinks it works in several ways: by releasing endorphins and boosting our mood, improving sleep, reducing stress, supporting self-esteem and confidence, and making us feel accomplished and purposeful.
And it seems like you don’t have to exercise obsessively to see benefits; less than 2.5 hours per week was actually better than more. The sweet spot was four to five sessions per week—not every day, but most days. Workouts don’t have to be long; there was no difference between 30-minute workouts and hour-long ones. The researchers suggest that this moderate amount of exercise may feel more manageable, so it doesn’t become a burden in people’s lives. "The benefits of exercise might not be immediate," says Singh, but they should show up within weeks or months.
An Exercise Prescription
If exercise is so helpful for feelings of depression and anxiety, why aren’t doctors prescribing it more? In the United States, the researchers explain, exercise, sleep, and diet changes are considered 'complementary alternative treatments' if therapy and drugs don’t work. But in other countries, such as Australia, these lifestyle factors are addressed earlier on.
“Physical activity is a safe and effective way to improve mental health, and it is a treatment that should be considered alongside other treatments, such as therapy and medication,” says Singh. Depression, in particular, can reduce our motivation and energy. If that’s the case, Singh suggests a few ways to get yourself motivated to exercise:
Start small. If you’re not used to exercising, start with small goals, such as walking for 10 minutes a day or doing some light stretching. As you get more comfortable with exercise, you can gradually increase the intensity or duration of your workouts.
Find an activity you enjoy. If you don’t enjoy the type of exercise you’re doing, you’re less likely to stick with it. Try different activities until you find one that you really enjoy. Some people enjoy running, swimming, biking, yoga, dancing, or hiking. You may also want to try group exercise classes or working out with a friend.
Make exercise a habit. The more you exercise, the easier it becomes. Try to make exercise a regular part of your routine, such as going for a walk after work or working out first thing in the morning.
Set realistic goals. Don’t try to do too much too soon. Start with small goals and gradually increase the intensity or duration of your workouts as you get more fit.
Reward yourself. When you reach a goal, reward yourself with something you enjoy. This will help you stay motivated and on track.
Don’t give up. There will be days when you don’t feel like exercising. But it’s important to push through these days and keep exercising. The more you exercise, the better you’ll feel.
For people dealing with depression, in particular, Singh suggests going easy on yourself and getting help when needed—the accountability of an exercise buddy, or advice from doctors or therapists to help you stick to it. “Exercise can be a helpful part of treatment, but it’s not a cure,” he says. "It’s not a replacement for current treatments such as medications and counselling.”
That said, it’s something you can do that is accessible, with few side effects, and with many benefits besides the mental health ones. Why not give it a try?
BY KIRA M. NEWMAN | JUNE 7, 2023
For the full article, visit https://greatergood.berkeley.edu
Aundraea Stevens
Convenor of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Committee