Kiara College Newsletter - October 2022
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Message from our Principal
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Junior Basketball Champions of the North
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NAIDOC Week
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Planting Day
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Year 9 Career Taster - The Reel Thing
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Winter Sleep Out - Highlighting Homelessness
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Dowerin Field Day
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Year 9 Career Taster - TAFE Pavilion Restaurant
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Kiara'lympics
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Soireé
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Paraders Day 2022
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Kiara College Ball
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Class of 2022
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On-Country Cultural Day at Yanchep National Park
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Shooting Stars Netball Dress Design a Winner!
Message from our Principal
Welcome back, we have hit the ground running in Term 4!
In the absence of our substantive Principal, Mr Grant Brown, who is currently on leave I would like to take this opportunity to formally farewell our Year 12 Class of 2022. As always, it is a privilege to be part of the traditions of Kiara College. From the class farewell celebrations to the basketball and volleyball games, the farewell week was a fitting send off to our biggest cohort in over 10 years.
Special thanks to Fiona Grogan and her team of early-rise helpers (so many staff assisting) for organising the Year 12 Breakfast. Also to Tim Grubba, Leonie Richardson, Jarrod Dimanlig, Lisa Semmens, Ed Hinder, Bec Garlett, Roland Garlett, Tracey Akber, Shaye Rodney and Spencer Lambert in Student Services for all their hard work in making the week’s events and Assembly something the Year 12s and their families will remember.
Thank you to the support of the clerical staff in getting certificates, reports, presentation folders and awards sorted, and thank you to Judd Norris for assisting with the technical set up and support also.
I would like to again congratulate Tim Grubba and Lisa Semmens along with a team of staff assisting, in making the Year 12 Presentation Evening such a success. Our theatre space looked amazing, and our students shone. Thank you to all the staff who gave their time to the milestone event and to supporting our students one last time.
And a final thank you to all the staff and students of Kiara College for a wonderful Year 12 send off, the hugs, tears and high fives were fabulous to see. Again, a great way to farewell our students in style.
Term 4 is an exciting term with excursions, camps, guest speakers and wonderful learning opportunities abundant at Kiara College. As our Year 11s head into their final weeks there will be planning meetings held to facilitate pathway success in 2023. As our Year 10s transition into Senior School there are opportunities for celebration with a planned River Cruise and as our Year 9s complete their ABCN and Career Taster programs there are new opportunities to explore with Follow the Dream and Shooting Stars camps and excursions. Our Year 7 and 8 cohorts will celebrate their success with planned Movie Night incursions, and we will welcome our 2023 Year 7 cohort over the next few weeks with Transition and Orientation programs.
Lastly, but most importantly we are excited to announce that a new Clontarf Academy will open at Kiara College in Term 1 2023. The Clontarf Foundation exists to improve the education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem, and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and by doing so equips them to participate more meaningfully in society. Clontarf Academies are integrated into host schools; a dedicated room acts as a ‘home-base’ for Clontarf students before and after school, at recess and lunch, and during designated academy time. We welcome the addition of such a renowned program to support our school community and look forward to a long affiliation leading to positive outcomes for our students. More information about the Clontarf Academy enrolment process with be available in coming weeks.
Jodee Vause
Principal
Junior Basketball Champions of the North
2022 has proven to be a successful season for our College’s basketball teams with our Junior and Senior Boys being undefeated in the regional stage of the Champion Schools Basketball Classic, enabling them to progress to the Champion Schools “North of the River” Finals Competition.
Our Senior Team (Aidan Verlinden, Ben Kennedy, Brennan Stack, Dean Ryan, Dylan Whyte, Jhett Ugle, Kaleb Collard, and Saxon Counsel) finished in fourth place. The Junior Team (Daryl Narkle, Diontae Isaacs, Jurahan Cross, Justin Morgan, Leslie Woods, Marley Sam, Nicholas Narrier, Taine Ugle, Tyson Ryder, and Xander Ugle) were undefeated, setting up a grand final showdown with perennial basketball powerhouse, Willetton Senior High School (who have won this competition 10 out of the past 11 years), losing 87-67. Despite the loss, this was a fantastic achievement by the Team as it means we finished second in a competition involving all public secondary schools in the Perth metropolitan area. A big thankyou to Jon Ryan (from Koya Aboriginal Corporation) for his assistance with coaching.
NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC Week celebrations started with a small assembly in the Performing Arts Centre that was attended by parents and families of students who have been performing Cultural dances, along with students from our Noongar language classes. A Welcome to Country was done by Uncle Josh McGuire, and families enjoyed some traditionally inspired refreshments in the Staff Room.
Other activities during NAIDOC week included a football game, the creation of a sand mural, and assembly.
Planting Day
Kiara College Specialist Agriculture students from Years 7 to 10 participated in the Lockridge Planting Day that was facilitated by the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions, and the City of Swan.
With over 1,300 seedlings planted in 3 hours, our students did an amazing job and were very engaged and focused on completing the task. Lots of great team work, and to top it off they all had a fantastic time!!
Year 9 Career Taster - The Reel Thing
The Year 9 Career Taster Program helps students explore their interests, career options that are available, and allows them to see a range of occupations in action. By facilitating exposure to the world of work and training in an engaging way, the Career Taster Program helps students develop career exploration skills, and encourages them to stay motivated and engaged with their learning at school.
As part of this program, some of our Year 9 students attended North Metro TAFE to participate in a day of hands-on learning for activities realting to careers in the film and television industry.
The students experienced what it would be like to work as a film or television producer, be in charge of queuing in audio for television shows, work behind studio cameras or be in front of the camera, using up-to-date industry equipment.
Then it was "live to air" to put all their learning into play!! Students produced, directed and filmed a song pop quiz that they then got to watch to see how everything came together.
Students had a fantastic time and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to explore this as a career option.
Winter Sleep Out - Highlighting Homelessness
The second annual Kiara College Winter Sleep Out was held during October. As a flagship event of the Student Council led by School Captains, Nargris Rezayi and Trishia Bandoy, and Year 11 Student Councillor, Joyce Marquez, it was well attended by students and staff.
Students enjoyed a presentation from Paul Sanders, Chaplain Mission Australia, who shared information about homelessness in our community. This was followed by a tasty soup-kitchen style meal.
Activites were arranged by the Student Council that included a scavenger hunt, a game of Capture the Flag, volleyball, dodgeball, camp fire and move.
Students slept in a variety of places including outside the library and in the library, with one student wanting to live the true experience of homelessness by sleeping on a bench outside.
Another great event organised by students and supported by staff, with all now having a greater understanding of what can lead to homelessness, the struggles they face, and supports and services that are available for people who find themselves in this situation.
Dowerin Field Day
A majority of the Specialist Agriculture students from Years 7 to 12 spent the day nearly 2 hours east of Perth at the Dowerin Field Day. They visited and engaged with some of the 800+ exhibitors, exploring Primary Industry stalls including machinery, technology, science, engineering, future study options and careers.
It was a successful day with students participating in a variety of activities that helped give insight into the agriculture industry.
A two hour delay in getting home due to a blown tyre on the bus on the way home couldn't quell the enjoyment of the day, and students took the delay in their stride and made the most of the opportunity to spend extra time with their friends.
Year 9 Career Taster - TAFE Pavilion Restaurant
A group of Year 9 students visited the North MEtro TAFE as part of the Career Taster Program, and were excited to learn more about what is required to become a chef and work within the hospitality industry.
After a tour around the TAFE, and spending time in the kitchen to see how it worked, everyone was treated to a delicious 3-course meal.
They also had the bonus of seeing some of the top secret auditions for Masterchef for some potential Perth participants!
Kiara'lympics
Friday 2 September 2022 marked the day for our whole College athletics carnival, Kiara’lympics. This has been a feature of the Kiara College calendar for many years and is a blend of challenging and fun activities. Kiara’lympics provides the opportunity for the more athletic to perform and compete in a championship, and at the same time caters for those who enjoy less competitive activities that are fun and engaging.
Overall House Placings
1st: Karak
2nd: Maali
3rd: Koolbardi
Year Champions
Year 7
Male: Paul Chunsu
Female: Mona Rahimi
Year 8
Male: Leevye George
Female: Nikilah Carson
Year 9
Male: Jamie Hayden
Female: Caitlin Collard
Year 10
Male: Dylan Greenhill
Female: Anne-Marie Simelolo
Year 11/12
Male: Jhett Ugle
Female: Jessica Carson
Soireé
Another successful display of the creative skills within Kiara College from our Visual Arts, Home Economics, Design and Technology, and Media learning areas.
It was a great afternoon during which we saw how talented our students are, with many parents and family members visiting to check out not only their own student's work, but also the work of their peers.
Some delicious catering from our Canteen ensured everyone was well fed, and it was a lovely afternoon enjoyed by everyone that attended.
Paraders Day 2022
Kiara College Agriculture students competed in the annual Sheep and Cattle Parading competitions at the College farm. Students showcased their competence in handling, preparing and leading animals to invited dignitaries, families and their peers.
Year 10 Specialist Agriculture students were involved in the sheep-showing competition using our White Suffolk Kiara Stud ewes and lambs, and were judged by retired Kiara College teacher, Brian Schneider, who is an expert in the field with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the sheep and cattle industry.
Principal's Trophy – Champion Sheep Showing Competition
1st Place - Dakota Crowley
(Dakots also placed 2nd in the Metropolitan Parading Competition)
Students from the Year 11 and 12 Certificate II in Agriculture classes competed in the Cattle Paraders event. This involved grooming and leading steers that were sourced from our own cattle breeding program. Judged by Jarvis Polglaze, a former student who is well respected within the agriculture industry, it was a fun and exciting day for everyone.
Principal's Trophy – Champion Cattle Groomer & Leader
1st Place - Johselyn Castillo
2nd Place - Jamie Keenan
3rd Place - Miralyn Castillo
Kiara College Ball
The 2022 Sunset Ball was held on Wednesday October 12 at the Rendezvous Hotel on the coast at Scarborough. The journey to the evening had been long, and was plagued with changes in venues and dates due to the ever-changing Covid-19 restrictions at the beginning of the year.
The College Ball can only be described as a big WOW moment as the Year 11 and 12 students who attended, along with their guests, were definitely dressed to impress. Everyone posed for photographs against the stunning setting sun and coastal scenery before dining and dancing the night away.
Congratulations to Eruera Isaacs-Harding and Denae Whittington who were voted as Beau and Belle of the Ball for 2022.
Class of 2022
On-Country Cultural Day at Yanchep National Park
Follow the Dream students from Dianella Secondary College, Hampton Senior High School, Kiara College, and Morley Senior High School visited Yanchep National Park for an On-Country Cultural Learning excursion.
Students began the excursion in the Wangi Mia (Yued dialect for Talking Place) by learning about traditional Noongar tools, the Noongar Six Seasons and making fire the traditional way with a balga (grass tree) stem.
They went on a walk during which they learned which leaves could be used as soap, other traidtional uses of the balga, and dreamtime stories from the ara.
Students returned to the Wangi Mia to learn about the history of the didgeridoo, the different sounds, Noongar iconology, how stories were told with Noongar iconology drawn in the sand, and the dances that can be created to perform on the sand. In contemporary times, we now see sand murals using the same cultural principles in Perth for different events.
The excursion finished with learning about the different designs of the boomerang and their specific uses, they had the opportunity to learn how to throw the boomerangs and spears, and then went on a walk to some of the caves in the Park.
Shooting Stars Netball Dress Design a Winner!
There was some exciting news for Shooting Stars this term with the Kiara College Shooting Stars netball dress design being finalised. The dress will be worn as their uniform when participating and competing in netball games and carnivals. Designed by Year 7 student, Shenelle Riley, the dress was then brought to life with the help of Jilalga Designs.
The netball team's name is "Kwodidok Yorga" which means beautiful women in Noongar. Shenelle wrote a fantastic speech to explain her design, which she then delivered at the Shooting Stars Community Launch.
"Good evening everyone, my name is Shenelle and today I will be speaking about my dress design. This design is important to me as it showcases my culture through the use of different symbols that are representing animal tracks, the people and the landscapes.
The designs that I have incorporated into the dress are the rivers of the Whadjuk land, the Traditional owners and the animals who are looking for the river. It is an honour to be able to showcase my culture through this dress design with the name of our Team being Kwodidok Yorga which means beautiful women. This is not just about being beautiful on the outside but being strong and proud women on the inside. Not being shame and being able to continue to share our culture with others. I can't wait to be able to wear this dress alongside my Shooting Stars sisters."
We can't wait for the students to have the opportunity to wear these dresses and represent Shooting Stars and Kiara College with pride!