Year 12 Valedictory

We acknowledged our Year 12s at their Valedictory Ceremony at the Curtin Stadium on 15 November this term.  Our Valedictory speaker was alumni Melesha Sands, Deputy Director General of the Department of Education, who shared memories and qualities of Kalamunda SHS students and how these had served her well in her current work.  We wish our Class of 2024 all the very best for the future.

Congratulations to Nicolee McNally who was awarded the Desborough staff award and thank you to former student Lee Fox, Director for her sponsorship.

Orientation Day

On 22 November we welcomed our incoming Year 7 students for 2025.  It was a special day where students met their teachers and students in their classes for next year and familiarised themselves with high school.

Special Program Welcome

At Kalamunda we also acknowledge all our students entering one of our special programs in a welcome ceremony.  Congratulations to all those students who have been successful in gaining entry into Academic Excellence, Visual Art, Music, Performing Arts, Outdoor Adventure or Soccer. 

Special Program Graduations and Academic Excellence Awards evening

Those special programs finishing in Year 10 recently held their graduation ceremonies, along with the annual Academic Excellence Program awards evening. 

Gifted and Talented – Visual Art Exhibition

This was held on 23 and 24 November with the official opening by Kalamunda SHS teacher and local artist Anita Phillips.

VET and Workplace Learning

Year 11 students participated in their Workplace Learning program in Weeks 6 and 7 of this term in a variety of workplaces and job roles.  Many students have been offered employment opportunities through these experiences and we congratulate Leon Jones on receiving an apprenticeship in Heavy Diesel Mechanics from EPIROC. 

Final Assembly

On 9 December we held our final assembly for the year where we present a range of awards including dux, special program awards, sporting awards community, service and leadership awards.  We thank Dr John Owen, Australian Defence Force, Matthew Hughes MLA, Stephen Price MLA, Jenette Graham and the Kalamunda Lions Club for their donations for these awards.  We also congratulate all our award winners.

Reward Activities

During our final week of term our students with Good Standing have been involved in a range of reward activities. 

Minister’s Innovation Challenge

Congratulations to our Year 8 students who participated in the Minister’s Innovation Challenge. 

The students were challenged to create a solution to a local issue or problem faced by the citizens of Kalamunda. Our team decided to tackle the issue of teenagers between 14-16 needing their own space in the local area, to solve this they designed a teenage run market stall with live music and seating spaces. This was run at school and attracted a large crowd of students, a successful end to their well-designed project.

Student Leadership camp

Our 2025 student leaders had their camp at Bickley in Week 8 and used the opportunity to plan for the new year and undertake a range of leadership activities.  They were also joined by Dylan Collard for a special workshop to learn more about Aboriginal Culture.

Academic Reports

Reports will be emailed to parents on Thursday of the final week of term.  I encourage you to share these with your children to celebrate their successes and identify strategies for improvement where needed.

Building update

We are very excited to have been able to move our resources and equipment into the new Visual Arts building ready to start classes there in the new year.  It is an amazing new building and we look forward to a formal opening in the new year.

Farewells and retirements

As we end the year we say goodbye to a number of staff. 

I would like to make special mention of a number of teachers who will be retiring after long and successful careers.  Geoff Sloan has been teaching for 47 years and the last 26 years teaching Design and Technologies (D&T) at Kalamunda.  Dave Billing has also been teaching D&T at Kalamunda for 27 years and 40 overall.  Alanna Ferguson – has also had a long career teaching across various schools, year groups and subject areas with the last 6 years here at Kalamunda.  Bozena Sturmer has worked for 24 years with the department teaching Languages and Humanities and spent the last 19 years here at Kalamunda.  We have been very blessed to have had such dedicated, experienced and committed teachers working here. 

 

We also formally farewell Amber Bullock who has been on leave and started in 2015 at Kalamunda in our Year 7 team, taught Science and Physics, set up our STEM robotic club and supported them to achieve such success.  We congratulate Andrew Smith who has also been a part of our Year 7 team and who has won a position at Hampton SHS for next year and farewell Sonya Danaher, Yang Xi and Sebastian Denison-Brown as they finish their contracts at the school.

We also thank our language assistants Lufthia Utami and Satsuki Magawa for enriching our language learning this year and wish them all the best as they return home.

We wish Chelsea Walcazk, Katie Haler and Ellen Dandarian all the best for their leave next year. 

Christmas Break and the New Year

Wishing everyone all the best for the festive season and a relaxing holiday break. 

Helen Deacon

Helen Deacon
Principal

Buon giorno a tutti! Good day everyone!

This has been an incredible year at the Italian Club! 

I would like to thank you all for coming regularly and make it possible.

Together we have enjoyed Italian traditional food, cultural quizzes and videos and Italian music.

I look forward to see you all next year for a new Italian journey.

Remember:  fill your bag with enthusiasm, wear your best smile and fasten your friendship seat belts!

Buone vacanze! - Enjoy your holidays!

Prof. Gottardi

Year 11 Students Shine in WPL Work Experience !

Year 11 students recently traded their school uniforms for work attire as they embarked on this semester’s two-week work experience adventure. From childcare to conservation, our students explored a variety of job roles, with some being offered employment opportunities.

Diverse Roles, Diverse Skills

Our students dived into roles across multiple industries, gaining hands-on experience and discovering new passions. In childcare, they learned the art of patience and the magic of storytelling, keeping little ones entertained and engaged.  Over in retail, students mastered the fine balance of customer service and stock management, proving that a smile really does go a long way.

Mechanics and More

For those with a knack for fixing things, the mechanics placements were a dream come true, with Heavy Diesel apprenticeships the focus. Meanwhile, future educators got a taste of the classroom, discovering that teaching is as much about learning as it is about instructing.

Electrifying Experiences

In the world of electrical work, students learned the ins and outs of wiring and safety protocols. One budding electrician remarked, “I now understand why my parents always told me not to stick forks in the toaster!” The theatre arts placements were equally thrilling, with students helping behind the scenes and even getting a chance to shine on stage.

Hairdressing and Conservation

Our future stylists in hairdressing discovered the joy of transforming looks and boosting confidence. In conservation, our student worked tirelessly to protect our natural environment, proving that even small efforts can make a big difference. The chance to attend many field trips and record data on rare flora species amongst our beautiful bushland.

A Round of Applause

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the businesses and organizations that welcomed our students with open arms. Your mentorship and support have been invaluable. Many students have experienced a significant boost in confidence and have further developed their work skill abilities, such as communication skills. It’s been wonderful to see them thrive in real-world environments.

We are proud to share a few photos of our students in action, showcasing their hard work and dedication. Well done, Year 11s! 

Workplace Learning (WPL) program - success story

WPL offers a range of benefits for both students and employers and can empower students to make informed decisions about their future career pathway options.

Here is one story about a young man who has an interest for heavy diesel mechanics and embarked on a transformative journey through our program this year.

Leon decided to pursue this interest further through the Workplace Learning Program which provided Leon with the unique opportunity to not only explore the industry but build professional relationships with mentors and supervisors, which is valuable for future job opportunities.

Over the course of several months, Leon attended multiple work experiences at different mining machinery companies. Each placement offered a new perspective and set of challenges. Under the guidance of experienced mentors, Leon learned about the maintenance and repair of heavy diesel machinery, safety protocols, and the importance of teamwork in such a demanding environment.

At the completion of this work experience with a wealth of practical experience and a clear career goal in mind, Leon decided to apply for an apprenticeship in Heavy Diesel Mechanics with EPIROC. The application process was rigorous, requiring a detailed resume, references from workplace mentors, and a series of interviews and medical exams. Leon’s dedication and enthusiasm shone through, impressing the selection panel.

The hard work paid off when Leon received the news of being accepted into the apprenticeship program. Leon’s journey from a curious student to a successful apprentice is a testament to the value of hands-on learning and the support of educational programs that connect students with real-world opportunities.

Maxine Merchant – VET Coordinator

Rebecca Fairbrother – WPL Officer

How to Help Your Teen Develop Healthy Self-Esteem 

One of the (many) reasons I became a teacher was from a genuine desire to help children develop a sense of healthy self-esteem. I did a lot of reading about intrinsic motivation and how to foster self-esteem, and the research kept leading me back to the fact that it can only come from an individual setting small goals and then achieving them. As we know, resilience comes from failing, reflecting on what to do differently and then trying again. 

Our goal as educators and parents is to prepare our kids for the next phase of life, moving into adulthood and independence. This means we need to be willing to create a little room for them to have a go, rather than just doing it ourselves because ‘it’s easier’, ‘it saves time’, or ‘it would just create more work for me’. Of course, we need to support our teens while they learn and need to be on standby to help them out; and if they don’t get it right the first time, we help to gently reflect on what to do differently and then encourage them to try again. 

With the long holidays coming up it got me to thinking about some skills teens could learn and develop (if they haven’t already) which would help them to foster a sense of self-esteem and personal autonomy. These things can be fun to do together and may also save your sanity by keeping them busy.  These are suitable for all teens; the last four are additional ones for those a little older: 

1. Book their own appointments; for a haircut, to visit the doctor, or book a table at a restaurant. Most of these things can be done online, but it is also good for them to learn how to practice and get comfortable with speaking to ‘strangers’ on the phone.
2. How to use their phone calendar to set reminders for the appointments they’ve booked.
3. Help with the house-hold chores to earn some pocket money. These could include walking the dog, washing windows, sweeping or power-washing the patio, mopping, helping with yard work, dusting, cobwebbing, vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, sorting out the overflowing ‘handy’ drawer – the possibilities are endless!
4. Set up a bank account, make bank deposits and budget their savings. This is a great way to show them how many chores they would need to do in order to cover the cost of their mobile phone bill.
5. Make a healthy meal for the family. One of the nifty tricks my Mum taught me was that as things are bubbling on the stove or baking in the oven, to clean up the kitchen. When the food is ready, viola! You have a meal and clean kitchen to boot, rather than it looking like a small incendiary device has gone off.
6. Load a dishwasher and unload it again. (No-one likes a half-completed job!)
7. Wash and detail a car. One of my senior students told me that this was his favourite thing to do when he was feeling a bit down; it just made him feel better.
8. Make a list and pack what they need for a family holiday.
9. Develop a list of fun things that they like to do when they’re bored (which doesn’t include ‘doom-scrolling’ as an option) reading a book, creating some art, building a cubby house with younger siblings, growing herbs and planting flowers, going for a walk, playing with and caring for a pet, learning a new sport or hobby.
10. Plan a trip and use public transport.
11. Shop for school supplies.
12. Sort and do their own laundry; fold, hang and put it away. (I’m always a bit surprised when students don’t know how to hang a costume up, and then I teach them!)
13. Make their own bed and change the sheets.
14. Assemble flatpack furniture – and what to do with that extra bolt that is always leftover.
15. Sew on a button or repair a small hole in clothing.
16. Spot clean a stain.
17. Look for a job and then how to hold down a job.
18. Pay a bill.
19. Drive a manual car, put fuel in the car and arrange to get a car serviced. Extra points if they know how to change a tyre - or at the very least call roadside assistance.
20. How to safely use an Uber or taxi service; this includes a discussion about what is appropriate information to share with your driver and that ‘white lies’ in this instance are perfectly acceptable, such as ‘yes, my family is home tonight’, ‘My older brother is waiting for me’ and so forth. 

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list but definitely one that will help to build some feelings of self-esteem and independence in your teen, and hopefully make the school holidays more enjoyable for everyone!  Try to reframe calling them household ‘chores’, to ‘just being things we all need to do, to enjoy living together’. And remember to crank some good music while you’re all working, to make it feel more fun. The important thing is to celebrate the small wins; it’s nice to sit back with a cool drink and enjoy how good the garden, car or house looks and feels when you’ve worked on it together. A hug and a ‘thanks for your help!’ go a long way - even if you do need to go and re-do the shower cleaning when they’re not looking - they’ll get better with practice! 

On that note, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a wonderful, restful and rejuvenating summer holidays! See you next year for more tips on how to stay mentally healthy!

By Aundraea Stevens

Convenor of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Committee

Haynes Street Revival Project:

The City of Kalamunda has partnered with RAC to facilitate an exciting street makeover on one of Kalamunda’s main streets! All students are welcome to join the project advisory council where they will have the opportunity to work with the community, local businesses, and like-minded peers to design and create a footpath mural and street-activation. As part of the advisory council, students are invited to attend design sessions as well as participate in Build Week where they will construct and paint WIKI furniture, plant boxes, the footpath mural and more!

Ciiy of Kalamunda Youth News

Haynes Street Revival Project:

The City of Kalamunda has partnered with RAC to facilitate an exciting street makeover on one of Kalamunda’s main streets! All students are welcome to join the project advisory council where they will have the opportunity to work with the community, local businesses, and like-minded peers to design and create a footpath mural and street-activation. As part of the advisory council, students are invited to attend design sessions as well as participate in Build Week where they will construct and paint WIKI furniture, plant boxes, the footpath mural and more!

Key Dates are:

• Planning Session: Walk through Haynes Street and plot where your features and designs could go

Where: Zig Zag Cultural Centre-Seminar Rooms

When: Wednesday 18th December 2024

Time: 10am-1pm

• Build Week: A full week of design from building furniture to bringing the art mural to life!

Where: Haynes Street

When: 22-24 January 2025

Time: TBD

• Pop Up Street Party: Come along and see the new Haynes Street unveiled and celebrate with music, food and more!

Where: Haynes Street:

When: Saturday 25th January 2025

Time: TBD