6 December 2016

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

On behalf of the staff of Wynnum High can I wish all of our families a very happy and safe Christmas. 2016 has been a wonderful year and we look forward to 2017 and all that it will bring to Wynnum High.

May I take this opportunity to announce the Student Leadership team for 2017 and congratulate these wonderful young people on their leadership appointments. We also congratulate their proud families as they are a credit to their families. We sincerely look forward to the adventures we will all have together next year as we look to the PROUD vision of Wynnum High with the same eyes.

School Captains

Shiney Harris, Lauren Jess, Adam Guthrie and AJ Calvet

Junior Secondary Captains

Dianne Suarez and Olivia Turner

Cunningham House Leaders

Paige Baker, Nina Calvet, Oscar Duncombe

Kennedy House Leaders

Brianna Fox, Emily Gibson, Zane Kelk

Mitchell House Leaders

Zoe Maltby, Chloe Macpherson, Ayrton Niwa

Oxley House Leaders

Mikayla Routledge, Taylor Widderick, Te Puaawai Witehira-Hemara

This edition of the Wire contains many wonderful images of our last few weeks – Year 12 Formal, Year 12 Graduation, Year 10 Dinner Dance, Year 11 Leadership Camp, Junior Secondary Showcase, Year 9 Graduation, our many Instrumental Musical adventures and WARPCON.

Important dates for 2017 are included here and are also on our webpage.

School Office and Uniform Shop

Monday 16th January - School office re-opens for the year (8 am - 4 pm)

Tuesday 17th January - School payments counter re-opens for the year (8.30 am – 1.30 pm)

Monday 16th January - Friday 20th January - Uniform shop open from 7 am - 1 pm

Monday 23rd January – Wednesday 25th January - Uniform shop open from 7 am – 12.30 pm

Thursday 26th January – Australia Day Public Holiday

Friday 27th January - Uniform shop open from 7 am – 12.30 pm

Students Return

Monday 23rd January - All year levels attend school (8.50 am – 2.50 pm)

Have a wonderful holiday

Elizabeth Williams
Principal (Acting)

Senior Secondary News

Year 12 Formal

On Tuesday 15 November we celebrated the Year 12 Formal at The Greek Club. The girls looked stunning and the boys looked so handsome! It was a fun evening with lots of big smiles, dancing, photos and of course selfies, selfies, selfies!

Year 12 Graduation

On Friday 18th November we farewelled this wonderful group of young ladies and gentlemen off to life beyond school at their Graduation ceremony. It was certainly a bitter sweet day – happiness to see the wonderful young adults they have become, but sadness when we had to say our final farewells. We wish them all the best for the future.

Year 11 Camp

Year 11 Camp was held from 23-25 November at Kindilan OEC. The Year 11’s had such a great time – canoeing, climbing, swinging from trees, building rafts and most importantly developing new and stronger friendships. We certainly look forward to a great year in 2017 with these young people as our seniors of the school.

Year 10

Year 10 Dinner Dance

The annual Year 10 Dinner Dance was held on Thursday 24th November this year at the Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club. It was a fantastic night, enjoyed by both staff and students. The Dinner Dance Committee worked tirelessly to compile playlists for the DJ, arrange tables and decorate the room in a ‘blue and silver’ theme as voted by the year level. Masters of Ceremony – Khristine and Oliver – did a great job keeping the night running smoothly and announcing the winners of awards. Special thanks to Mr Dickson for taking photos of us on the night!

Award winners were as follows:

Most likely to be a famous actor: Nina Seychell
Most likely to be a famous athlete: Bayley Romeril
Most likely to be best friends forever: Jethur Santos & Oliver Pipe
Most likely to be a millionaire: Jeremy Rowe
Most likely to be a model: Angie White & Senna Jones-Whatley
Most likely to be a famous singer: Khristine Valdellon
Class Clown: Oliver Pipe
Cutest couple: Paige Stockwell & Senna Jones-Whatley
Nicest person: Laura Hall
Quiet Achiever: Kane Jansen
King: Mitchell Kilby
Queen: Dana Morton

Junior Secondary News

Year 9 High Resolves Summit

The members of the Year 9 High Resolves Leaders Group, participated in the 2016 High Resolves Annual Leadership Summit on 22nd November at the University of Queensland.

The theme of the Summit was Global Leadership and students heard from a range of motivational speakers and leaders from various fields, including Stymie.com.au and Oxfam. The students also worked together with High Resolves Leaders from other schools on social action leadership challenges. The biggest challenge they faced was working with others from schools all around Brisbane to make a storyboard for a social action video on the topic of human trafficking.

High Resolves is a non-religious, not for profit organisation focussed on leadership development for high school students. They conduct programs specifically designed to encourage teenagers to reflect on their role as global citizens and how they can make a difference to society. Participation in the High Resolves Annual Leadership Summit was a very rewarding opportunity to experience being on a university campus, meeting leaders from other schools and also hearing insights from inspirational speakers. Congratulations to all Year 9 High Resolves students on their efforts.

Year 9 Camp

From November 4th – 9th, forty Year 9 students accompanied by Mrs Hutchinson, Mrs Hawkin, Mr Ingersole, Mr Cipollone and Chappy Greg enjoyed a celebration of Year 9 at Noosa Northshore Total Adventure camp. Students participated in surfing lessons, canoeing, mountain bike riding, swimming and abseiling. The weather was beautiful and the food was delicious. A fabulous time was had by all and the students represented Wynnum High very well.

Academic Achievements

Junior Secondary students have worked hard this year setting goals to achieve their Wynnum Certificates of Education. The Wynnum Certificate of Education is awarded to students who have achieved a C level of achievement in all subjects throughout the year. Eligible Year 9 students received their WCE with their Year 9 Graduation certificate. Year 7 and 8 students will receive their certificate with their Semester 2 report card. Report cards will be mailed to families this week. We encourage you to discuss the report with your child and set some targets for the 2017 academic year.

Year 9 Graduation

Last Friday at Year 9 Graduation, we celebrated our Year 9s as they embark on their journey through the Senior School. The ceremony was attended by students from Years 7 and 8 as well as many PROUD parents. Year 9 students received their graduation certificate and eligible students received their Wynnum Certificate of Education. Once again, talented students from our music program entertained us with two uplifting songs. Thanks to Sean Gaius, Liam Prowse, Joseph Pokai and Josie Wills for their entertaining performances. We were also entertained with a video created by Harrison Niwa and Liam Prowse showing the fun we had on Year 9 camp.

Junior Secondary Captains

We would like to congratulate our 2017 Junior Secondary Captains who were announced at Year 9 Graduation on Friday. Well done to Dianne Suarez and Olivia Turner. We know you will represent the junior school well.

Thanks should also go to our Junior Secondary Captains for 2016 who have done a wonderful job. Rebecca Owens, Nadia Paranihi and Lauren Hazel have been excellent role models for our incumbent captains and have offered their assistance as Dianne and Olivia transition into their new role.

Year 7 2017 Orientation

Year 7 orientation was on Tuesday this week. Year 6 students from our feeder schools enjoyed the day preparing for high school with a school tour, getting to know you games, some sample lessons and a much needed swim in the pool. Parents had the opportunity to meet our new Principal Mrs Pfingst at an afternoon tea at the end of the day.

I would like to wish you a merry Christmas and a happy and safe holiday.

Lisa Hawkin

Junior Technology

Over the year Junior Technology students have been having a great time designing a range of products. Please see some of the photos below.

Creative Arts News

Congratulations

Meeka Ireland, Lily Amos, Riley Fox and Bernie Morgan were all accepted in the Young Conservatorium of Music ensembles program for 2017. It is a nerve racking process as each of them had to audition for a place in the ensembles. They will rehearse with awesome ensembles and conductors every week next year.

Also, Meeka Ireland, Laura Hall, Maya Harding, Brooke Maltby and Katie Lane all did their A.M.E.B. exams and each of them received an excellent result. Well done and congratulations to all and especially to Mrs Anderson who organised and inspires the students to achieve their best and strive to be a better musician.

Drama Club

On Monday 21 November, thirteen drama students performed Snapshots from Home for the residents at Regis Aged Care Facility. Many of the songs performed by the cast were from the days of WWII and were familiar to the residents, so we had quite a sing-a-long. The young performers had a great time learning the words and melodies of the songs. It was wonderful to be part of such a meaningful and valuable project. Many of the residents congratulated the group and they were invited to perform again next year. Well done, everyone.

Instrumental Music Program

The IMPS Committee, students and their families had the annual Christmas break-up party on Thursday 17 November. It was great night with lots of musical families coming along to celebrate a very busy year well done and to send-off the Year 12 students. A special thanks to Marie-Louise Craig who finished as secretary for the IMPS Committee this year. We truly value her contribution to the Instrumental Music program at Wynnum SHS.

Junior Showcase

Years 7, 8, and 9 Creative Arts and Technology students presented their work at Junior Showcase. Thanks to all the families and friends who came along to support their child. It was a terrific night and the students really excelled in the work they presented.

Senior Showcase

Years 10, 11 and 12 Music, Dance and Drama students presented Senior Showcase for family and friends. It was a fabulous night of entertainment with many students presenting outstanding work. It was also a night tinged with a little sadness as this was the final performances for our Year 12 Creative Arts students. Well done to everyone involved.

We can’t wait for the Junior and Senior Showcases next year.

Lucky Ticket - winner of Acoustic Guitar

Ms Kelly Steel, Chair of the Instrumental Music Parent Support group came to parade on Tuesday 29 November to draw the lucky ticket for the acoustic guitar that was raffled by Instrumental Music students.

Thanks to all the parents and friends who bought tickets. The lucky winner was - Isabella Filipowicz. A huge thank you to Dan and Nadine Le Man from the Wynnum Music Centre on Bay Terrace for donating the guitar for our raffle this year.

Musical 2017

We are happy to announce next year we will be presenting, for your enjoyment, High School Musical 2 from 20 – 27 May 2017 in the Star Theatre. We have a wonderful cast of young people who have shown their commitment and dedication to the project already through their attendance at the singing and acting auditions. We will have over 76 students involved in the production from those performing onstage through to make-up and costume, backstage, band and technical teams. Rehearsals will start in February 2017.

River Life excursion

On Tuesday 8th November , twenty-six of our Indigenous students participated in an excursion out to River Life, Kangaroo Point Cliffs. The students spent the morning with the Mirrabooka Tribe. They watched and participated in traditional dance, learnt stories of the Dreamtime and listened to the sounds of the digeridoo all whilst sitting on the edge of the Brisbane River. Students were told stories of hunting and gathering food, different tribes across South East Queensland and the creation of the Brisbane River. From there the students went on to design and paint their own boomerang alongside the Tribe.

After lunch our students got changed ready to kayak along the Brisbane River. We travelled along the edge of the river stopping at the Story Bridge. Students then challenged their inner core strength by trying to stand up on their kayak. Some were successful, others were not. Whilst travelling back you could see everyone had definitely mastered how to kayak. The final challenge for the day was conquering the Kangaroo Point Stairs. Overall the students had a great day bonding and experiencing new activities.

Love Bites Program

Helping Young People Build Healthy Relationships

Domestic violence prevention is on the national, state and community agenda. Young people learn about relationships in a variety of ways, and some influences can normalise unhealthy and damaging relationship behaviours that can impact on their life and wellbeing in significant and lifelong ways.

In Week One Of Term Four, the Year 10 students at Wynnum State High School participated in a full day program that explored the qualities of a safe, respectful and healthy relationship, domestic violence and its impact on victims and families, sexual assault prevention, the law, intervening safely and supporting friends in helpful ways, how to find support services in their community.

The Love Bites program is delivered across Australian school campuses and was jointly facilitated by NAPCAN, the School Based Youth Health Service, Children’s Health Queensland, Department of Training and Education, Youth Support Coordinator, Queensland Police Service and supported by Wynnum State High School.

A highlight of the day was the Art and Hip Hop workshops held in the afternoon sessions. Students used the messages they felt most important from the workshop to create posters and lyrics to communicate the key messages around consent and respect in relationships to their peers. The strength of the lyrics and content of the posters demonstrated the young people’s understanding of the program content.

Student feedback

“It was very helpful and informative, I learnt a lot”
“It was a great experience, I learnt a lot”
“Really good program, I enjoyed the day”
“It was good, keep up the good work”

Gabrielle Nolan, Youth Health Nurse
Karen Bowen, Youth Support Coordinator

Wynnum Wipeout