During this term I have been meeting with each of our senior students to talk about their time at Helena and to hear about their plans for the future, beyond secondary school. These conversations provide further examples of the uniqueness of each individual. Some of the students have very clear plans for their future, which could include university, an apprenticeship, work, or a gap year. For others though, there are still many uncertainties about what they will be doing next year and beyond. 

To assist all of our older students with understanding their options post Helena, we run a number of activities to help provide students with relevant information. These activities include an initial meeting in Year 10 with students, parents and the Director of Upper School, Craig Hillman, to discuss possible pathways through Year 11 and 12.

As part of the Year 12 retreat at the start of the year, all Year 12 students visit two different universities and hear from university staff about life on campus. Last week, Year 11 and 12 students on the General pathway attended a Careers Fair where they were able to engage with over 150 different employers and industry groups about apprenticeships and other employment opportunities. 

Throughout this term we are hosting a series of guest speakers from each of the universities in Western Australia to present to the students about what each has to offer and answer any questions. To provide clarity about the application process, we also have a representative from the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) to speak with the Year 12s. 

At the end of this term, our Year 12 students begin their internal exams or attend their final work placements for the year. I am sure I speak for all in our community when I offer best wishes to our upper school students as they work through these busy final months. 

Across this term there are many exciting things happening for all students. Our Politics and Law students head to Canberra next week in order to immerse themselves in the parliamentary process and engage with all that our national capital has to offer. 

This week we have a combined Junior and Senior School assembly at the Glen Forrest campus as we enjoy a performance from the Wakakirri team for this year. Over 90 students from Years 3 to 6 have been working tirelessly with a group of dedicated teachers to create the dance for this year. Thanks must go to Adriana Martino and all the volunteer teachers and parents for leading the group, which will also perform at the Perth Concert Hall on Monday evening. 

Another group who have been preparing for performances are the volunteers, musicians, cast and crew of the Peter Pan musical which will be presented for three nights from August 24. I’m pleased to say that all tickets have been sold out. Well done to Thea O’Keeffe for all her work in directing and producing the show. 

With the Athletics Carnival next week, Junior School camps and other events ahead, Term 3 is going to be a very busy time across the College.

Regards

Peter Coombs

Principal

Child-Friendly Complaints Policy Under Review: Your Feedback Matters!

Our Child-Friendly Complaints Policy is currently undergoing its regular review. As part of this process, we highly encourage families to share their input and feedback to help us improve the policy and ensure it aligns with our commitment to providing a safe and nurturing environment for our students.

The importance of having a Child-friendly Complaints Policy and Procedure is emphasised by the WA Registration Standards. Our primary goal is to ensure that all students feel comfortable expressing their concerns, no matter how big or small, and that they are confident their voices will be heard.

To develop an effective policy, we have aligned it with the six elements outlined by the WA Commissioner for Children and Young People's guide, 'Are You Listening?'  These elements are:

• Focus on children and young people
• Visibility
• Accessibility
• Responsiveness
• Confidentiality
• Accountability and continuous improvement

One crucial element is Visibility, which entails consistently reminding students about the available process for raising concerns. Each academic year, we commence with in-person formal sessions during our student induction program to promote the policy. Additionally, we ensure that relevant information is accessible to students through the student pages in SEQTA and on our website.

To further enhance visibility, we display posters in classrooms that encourage students to come forward with their concerns. The posters also outline the steps that will be taken when a concern is raised. A new poster will be launched this term. It will be discussed in homeroom sessions and prominently displayed in all classrooms.

Your involvement is integral to the success of this policy review. We value your feedback and invite you to access the Policy by clicking here. 

We look forward to receiving your feedback.

Kind regards

Justin Pitt

Head of Senior School | Glen Forrest Campus

Recently Helena College entered  the Sustainable Oceans Competition that was organised by Education Perfect. June 8 was World Ocean Day, and this competition ran from 6 - 8 June. Students were given content on sustainability in the oceans and had to answer questions based on this.

Congratulations to Henry, Year 7,  for answering 1,610 questions during the 2023 Sustainable Oceans Student Competition - Australia. He earned 274 points, placing him in the top 2% of competitors from around the world.

Henry's prize for his efforts included a $100 Gift voucher and an 'Adopt a Manta Ray Pack' ($50 value) which means he will receive regular updates on his selected manta ray. He has chosen a manta ray named Baba Ghanoush and we look forward to receiving updates on his progress.

Deven Reddy | Head of Department - Science

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability 

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:

• year of schooling
• category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
• level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.

This information assists schools to:

• formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
• consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
• develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.

The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.

The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy (https://www.education.gov.au/privacy-policy). Further information about the NCCD can also be found on the NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au).

If you have any further questions about the NCCD, please contact the College.

Uniform News

Second-hand Uniform Shop - August Trading hours

Permapleat Midland - Updated Trading Hours

New uniform items can be purchased from Permapleat Midland. The shop has recently updated its trading hours, as follows:

• Tuesdays from 7.30am to 4pm
• Wednesdays from 9am to 5pm
• Thursdays from 10am to 6pm
• Saturdays from 9am to 1pm

Sibling Enrolment Reminder

This is an exciting time of the year as we coordinate our student enrolments and prepare for the new students joining us in 2024.

We would like to remind our families and the wider community of the College’s registration and enrolment process. We encourage you to visit our website for further information regarding registrations, as well as upcoming school tours. Due to limited places in selected Junior School year levels, we highly recommend that families register early. 

For current families who intend enrolling younger siblings, it is important to register each of the children individually. This will ensure the College is able to apply the priority placement criteria to their registration. The order of priority for student enrolment at Helena College is:

1. Registered siblings of any student who have been offered and accepted a place
2. Students with the earliest registration dates

Please remember, once a year level reaches its maximum student class size, any unregistered students (including siblings) will unfortunately miss out and will need to wait for the next available placement (following their registration).

If you would like any further information regarding our student enrolment process, please phone chat to our Enrolments Coordinator, Kate Paterson, and/or visit the Enrolment Page on our website. Kate can be reached at enrolments@helena.wa.edu.au. 

Tuning into an Inquiry finds out what the children already know, think and feel about the topic. In Pre-primary, we have been investigating at living and non-living things.

The children walked down to the creek at the base of the Junior School campus, and spent some time exploring the environment. We asked the children to sketch what they found interesting and when we got back to class we asked the children to tell us what they had sketched and if they thought it could be living or non-living and why they thought this.

The rain held off for us and the pure enjoyment the children got exploring our creek was delightful to see. We couldn't wait to go back and talk about what we discovered. 

Year 2 had a fabulous day at the Perth Museum as they immersed themselves in all things meteors! What are they and where did they come from? What impact have they made on Earth and why are they important to Science…?  were just some of the questions explored.  

Students were able to venture into the world of Science, testing hypotheses and observing impact with hands-on experiments. As part of our Earth and Space Sciences studies this term, students learned of the connection between cosmic events and some of the materials we rely on today. 

The exhibits in the museum were also an excellent provocation to our inquiry, ‘Tell me a Story’, inspiring minds to create visual images for settings and characters for their own stories, back at school.

In Auslan we have been practicing our non-verbal communication skills and receptive practice by drawing a picture and signing it to a partner to re-create on their own separate piece of paper. This challenging activity proved how difficult non-verbal communication can be, and allowed the students to celebrate their success in Auslan by demonstrating how much they have learned this year. 

We have also introduced a Voice Off Championship this term, where each class competes to be the quietest during a specific voice off time each lesson. This requires the students to communicate only in Auslan and problem-solve how they can use fingerspelling, written words and mime to communicate with each other if they don’t know specific signs. The students have really enjoyed this challenge, with Year 3 winning Week 1, and Year 2 taking out the Week 2 challenge. 

We are looking forward to another busy term in the Junior School Library.

This term the Year 5 students will be working on their ‘Book in a Box’ projects where they decorate a box to represent a book of their choice and fill it with objects that represent different parts of the book. I know all the students at Helena College will enjoy viewing the finished products.

In Week 6, we will be joining schools and libraries across Australia to celebrate books, and Australian children’s authors and illustrators during Book Week. At the Junior School, we enjoy dressing up as one of our favourite book characters and participating in a Book Week Parade. Our dress up day and Book Week Parade  will be held on Friday 25 August at the Darlington Campus. This year the theme is ‘Read Grow Inspire' (costumes don’t have to match this theme) and all the nominated books can be viewed at the Children Book Council of Australia’s website, www.cbca.org.au.

On Thursday 7 September and Friday 8 September (Week 8) the Junior School Library will be hosting our annual Scholastic Book Fair. Parents and students will be able to purchase a variety of books before and after school with proceeds funding new books for the library.

With the wet weather please help your child be extra careful with their library bag so the library books inside don’t get wet. Unfortunately, wet and damp books tear, wrinkle and grow mould.

We look forward to another term of reading, reading... and even more reading!

Students from Year 3-5 had to opportunity to design their own AFL Jumper as a part of the '2023 Burley Sekem Design a Jumper Competition’. Congratulations to the three students that were selected as the Helena College winners. The West Australian Football Commission will select one winning entry from across Perth Metro Schools, to have their jumpers turned into a set for the school to have and use. Well done to everyone that submitted their designs, there was some fantastic artwork. We have our fingers crossed!  Congratulations to Isla Glasson (Year 3), Harrison Weir (Year 3) and Ada Chatfield (Year 4) on their wonderful contributions.

A group of ten students and two teachers, Mrs Vitler and Miss Lewis, went to the RAC Arena for the Hackathon, the  commencement of the first RAC Imagine Program Futures Challenge. The RAC Imagine Program is a term-long event for schools from all around Perth. The program was created to encourage imaginative students to progress their ideas for the future of Perth transportation, also known as the 'Fleet of the Future', to the RAC and BOP Team. 

After the Hackathon, the Helena Futures Challenge Team will attend an hour-long class after school every Wednesday. In these classes, we will havea video call with the RAC Team to learn more about the Fleet of The Future,  as we further develop the ideas we had come up with during the Hackathon. The projects from all participating schools will be judged in Term 4. The judges will be thinking about criteria such as creativity, science, research, innovation, and the RAC criteria (Safe, Sustainable and Connected). The projects work towards making a cleaner, greener future for Perth.

At the Hackathon, we spent  time listening to the RAC and BOP speakers talk about how we already have lots of technology that we can use for our cleaner and greener future. Speakers included the CEO of RAC , as well as some other ‘Millennium’ kids - people who are already making an impact. 

We heard about the RAC Intellibus, an autonomous bus that can drive backwards as easily as if it were driving forwards, and hyperloops, which are trainlike machines that can move at impossible rates in minutes because they travel in sealed tubes without air to remove any air resistance, and multiple other new modes of transportation. 

As well as learning about vehicles that already exist, we did small activities on innovating new ideas for the future. These activities included two Kahoots to test our knowledge, an activity where we had less and less time to edit an everyday item such as backpacks and water bottles, and creating fake profiles for three people we would be aiming our Fleet of the Future for. As inspiration, during break times we were allowed outside to look at a 100% electric RAC car, as well as a Hyundai car in the foyer. And when we left for the day and began the term of RAC Wednesdays, we were given some items such as a pen and a large sketch pad for designing our ideas.

By Oliver C and Bo A from 6P

Helena College once again entered a team in the annual Titrations Competition, an event organised by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute(RACI). Titrations are a common lab technique designed to determine the concentration of an unknown solution. The RACI's Titration Competition is designed to encourage secondary students who enjoy Chemistry, particularly its practical side, to develop their scientific skills and understanding. It provides students an opportunity to experience conducting an experiment in a laboratory environment at a local university in their state and the chance to compete at a national level.

The WA leg of the competition was held in Curtin University's undergraduate Chemistry laboratory. The Helena team comprised Year 12 students Rowan Batchelor, Nicholas Pearce, and Audrey Woodward-Brown.

We received the results over the holidays and the team achieved an excellent result coming in 8th place out of 75 teams from across WA. They have now qualified for the State Finals which will be held on 24 August at the University of Western Australia (UWA).

We wish them all the best as they prepare for the finals and congratulate them on their excellent performance.

Year 7 students showcased their artistic talent through the production of a mixed media bird collage, in which they tore up painted and textured papers to create stunning compositions. 

By selectively applying torn paper that they painted themselves and collected from sources such as magazines, newspapers, and wrapping paper, they successfully simulated the texture and form of their chosen birds. The students' attention to detail and creativity was evident in every piece. 

Their selective application of paper effectively simulated the texture and form of their chosen bird, leading to some very impressive works. The completed collages beautifully captured the grace and beauty of various bird species.

Last Thursday, our Year 11 and 12 Career and Enterprise students were able to attend the Perth SkillsWest Career and Employment Expo. The event was an eye-opening experience for all our students, as it provided a diverse platform for exploring future career paths and educational opportunities. With over 160 representatives from various industry professionals, universities, and training institutions, the Expo offered valuable insights into both local and national fields available. While there, students could engage in interactive workshops, gain firsthand advice from experts, and discover potential career options they had never considered before. The Skillswest Expo is a fantastic occasion that empowers students to make informed decisions for the future and we look forward to next year.

Check out some of the staff and student photos of the day!

Yoga 6e année (Year 6 Yoga)

What better way to expand your French vocabulary and improve your wellbeing at the same than combining a language lesson with a yoga class? Our Middle School students enjoyed just such an opportunity during a recent incursion, and we asked them to share their reflections on a unique experience.

Last Friday our class went down to the Year 6 area and met Guillaume. He did a French yoga class and taught us some yoga poses like “the Tree” (la posture de l’arbre) and the downward and upward dog (la posture du chien tête en bas/en haut). The French yoga was very relaxing and was really fun especially when he played the didgeridoo at the end, but some poses were a bit difficult. It was amazing how he spoke French to us but sometimes there were words I found challenging to understand as his accent is different to Mme A's but overall it was a great experience and it was really fun. ~ Darcy D

We did some ‘French yoga’ with Guillaume; this was yoga with the instructions all in French. Most people found it new because they had not done it before, but it was really enjoyable to have a little incursion. The thing I found most enjoyable was when my class and I did the turning sideways because it kind of helped with my posture and making it feel better. I hope everyone else enjoyed the Incursion as well as the other Year 7 French class. Thank you Guillaume for the visit and Madame A for organising the incursion.~ Henry Y

I really loved the French yoga! It was a nice reminder for lots of things, and a great way to hear some new words, as well as giving a really cool experience! It was super fun to do, and I would really love to do something like this again! ~ Poppy B

The French yoga was very entertaining and relaxing. I did yoga when I was much younger, so I had a very good idea of what it was going to be like. When we were doing  certain poses and the breathing, I looked around a little bit and saw that other people were struggling a bit with their balance, but I was pretty calm and was succeeding nicely. The instructor Guillaume gave instructions in French slowly so it was easily understandable. I look forward to more of these experiences. ~ Callum T

Récital de Poèmes

The Alliance Française Poem Recital competition saw 18 of our students enter with 17 through to the finals and seven getting a prize.  This is an outstanding achievement.

Congratulations to the following laureates who have been selected to attend the 2023 Prize Giving Ceremony

Year 6 Category - Niamh Mc, 1st and Amelia T, 2nd 

Year 7 Category - Nadezhda P, 1st and Sophie C, 3rd

Year 8 Category > Violet T, 1st

Year 9 Category > Beatrice S, 2nd

Year 6 B Category (French background) > Nora H, 2nd

Incursion française de la 11e année (Year 11 French Incursion)

Our Year 11 Languages students recently  spent an afternoon immersing themselves in all things French - from cuisine to cinema. We asked the students to provide us with some feedback on their sessions.

The French incursion had us complete a variety of activities with the intention of improving our understanding of the French language. I found it beneficial that we established a comfortable environment amongst each other as I was more inclined and motivated to practise my speaking skills In front of an audience. It was also great to listen to spoken French in a different accent and pace while we participated in fun games. Ultimately, I learnt a lot during this incursion. ~ Jayme T

We started the afternoon with a French onion soup for lunch with baguette and brie that was delicious. We then met Ea from the Perth French Theatre who ran us through some exercises to make us more confident with speaking in French and speaking in front of others. Out of all the activities, I think the improvising was the best as it was fun and it made us think on our feet and speak French at the same time which will be useful in future French conversations. After this we had some French biscuits, Oranginas and diabolo grenadine as we watched “Les Intouchables”, a comedy based on a true story about a handicapped man and his caretaker. The film was very funny and by watching it in French, I learnt some new vocabulary and got to listen to different French accents. The afternoon was very enjoyable and I’d love to be able to do it again! ~ Amelia M

Our Library has an amazing display of ceramic pieces from our Year 9 Visual Arts students. They certainly do look good enough to eat! Well done to our talented ceramicists! 

We are thrilled to share the exciting highlights of our recent ski trip to Falls Creek, Victoria, during the semester break. With a group of 33 enthusiastic students and six dedicated staff members, our adventure-filled journey was nothing short of incredible!

The trip blessed us with three remarkable "blue bird" days on the snow, where the weather was picture-perfect and the conditions were ideal for skiing and snowboarding. The stunning vistas and fresh mountain air created a truly magical experience for everyone involved. From beginners to advanced, all had the chance to test their skills and embrace the thrill of gliding down the slopes. 

While two days presented conditions that were not as optimal, our resilient students made the most of it. They persevered with their positive spirits and still managed to have a fantastic time on the snow. As they say, it's not just about the destination but the journey itself, and our students embodied this spirit throughout the trip. What's a ski trip without a massive snowball fight? Our spirited group engaged in a friendly battle, launching icy projectiles, and creating memories that will warm their hearts for years to come. Laughter echoed through the snow-covered landscape as they embraced the joy of friendly competition amidst nature's frozen playground.

Aside from the exhilarating snow activities, our students also had the unique opportunity to witness an “intense” AFL game at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). They watched as Fremantle bravely faced off against Collingwood, experiencing first-hand the electrifying atmosphere of AFL at the home of football.

Additionally, the group indulged in an adrenaline-pumping go-karting session, where friendly competitions and laughter filled the air. Zooming around the track, they showcased their racing skills and revelled in the thrill of friendly rivalry.

For those who preferred a more relaxed pace, Melbourne offered an abundance of shopping opportunities. The students explored the Queen Victoria Market then moving onto the more elaborate South Wharf DFO. I can tell you from the experience of trekking all of the 'bargains' back to hostel, the students definitely enjoyed their shopping experience.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the staff members who accompanied our students on this adventure. Their dedication, guidance, and unwavering support were instrumental in ensuring the trip ran smoothly and safely. Their efforts made this experience an unforgettable one for our students.

As we reflect on the trip, we can't help but feel immense pride in our students. They showcased resilience, teamwork, and an adventurous spirit throughout the journey. We hope that this trip has not only created lasting memories but also instilled a sense of confidence and an eagerness to explore new horizons. We look forward to future adventures and unforgettable experiences with our amazing group of students. Stay tuned for more exciting updates, and until then, keep chasing your dreams!

Quotes from students:

The ski trip was the best trip of my life, I made a lot of new friends and had so much fun. If I can, I’m doing it again .- Abi

I loved the whole trip and have made lots of memories. - Bria P

The trip was an awesome experience, and I am so grateful I got to do it with my closest friends. - Ruby

I have no regrets. I learned so much, not only about myself but about my friends and peers. I am grateful to have had this experience and I would do it 10x over. - Olivia

This trip will hold a place in my heart for as long as I will remember. The scenic airplane and bus trips were magical, though long. The people were amazing and friendly the entire time, apart from when I slammed Jakob’s finger in the door. Sorry Jakob. The trip was over too quickly. - Kai

In under 5 days I went from not being able to put my boots on, to skiing a black run (no stacks). I have learned so much and had such a great time. - Dylan

Funny Stories:

Mr Ford thinking that the bloke on the Magic Carpet was really friendly. Turns out it was ex-student Ben Smith (son of Mr Smith).

Mr Ford’s pool game lasted longer that his snowboarding career.

Riley “hugged” a tree

Ruby getting run over by the chair lift

“This bit is easy” said Alex, before promptly stacking it at the end.

Lauren’s epic jumps.

“Are you boys sleeping?” – Miss Lewis, “Yes” replies Kai “…. Wait?!”

Shoutout to Tei, Kai and Dylan for doing their first black run! Especially after only starting on Monday.

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability 

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:

• year of schooling
• category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
• level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.

This information assists schools to:

• formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
• consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
• develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.

The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.

The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy (https://www.education.gov.au/privacy-policy). Further information about the NCCD can also be found on the NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au).

If you have any further questions about the NCCD, please contact the College.

Uniform News

Second-hand Uniform Shop - August Trading hours

Permapleat Midland - Updated Trading Hours

New uniform items can be purchased from Permapleat Midland. The shop has recently updated its trading hours, as follows:

• Tuesdays from 7.30am to 4pm
• Wednesdays from 9am to 5pm
• Thursdays from 10am to 6pm
• Saturdays from 9am to 1pm

Sibling Enrolment Reminder

This is an exciting time of the year as we coordinate our student enrolments and prepare for the new students joining us in 2024.

We would like to remind our families and the wider community of the College’s registration and enrolment process. We encourage you to visit our website for further information regarding registrations, as well as upcoming school tours. Due to limited places in selected Junior School year levels, we highly recommend that families register early. 

For current families who intend enrolling younger siblings, it is important to register each of the children individually. This will ensure the College is able to apply the priority placement criteria to their registration. The order of priority for student enrolment at Helena College is:

1. Registered siblings of any student who have been offered and accepted a place
2. Students with the earliest registration dates

Please remember, once a year level reaches its maximum student class size, any unregistered students (including siblings) will unfortunately miss out and will need to wait for the next available placement (following their registration).

If you would like any further information regarding our student enrolment process, please phone chat to our Enrolments Coordinator, Kate Paterson, and/or visit the Enrolment Page on our website. Kate can be reached at enrolments@helena.wa.edu.au.