Dates for your Diary

Thursday 6 May – School Cross Country
Monday 10 May – Sports Day
Tuesday 11 May – NAPLAN Day 1
Wednesday 12 May – NAPLAN Day 2
Thursday 13 May – NAPLAN Day 3
Friday 14 May – NAPLAN Catch up day
Thursday 20 May – House Athletics Day

Warrandyte High School is super excited about its Learning Excellence Acceleration Program (LEAP).

A Year 7-9 program catering for high achieving and high ability students with VCE acceleration opportunities from Year 10 onwards.

Features of a highly able student:

• Does your child enjoy asking questions and is curious?
• Is your child high performing in Maths and / or English?
• Would your child love to be in a class with like-minded peers where it is cool to ask questions?
• Would your child love to be in a class where it is cool to explore topics in greater depth?
• Does your child have a sense of social justice?
• Does your child love to read?

If any of the above questions apply to your child, then the WHS LEAP (Learning Excellence Academic/Accelerated Program) may be just the ticket.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The WHS LEAP (Learning Excellence Academic/Accelerated Program) is a 3 year program (Year 7-9) whereby students are extended and challenged academically in the areas of English, Mathematics, Science and Humanities.  Less repetition features in these classes, the regular curriculum is able to be covered more rapidly allowing time for students to be really challenged and extended.

Students also participate in a range of other learning areas including the Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Technology, Sport and LOTE (Italian)

From Year 10, a range of exciting VCE opportunities become available.

A little about the Head of the WHS Learning Excellence Academic/Accelerated (LEAP) Program:
Having taught High Ability Programs in 3 different schools, in the areas of English and Mathematics, both in Australia and overseas, and having been the Head of the Select Entry Excellence Program at a former school prior to heading the Learning Excellence Academic (LEAP) Program at WHS, I have experienced first-hand just how rewarding and exciting it is for high ability like-minded students to be in a learning environment where it is completely okay to throw yourself into all of the learning activities.

In a learning environment with like-minded, highly motivated peers, students soon learn it is cool to raise your hand and participate in all class discussions and to ask questions.

J. Caruana, Assistant Principal

ENTRY INTO THE PROGRAM
Due to a change in DET policy, we have changed our LEAP testing day to September 2, 2021

Entry into the WHS Learning Excellence Academic/Accelerated Program (LEAP) is by application only. This is a select entry program and all Grade 6 applicants will be required to attend our testing morning on Thursday September 2, 2021.

Only students who are currently in Year 6 and will select Warrandyte High School as their first preference are eligible to apply for this program.

Students currently in Grade 6 need to complete an assessment conducted by Edutest on Thursday 2 September 2021. The testing will commence at 9am and will conclude at 12noon. There will be a break for morning tea, hence students are invited to bring along something for morning tea.

To register your child for testing and consideration, please follow the link:
https://aus.edutest.com.au/D/?t=ZNZ47273

Please note the LEAP (Learning Excellence Academic/Acceleration Program) testing date for the Year 7 2022 LEAP Program is Thursday September 2, 2021. Registrations for the program will close on August 24, 2021. Late registrations will close on August 26, 2021.

Joseph Caruana
Assistant Principal

High Flyers at Warrandyte High School

From left to right: Toby, Callan, Matthew and William

Lesson Overview Posted Ahead of Time!

Here at Warrandyte High School we continuously strive to strengthen our relationship with our wonderful parents and legal guardians. Hence a gentle reminder: all teachers, in all learning areas, post the Learning Intention of their lessons and the overview of their lessons on Compass, at least the night before each scheduled class.

This way you as parents are always able to keep your finger on the pulse regarding what work is being covered, what work is due, when it is due…etc…. How wonderful, no? If your child is absent, indeed through Compass it is easy to access what the class covered during the lessons that were missed.

How agreeable, no?

Joseph Caruana
Assistant Principal

UR Women’s Retreat

At the end of Term 1 Warrandyte High School nominated 8 young girls to attend the UR Women’s Retreat. The retreat was a four-day event and the aim was to encourage and empower young women to be the best they can be. The girls were involved in a variety of fun activities as well as listening to guest speakers. The girls came back very enthusiastic and all had a wonderful time away.

The UR Women’s Retreat is part of the Bridge Builders Program Youth Organisation: 1300 640 160 www.bridgebuilders.com.au

Lucia Rossi, Year 10 wrote this about the camp.

I went on this camp because I wanted to make more friends and to feel good about myself and learn how to accept my body and everything else that I don’t like about myself. They did teach me about perfection, that it doesn’t exist, and also about how you can get up when you’re on your lowest. I recommend this camp for any girl who doesn’t feel like she is confident. I love all of our leaders and hope that I’ll see everyone again soon.

Jo Miller
Wellbeing Leader

AFL Academy at Warrandyte High School

Flourishing and thriving are the words to describe the AFL Academy at Warrandyte High School. WHS students from Year 7 through to and including Year 10, girls and boys, are this year experiencing our AFL skill building Sports Academy Program. We devote 5 hours a week towards this program with our specially appointed AFL coach, Hugh Schaeche – now that is what I call intensive!

The experiences for our AFL Program students keep coming! Participants will shortly commence having, as part of their training, sessions with a professional and experienced nutritionist. Our amazing coach together with our newly appointed nutritionist have put together a package that includes physical resources such as posters and handouts as well as weekly parent and athlete nutrition tips. Exceedingly soon, sports nutrition and recovery, complete with resources and presentations, will commence enhancing our AFL Academy program even further!

But is doesn’t end there! A professional tackling coach will be running a few sessions with the Warrandyte High AFL Academy students. Malcolm, our guest star tackling coach, works with a variety of professional clubs including being currently contracted with the Geelong Football Club.

Malcolm teaches athletes how to tackle safely and correctly to avoid injury to yourself and the person you are tackling. He educates footballers on a variety of techniques that promote safety. We are very excited to welcome Malcolm aboard who will indeed be an amazing and exciting new asset. He too is looking forward to working with our AFL Academy students.

Warrandyte High School offers both a Basketball and AFL intensive skill building program as part of its Sports Academy.

Woodwork and Technology at Warrandyte High School

Wood work and metal work is thriving as part of the Technology Department here at Warrandyte High School. All year 7 and 8 students experience a taste of woodwork. This learning area then becomes an elective from year 9 onwards for those students who really enjoy this discipline.

At Year 9 and 10, an elective that becomes available is “Jewellery.” At the name implies, in this subject students experience working with metals which include copper, brass and silver. Students are able to design and make their own earrings, bracelets and rings amongst other exciting things! The Year 10 version of this elective subject is more involved and challenging than its Year 9 counterpart.

Student voice and agency play an integral role with students participating actively in the design and creation process. This Year 9 and 10 elective has its VCE companion, Product Design, which is a popular subject we offer and run at VCE level.

Technology – an exciting learning area at Warrandyte High School.

School’s ANZAC Commemoration Service

On Thursday 22 April, Warrandyte High School’s School Captains Emma Dodds and Ethan Buchanan, accompanied by a delegation of student leaders from 25 local schools, participated in The Rotary Club of Templestowe’s Schools ANZAC Commemoration Service.

Although the number of attendees was far smaller than usual due to COVID restrictions, the modified format still allowed students to participate in the wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph located at Templestowe Memorial Reserve.

As the flags flew at half-mast and the Last post (played through digital technology) echoed over the site, school representatives and local dignitaries, listened solemnly to accounts remembering all Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in war and on operational service.

The accounts of courage, mateship and sacrifice towards preserving peace were not lost on those present who paid solemn respect for those lost in battle, as they listened respectfully to the ANZAC Requiem.

ANZAC Day Traditions
Dawn Service. The Dawn Service is one of the most revered and popular ceremonies that takes place on Anzac Day. It is thought to have originated in the military routine known as the “stand-to.” Opposing armies often attacked in the partial light of dusk and dawn. Ever vigilant, the Australian military made it a practice to wake the soldiers and prepare them at their posts with weapons before the other armies could strike. The stand-to technique is still used by the Australian military to this day. The Dawn Service seeks to recapture those quiet moments in the near-darkness, when soldiers had an opportunity to bond and reflect.

The Last Post.

Often heard at the Dawn Service and other memorials on Anzac Day, The Last Post is the tune that is played over a bugle to signify the end of the day, or the final post. The soldiers could then take their rest. At memorial services, this melody is played to suggest the last post as a metaphor. The soldiers who are being honored can hear the tune and know that all duties have been completed, so he or she may finally rest in peace.

Red Poppies.

The lines that follow in Canadian Colonel John McCrae’s poem, “In Flanders Field,” mention, “We shall not sleep, though poppies grow / In Flanders fields.” Red poppies were the first flowers to bloom on the battlefields of Northern France and Belgium despite the bloodshed in the First World War. It was a popular tale among soldiers that the flowers gained their bright red hue from the blood of the fallen that had soaked into the ground. These red flowers are placed on war memorials as a symbol of remembrance, and perhaps a reminder that out of sacrifice, new hope emerges.

Catafalque parties.

A catafalque is a raised structure that holds a coffin. At a funeral as a sign of respect, four soldiers would stand about a meter away from the catafalque, facing in four different directions, with their heads lowered and weapons held at reverse. Mourners would pass by to say farewell to the departed. On Anzac Day, you may see soldiers standing in such a position again as a sign of tribute.

Anzac Biscuits. 

These treats had a very practical beginning. During the First World War, the friends and families of soldiers would send care packages overseas. Since any food they could send had to be resistant to spoilage and full of nutrition, the biscuit became a popular pastry to pack in boxes. To this day, Anzac biscuits are one of the few products approved to bear the Anzac acronym, which is protected by Federal legislation.

Anzac biscuits as they used to be: a pre-1920 recipe
“Really worth a try – less sugar, flour and no desiccated coconut – but double the oats!”.
This recipe was discovered in Carole Moore’s family recipe notebook compiled before 1920.

Ingredients
2 level cups / 200g / 6 oz rolled oats
1 level cup / 125g / 4 1/2 oz plain flour
1/2 cup / 105g / 3 1/2 oz granulated sugar
125g / 4 1/2 oz butter
1 extra generous Tbsp golden syrup
1 tsp. bicarbonate of soda
2 tbsp. boiling water

Method

1. Pre-set oven 170F/150C, and line two baking trays with baking paper.
2. Put the oats, flour and sugar into a large bowl and mix well.
3. Melt the butter in a large pan over medium heat, dip tablespoon in hot water and then use to measure the golden syrup, stir till dissolved and just coming to the boil – remove from heat source (but don’t allow it to cool).
4. Stir the bicarbonate of soda with the measured boiling water until its dissolved then add to the pan of hot melted butter and golden syrup.
5. Stir until it ‘froths up’- immediately add to the dry ingredients and mix all together.Taking teaspoons or a flat dessert spoon of the mixture – place it in your hand, bring together by rolling into a ball, place 5 cm apart on the baking sheet (they will spread).
6. The biscuits need to be flattened slightly – use the base of a glass or, press down with a fork dipped in a little flour (this will stop it sticking).
7. Put trays in a pre heated oven for 15 – 18 minutes until golden (they will still be soft)
8. Leave the biscuits on the trays for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. When the biscuits are cold, store them in an airtight tin.

Anzac Day Football.

Although football had been played on Anzac Day for a number of years, the match between Collingwood and Essendon did not become a standard recurrence until 1995.

When Collingwood and Essendon first squared off against each other, it was not uncommon for AFL matches to occur on Anzac Day, as donations from the day went to benefit the RSL. However, after that first match between the classic rivals, it became clear that this annual match was a special way to pay tribute to the values of Anzac Day; while deployed across the globe, football played by Anzac soldiers as a way to sharpen their skills, keep up good humor, and forge better connections with one another. That same vein of spirit, courage, mateship, and fairness runs throughout the day, at the end of the annual match, the Anzac medal is awarded to the player who best demonstrates these highly valued Australian qualities.

Respectful Relationships Pledge!.. Change Is In Your Hands.

With many individuals experiencing issues with consent, bullying, inequality, sexism and racism, WHS students took the initial step in refocusing their efforts, by making their pledge to make a difference.  .

Ms Gazeas
Student Services
Humanities

Free Dress Day – Supporting those in need!

A wonderful group of Year 10 students, under the guidance of Year 10 Leader, Ms Zammit, organised and administered this worthwhile fundraising initiative. On the last day of Term 1, students and teachers participated in a Free Dress Day to raise awareness and donations for Lifeline Australia. Thank you, to all those who donated and to the Year 10 Peer Support Student team for organising the collection of donations. We are proud to donate $300 to such a worthy cause.

If you or anyone you know is struggling please use the list of Community Support Service Contacts below.

Corona Virus updates:

DET updates https://www.education.vic.gov.au
VCAA updates https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/HomePage.aspx
DHHS updates https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

Leanne Zammit
Middle Years Leader

Careers News

Careers Website:
Have you visited our school Careers website?
https://warrandytehighcareers.com/
There’s lots of info on courses and careers. The weekly Careers Newsletter is stored here. Students have also started working through developing their careers plans, which are found in the students-section of the website. There are templates to help with things like creating a resume or writing a cover letter, information on job interviews and lots more. Students can revisit their personal portal and make changes and tweak their information at any time.

Morrisby Assessments and Interviews:
Congratulations to all Year 9s, who undertook the Morrisby assessments and half hour interview with Morrisby Careers Advisors. This seems to be an overwhelmingly positive experience, with a number of parents/guardians coming in to join in the interview.

If you were unable to attend, you can view the counsellors’ notes on your child’s Morrisby portal. Students log in at Morrisby.com (should have used their school email and login or go to “Forgotten login”) and can give parents access to their own login to view their results and interview notes.
Students can now invite parents and guardians to access their Morrisby Profile accounts. They can create invites within their Morrisby Planner page. Parents and guardians can use the invite code to create a parental account. Students can withdraw parental access at any point.

The Morrisby portal contains lots of useful careers-related info, and changes as students’ progress through different stages. They will have access to this portal for life! It is well worth using this resource as you think about future pathways.
Work Experience:

YAY after the 2020 lockdown, work experience is back! For Year 10 students it is the final week of term 2, June 21-25th.

In order to undertake work experience, you will need to complete the placement form found on Compass>Community>School documentation.

Work experience is an invaluable part of your resume, and is looked at by any potential employer. The more you can demonstrate, the higher your rating with employers. What can you get out of work experience?

Problem solving – you won’t be expected to problem solve at work experience but finding solutions to how you’ll get there each day, arrive on time, organise your day etc. are all examples of this skill.

Time management – arriving on time, knuckling down & getting tasks done.

Organisation – managing your time efficiently, the practicalities of heading off to work and ticking jobs off your “to do” list, could help you find hacks that work for you and improve your organisational know how.

Communication and other interpersonal skills – having to work closely with your supervisor, other employees and customers, your verbal and non-verbal communication skills will get a workout.

Teamwork – working well with other people, listening to them, following instructions, engaging, and adding value in the workplace, all add up demonstrable teamwork skills, highly desired by most employers.

Professionalism – includes looking the part, taking the job seriously, trying your best, and using appropriate language.
Networking – you’ve heard that phrase “it’s not what you know but who you know”? Well it’s very true in lots of aspects of life, so learning how to network well could open up new opportunities for you. Work experience helps many students gain ongoing, part time work.
…and more!

It can be difficult to find a placement, so ask around – parents, friends, relatives, local businesses and so on. It may not be in an area of your future career plans, but any work placement is a step in the right direction. Students who persist and don’t give up easily are always successful in finding something.

And of course, come and see me, for help!

ANY PARENT able to help with work experience connections, please contact me… careers@warrandytehigh.vic.edu.au

Year 12 Students:
Last week, Year 12s had the chance to visit RMIT and Melbourne University, to get a feel for these institutions and what they offer. Although the weather wasn’t with us, and some Covid restrictions limited us a little, most agreed it was a useful and interesting excursion. Hopefully students will get an opportunity to visit some other providers during Term 3 when Open Days take place. Watch the Careers website for more info!

Students listen to an RMIT student, who is working as an RMIT ambassador as part of a business internship

An early reminder to Year 12s – students will need a Tax File Number (TFN) when applying for work and enrolling at university or TAFE. If you are an Australian citizen, you can apply for a TFN at the Australian Taxation Office website.

For questions about anything careers-related, please contact me!

Ms Bloom
Careers Advisor