Welcome to this month’s edition of the W-Files. What a busy and eventful term it has been. Our students have been actively participating in events such as: the Film and Print Festival, Art, Design and Technology Exhibitions at both campuses, Year 12 jumper signing and celebration days, exam preparation sessions and, at present, our Year 12 students are undertaking their final examinations. Our senior students have also submitted applications and interviewed for the 2025 student leadership positions. It is also nice to note that our students have received a range of acknowledgements and awards recently including a very significant award for French.

It has been truly heartwarming to read the beautiful notes that so many of our appreciative families sent us to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our wonderful staff. Many were positively glowing when they received and read them. Over the course of the year, I personally received some emails directly from families letting me know about the positive impact their child’s teacher was having on them.

It was also great to see our senior student leaders initiate and facilitate their own teacher appreciation activities. Some students were seen presenting flowers and tokens of appreciation to their teachers, which led to some emotional moments. The atmosphere generated at the senior campus was inspiring, yet also entertaining with some Year 12 students dressing up (respectfully) as some of their favourite teachers. The Bayview campus staff also received a lovely act of kindness from one of our families - a delicious box of goodies - that was very much appreciated.

And just to finish on the acts of appreciation theme, I would like to share the below email I received recently, highlighting the community’s opinion of our beautiful students:

Good afternoon Gino,

I am a local resident and last Wednesday just before midday as I was getting off the bus at Coles with my two grandsons, two of your lovely students, both young men, offered to help and lifted the pram onto the footpath for me. The young men looked to be senior students. I live in xxxxxx Street, very close to the Pasco Street Campus, and every exchange I’ve had with your students has been polite and pleasant. Young people can get a bad rap these days but those young men at the bus stop - and in fact all the Willy High students I’ve dealt with - have been an absolute delight.

All the very best to you and your school community.

Kind regards,

Our Year 12 students recently enjoyed their final two days of formal attendance with jumper signing and dress-up celebrations, as well as a year-level excursion to Funfields. Jumper signing day was as enjoyable as ever for me, as I thoroughly enjoyed the Year 12s lining up for a “Hold Fast Cat 24” jumper signing. I truly believe our school motto remains with students throughout their lives and this is a message that I have reiterated to them all this year.

This will also be the second year of what I hope will become one of the most prestigious awards a student can receive during their time at WHS, the Principal’s Holdfast Award. The recipients of these awards will be announced at the Town Hall assembly and Graduation.

Best of luck to our Year 12 students for the remainder of your exams and we look forward to one final celebration with all of you and your families at the Graduation evening.

Hold fast

Gino Catalano

Dear parents and carers

As we reach the halfway point of this term, we continue to challenge and support our students to achieve as much learning growth as possible and be ready for 2025. Reiterating our high expectations and further developing relationships so as to support teaching and learning has formed a large part of our planning to undertake final assessments for the academic year and for our Headstart program.

Our learning environment

Our work in maintaining and improving learning environments for our students continues. If you have visited the campus recently, you may have noted our Engagement and Wellbeing area now at the front of the school. We have created two additional spaces (alongside our current Student Welfare Coordinator workspace) for our engagement and wellbeing team (Youth Worker and Mental Health Practitioner/Re-engagement Coordinator) to base their work from. This has occurred since Dobsons moved to just off the footpath on Bayview Street. We are planning for access to this area to be improved next year with decking.

Staff are due to be involved in the Great Spring Clean Up (Clean Up Australia Day organisation), the day after the public holiday. Spending time outside and working alongside colleagues to make a difference to our environment will be rewarding, and it is an event we are looking forward to. Please organise ‘nude food’ for your child! Every piece of litter counts. We have recently penned a new school map for student use (to be included in the student diary next year) that shows the locations of our bins and recycling bins. Please speak with your child about respecting our environment and encouraging them to be a responsible member of our school community.

We are currently in the Buath Gurru season of the annual Eastern Kulin Seasonal Calendar, as described by Woiwurrung traditions: Grass Flowering Season. The elements of this time evident at Bayview Campus are warm, wet weather. We have sighted a number of snakes at the campus this term so far. Staff have been reminding students to use only supervised areas of the grounds at breaks (the staff car parks and the area between the two are out of bounds to students) and to report a sighting to a staff member immediately. The out of bounds areas are designated for the safety of students, being vehicle and visitor entry points. Snakes have been sighted in this area. Please speak with our child about acting responsibly and notifying staff immediately if a snake is spotted. We thank you for your support with this.

Kind regards

Karen Anderson

The beginning of Term 4 is an exciting time for students, especially our Year 12 cohort, who after 13 years of school are finishing their time at WHS. We had a wonderful few days of celebrations, including jumper signing, music, food, carnival games and a great day out at Funfields. Our Year 12s were fantastic throughout, celebrated appropriately and demonstrated the behaviours we expect from all students.

For those Year 12s undertaking the examinations, on behalf of the whole school community I wish you all the very best. Remember that your teachers are available to support you right up until the exam. I am looking forward to seeing all our graduates at the Graduation evening at the end of term.

We are in the final stages of developing the 2025 timetable and have been able to fill all available teaching positions with some amazing teachers joining us. Next year’s schedule of subjects has been released to Year 10 and 11 students and families, and I am sure there is a lot of excitement around how school is looking for the next 12 months.

Headstart in preparation for 2025

Our annual Headstart program will run this term with our current Year 10s and 11s starting their respective Year 11 and 12 programs from 21 November to 4 December before our current Year 9 students join us to start their Year 10 program from 5-13 December. Teachers will commence classwork during these weeks so students are required to attend in full school uniform ready to learn. Headstart is an important step for students to make a positive start to their 2025 programs.

Senior Art Show & Film Festival

The Senior Art Show was, again, incredible. Every year I am in awe of the works our students have on display. It is a highlight in the Arts calendar each year and it was pleasing to see so many attendees at the opening night. WHS partners with the Newport Substation to ensure a professional venue is available for our senior students to showcase their talents. This year we utilised the same venue for our annual Film Festival. Attendees were rewarded with two hours of entertainment that took viewers on an emotional journey and, again, left me in awe of the talent of our students. Congratulations and thank you to the staff and students involved in both events.

Term 4 is very much a transition term for students, as teachers support students to finish off assessments and classwork for 2024 and then begin their 2025 programs. I encourage all students and families to reach out to the school to access support, advice and help as needed. I have no doubt we are in for a great term, and I am looking forward to seeing our students continue to achieve and experience success at Willi High.

Hold fast.

Daniel Pearce

Pasco Campus Principal

Sadie explores a potential career pathway

This year, our Year 10 student Sadie Derrig had the exciting opportunity to participate in the GHD STEM Pathways program, a five-day placement held in September at GHD’s Melbourne headquarters. The program offers students a chance to explore STEM career pathways in a global engineering company dedicated to tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges.

Sadie’s work experience focused primarily on digital work, where she used innovative mapping software to plan a vertical school site, gaining insights into GHD’s environmental and infrastructure projects. Upon returning to school, Sadie shared that her favourite aspect was the collaboration in “large, comfy meeting rooms” and hearing experts discuss their educational journeys, which was both inspiring and educational.

Sadie also said that the most enjoyable part of the experience was connecting with students from four other schools. The diverse group worked in departments ranging from architecture to water engineering, allowing Sadie to meet “amazing” people from various fields, a highlight she thoroughly enjoyed. Sadie says that her time at GHD has inspired her to continue exploring a career in STEM, where she looks forward to finding her niche in this exciting field. You can read more about Sadie’s experience in our annual High Tide yearbook when it is published towards the end of November.

A visit from “The Grange” while our Year 7 VR Captains ‘Road-Test’ new apps

As virtual reality content is firmly embedded in our Year 7 Humanities curriculum, the ‘VR Captains Club’ has been called upon several times to be the ‘experts in the room’ when it comes to understanding some of the finer points of effective VR headset operation. We recently called upon them again to try out a series of apps and evaluate their user-friendliness and relevance to their current studies. This coincided with a visit from The Grange P-12 College who also have a STEAM program of their own which we will investigate in the near future. The surveys and evaluations completed by the captains have been invaluable in informing how we plan for further VR integration in the Humanities course, and Ms Sarah Barry is continuing to lead this enhancement of the curriculum with our Humanities teachers enthusiastically delivering it.

Gavin Clifford | Strategic Assistant Principal

Student engagement and wellbeing is at the forefront of our minds at Williamstown High School. When students understand emotional balance and are able to reflect on and regulate their emotions and actions, they are more connected with themselves, their learning, teachers and peers. In Semester 2, our school has been able to promote and run some high quality programs with external providers, to support our students’ growth and wellbeing.

• RAISE Youth Mentoring Program: Running in Terms 2 and 3, selected Year 8 students have been guided by mentors to engage in activities and discussions on resilience, communication, friendships and self-expression, all designed to build confidence and essential life skills. Both students and staff have witnessed positive changes, including increased feelings of connection, motivation and improved school attendance, along with valuable social-emotional tools for the future.

• Yoga and Mindfulness: Also running in Terms 2 and 3, our six-week Yoga and Mindfulness sessions, led by experienced instructor Dita, provided our Year 9 students with lifelong techniques for relaxation, focus and emotional regulation. Through gentle movement, breathing and meaningful reflective activities each week, students enhanced their mental clarity and overall wellbeing, helping them manage stress and build resilience. These sessions helped students feel more centred and prepared for both academic and personal challenges.

• Girlosophy: This six-week program was run by the Human Development Workshop, in conjunction with Hobsons Bay Youth Services, for a select group of Year 7 students. It focused on peer connection, building self-esteem and exploring themes of self, friendship and empowerment. Through games, leadership activities, projects and community involvement, the program supported students on their journey toward acceptance and self-discovery. Since the beginning of the program students have reported increased confidence, a stronger sense of connection and an enhanced ability to advocate for themselves and others.

We look forward to continuing programs like these in 2025 to support our students’ growth and development.

Tyson Hartwig and Corrine Hall

Bayview and Pasco Campus Assistant Principals

2025 School Payment Arrangements

Dear Parents/Guardians,
Please find links to Williamstown High School Payment Arrangements for 2025.

Parent Payment Arrangement 2025_ Year 7

Parent Payment Arrangement 2025_ Year 8

Parent Payment Arrangement 2025_ Year 9

Parent Payment Arrangement 2025_ Year 10

Parent Payment Arrangement 2025_ Year 11 VCE

Parent Payment Arrangement 2025_ Year 12 VCE

Parent Payment Arrangement 2025_ Year 11 & 12 VCE-Vocational Major

In finalising payment arrangements, information about Year 10 to 12 subjects has already been disseminated to students. Meanwhile, Year 8s and 9s will have confirmation of their subjects by the beginning of Headstart. Please note that there are no electives at Year 7.

Payments will be live on Compass on 9 December 2024 in the Payment Centre. Please follow the guide attached to assist in processing the contributions on Compass.
Our Year 7-12 Booklists will be available on the JP Books website on 26 November. The early VCE English booklist is currently live on the website until 17 November.

For a confidential discussion about accessing financial support services, or if you would like to discuss alternative payment arrangements, please contact the school on 9397 1899 (Pasco Campus), 9399 9228 (Bayview Campus) or by email to williamstown.hs@education.vic.gov.au

Thank you for your continued support this year. Williamstown High School is looking forward to another highly successful year of teaching and learning in 2025.

Kind regards,

Tess Duerden
Business Manager

Leadership Opportunities

As we near the end of Term 4, we are looking for students to step up for leadership opportunities in 2025. Ms Kathyrn Harink addressed our assembly to inform students about their options for next year and the application process on the Google Classroom Year 7 Cohort page.

Competitions

This term we have two competitions running. Ms Jamila Brogan is running a karaoke competition for our Year 7 homegroups and Mr Riccobene is running our netball competition.

Loic Cudennec-Lenne of 7D won a major prize in the Berthe Mouchette Poetry Competition, a statewide competition for French speakers. He won the Prix Hors-Catégorie and excelled in the Year 7 Poetry Recital for French speaking students. Loic displayed dedication and remarkable talent. To celebrate his achievement, he will be invited by the Alliance Française to the Awards Ceremony on 26 November at the St Kilda Town Hall. Thank you to his teacher Rana Nahas and the Languages team for organising this opportunity.

Social and Emotional Learning Programs

This term we are running a program called Girlosophy. The program aligns with our focus this term on building healthy friendships and aims to strengthen both personal and interpersonal skills through engaging games and activities that build social and emotional growth. The topics include:

• Friends: How to make them, keep them and ensure they’re fun and healthy.

• Female friendships and managing/catastrophising situations of conflict and misunderstanding.

• Developing resilience and coping skills.

• Self-awareness: Knowing what we are feeling and doing. Knowing how our actions can affect others.

• Assertive communication and conflict resolution.

• Role models and diverse representations of femininity.

• A mentoring/role modelling component.

• Positive self-talk and self-esteem.

• Cooperation and teamwork.

• Social media, stereotypes and being an individual.

We would like to thank Youth Worker Alanah Meilak for organising this opportunity for our Year 7 female and non-binary students. Several students have already enquired about joining the program next year. If you believe this might be a good fit for your child next year, please contact Alanah on Alanah.Meilak@education.vic.gov.au

We are beginning a pilot program with a group of Year 7 male students run by Paul Zappa. James Riccobene and Alanah Meilak have been working closely with Paul to develop this program for our male students.

Paul is a local Williamstown resident. In 2019, he founded Respect Australia. He has developed and delivered our RespectED program to groups including Victoria Police (SOCIT and FVIU teams), Western Bulldogs Foundation, Arts Centre Melbourne and Yarra Ranges Shire.

In 2021 he returned to the education sector, joining the Victorian Department of Education as part of the team of facilitators that educated secondary school teachers on how to embed a whole-of-school model of Respectful Relationships. Recently he has developed the RespectED Champion’s Project.

Excursions

We have had an amazing uptake of our sporting opportunities for this year, as organised by Karen Mahoney. There is a lot of work done by Karen behind the scenes to ensure our students are engaged in sports competitions. Our students have a few more opportunities this term. She is also going to be organising the Accelerated Sports program for 2025 soon, so please keep an eye out for information from her regarding that. Thanks for all of your work in this area Karen.

Our Year 7 students are fortunate enough to attend Scienceworks as part of their Year 7 Science course. Thank you Nahtasha Nelson for organising this immersive experience.

Our Year 7s have also worked through Water Safety sessions with Life Saving Victoria. Too many young people are lost to drowning each year. Thank you Amy Curran for organising this valuable session.

Community Opportunities

West Skate Comp Sunday, 24 November 2024 | 11:00am to 3:00pm Join us for an exhilarating day of skating, scootering and BMX competitiona at Altona Meadows Skate Park, hosted by Hobsons Bay Youth Service and the Victorian Skateboard Association. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this is a great opportunity to showcase your skills, meet fellow enthusiasts and have a blast! If you’re wanting to compete in this vibrant, community-focused event that promotes active lifestyles and sportsmanship, please register here. Competition divisions: Under 12s, Under 16s and Open for both male and female categories in skateboarding, scootering and BMX. That’s 18 divisions in total. Safety first: Small skateboards and safety equipment will be available. Helmets are mandatory for all participants during runtime. Who: This event is geared towards ages 12-25, but the whole community is welcome to join in the fun. Cost: Free What to bring: Participants must wear enclosed shoes and bring a helmet (bike helmet is fine) and pads if you have them (if not, we have plenty on site). Please bring a water bottle to keep hydrated. Additional info: Enjoy live entertainment throughout the day. A food truck and an ice cream truck will be on site offering a range of tasty options. These sessions are proudly brought to you by Hobsons Bay City Council’s Make It Happen Grants. www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/Community/Whats-On/West-Skate-Comp

Class Changes

Thank you to all the families who responded to Ms Anderson’s Compass post regarding class placements for next year. Our goal is to create well-balanced classrooms that support each student’s learning needs. We are currently working through the process of forming Year 8 class groups for 2025, and your child will be informed of their homegroup in early December, just before the Year 8 transition day.

Enjoy the rest of the term.

Isabella O’Malley and James Riccobene

Year 7 Year Level Coordinators

It seems hard to believe but we are in Term 4, the last term that this cohort will be in Year 8. This brings an opportunity for students to show us their growth throughout the year while completing final assessments and learning tasks in class.

Teachers will also be preparing all students for the transition into Year 9, providing them with the skills and knowledge to succeed next year. As part of this transition we gather student feedback on some of the initiatives and programs they would like to be a part of next year. We had some great suggestions that are being considered in our planning for 2025, with an aim to continue providing a positive, engaging and inclusive environment for all.

At the end of last term, we had the opportunity to acknowledge achievements across the homegroups. Congratulations to the following students:

Meet our Year 8 Team

Oliver Graham

I began teaching at Williamstown High School at the start of 2023, and this year teach Year 8 Mathematics, Year 7 Physical Education and both the Year 8 and 9 Outdoor Education electives. I am also the proud homegroup teacher of 8H. My big passion projects at WHS revolve around the Outdoor Adventure and Water Adventure electives, where I organise loads of excursions and experiences for my students that get them engaged in learning and leadership that occurs outside the classroom. I am an avid outdoors person and also love my sport and music.

Mathew Grossman

I began teaching at Williamstown high school in 2013. I had several short contracts that year, doing relief teaching across both campuses. The following year I obtained a position as legal studies/humanities teacher. I spent the next five years teaching legal studies/humanities as well as coordinating the VCAL program. In 2018, I took six months leave and travelled through Europe. When I returned, I transferred to the Bayview Campus, where I have remained since. I was lucky to gain one of the all-time great home groups in 2019, who are actually graduating this year (can you believe it!) I am incredibly proud of the young men and women they have grown into and look forward to hearing about their progress post school life. Outside of school, I spend my winters travelling up the Hume Highway to play footy with the mighty Wangaratta Magpies, and during summer, can be found on the golf course.

Dale Chapman

I have been teaching Art and Design at Williamstown High School since 1994, and I still love it. This year I’m teaching Year 8 Visual Art, Year 9 Visual Art and Sculpture and a Year 10 VCD. I also run Art Club on Thursdays. I continue my practice of visual art and performance, as well as recording of experimental music.

Term 4 marks the Year 9s’ last term at the Bayview Campus. Students anticipate their last term with a combination of excitement and hesitance. As a cohort we have been celebrating students’ last term here with a weekly Hot Wings lunch, each homegroup having been assigned a week where they get to enjoy chips and chicken with their classmates. Students have been positive about this initiative, and we’ve been excited to acknowledge their hard work throughout their time at Bayview through this luncheon. Four homegroups have already enjoyed their lunch, with seven more to go.

Headstart is fast approaching, beginning in Week 9. Cleo and Rosie of 9H have reflected on their feelings of attending the senior campus at the end of the year: “We’re looking forward to going to Pasco, particularly for the VCE opportunities, and the challenging work environment.” This sentiment is echoed by many Year 9s, who are keen to learn more duringHeadstart.

Congratulations to our Term 3 end of term award winners. We congratulate these students on their contributions to class, both academically and in creating a positive classroom environment.

We also congratulate Matthew Royal and Ry Cordell Garnsworthy for winning the attendance award.

As we near the end of the year, it’s incredible to see how far the Year 10 students have come over the past several weeks. As part of our homegroup curriculum, students have participated in the Empower incursions, discussing important topics like consent, sexual health and respectful relationships. Our guest speakers were highly impressed by the empathy, maturity and respect demonstrated by our students during these classroom discussions. We are incredibly proud of all of them. Below is a reflection from one of our students on their experience during the incursion:

“The talk about consent opened my eyes, and made me realise how even though it feels like we all ‘know’ consent, there’s still so much to learn and understand. It felt great to have a real conversation about something that affects all of us.”

- Maya Trajkovski

Soon, our Year 10s will be stepping up into Year 11 and preparing for exciting new pathways - whether it’s VCE, VCE-VM, TAFE or entering the workforce. But before those milestones, there’s one final focus: exam preparation. Our exam period begins on Monday, 11 November, and we’re here to support students every step of the way.

We know that this can be a challenging time, but students can succeed academically and personally with a balanced approach. We have been working on some strategies throughout our homegroup sessions to keep them on track:

1. Master Your Time Management: Create a schedule with focused study times and regular breaks to maintain focus and prevent burnout.

2. Work as a Team: Join study groups to reinforce understanding and gain new perspectives, and take advantage of after-school homework help sessions.

3. Set Clear, Achievable Goals: Set specific, motivating targets and outline steps to achieve them to stay focused and driven.

4. Regular Exercise: Engage in physical activities like walking, jogging or team sports to recharge both mind and body.

5. Mindfulness and Relaxation: Practise techniques like deep breathing or meditation to manage stress effectively.

6. Screen Time Limits: Set social media and entertainment boundaries to reduce burnout and improve sleep quality.

Above all, we encourage students to balance their academic pursuits with their personal lives. Aim high, but remember that reaching out for help is a sign of strength. Our dedicated teachers and support staff are here to assist every step of the way.

Please note that Year 11 Headstart classes will begin on 21 November and run until 4 December. If students are absent for any part of the Headstart period, they must notify their subject teachers and ensure they stay current with the work to be completed.

To our outstanding Year 10 students, we are incredibly proud of how far you have come and how well you have settled into senior school life. We wish you all the best as you continue your journeys into Years 11 and 12.

Ms Walker and Mr Blattman

Yr 10 YLC’s 2024

The finish line is getting closer for students in Year 11, but the hardest part of the journey is maintaining the focus for the final effort. Assessment across all VCE subjects has been finalised, with the focus shifting to preparing for the upcoming Semester 2 examinations. We encourage all students to attend their scheduled exams and take advantage of the opportunity to review their understanding in each subject and practise exam techniques.

VCE-VM students will be finalising their Unit 2 school-based studies at the end of the exam period, and all VET courses have been completed, which leads to all students commencing the Year 12 Headstart Program on Thursday, 21 November. Study for all Unit 3 VCE and VCE-VM subjects will begin, and it is essential that students attend the two week program, focus on content covered during this time, and complete all holiday homework during the summer break.

Mental Health Awareness Day took place on Thursday, 10 October, where students had the opportunity to participate in a range of activities that provided strategies for improving mental health and wellbeing. Tai chi, meditation and mindfulness colouring are all well-known wellbeing approaches that students got to try on this day; and the cookies handed out at recess would have been of great assistance to wellbeing too.

VCE-VM Community Week was held during Week 3, where Year 11 VCE-VM students planned and coordinated a range of activities for Pasco students to participate in, aiming to bring the school community together. Zanya Fletcher and Jack Johnson shared their thoughts on VCE-VM Community Week below:

“In Week 3 at Williamstown High School we celebrated VCE-VM Community Week. The goal was to bring students at the Pasco Campus together by running activities as part of our Personal Development Skills class. I was in a group with three of my friends and we ran a Kahoot quiz. We worked really hard in the time we were given and ran the quiz on the Friday at recess. About 15 students came to participate and it went really well. The quiz brought some Year 10s and 11s together and they all had lots of fun, especially the three students who placed on the podium.” - Zanya Fletcher

“Week 3 at WHS was VCE-VM Community Week, with the purpose of bringing our campus together through activities the Year 11 VCE-VM students organised. As my group was discussing ideas for an activity in the lead up to the week, we realised that the NBA season would be starting at roughly the same time, so we came up with the idea of a 3v3 basketball tournament. When we were setting up we had a lot of students turn up and there was a lot of fierce, but friendly, competition during the tournament. The grand final was hotly contested. It started off close, but the underdog team came through for the win and the prize of a Hot Wings lunch.” - Jack Johnson

During Term 4 the Year 11 homegroup curriculum has focused on gender-based violence and what can be done to prevent this in the future; the facts of law in relation to this area; the setting of boundaries in relationships; and positive intimate relationships. Through scenario-based activities, coordinated by homegroup teachers, students have explored strategies that can be implemented within society, and directly by themselves, to support positive relationships.

On Monday, 28 October, the work of the homegroup curriculum was supported by a presentation on accessing health services by Sexual Health Victoria. This session provided students with information to navigate healthcare and take responsibility for their own health, including sexual health.

The Year 12 jumpers for 2025 have arrived a couple of weeks early and are being safely stored in the YLC Office. Students who have ordered a jumper will be able to collect them from L-Block on Tuesday, 19 November, and Wednesday, 20 November, so they can be worn for the start of the Year 12 Headstart program.

You may remember that at the end of Semester 1 we recognised students in each homegroup who achieved the highest attendance percentage and attained the highest number of positive posts. This time around we would like to recognise the student in each homegroup that has shown the most growth in these same two areas, from the end of Semester 1 to the conclusion of Unit 2 studies. We would also like to acknowledge the student of the year in each homegroup, which has been nominated by the homegroup teacher. The award winners are shown below:

The beginning of Term 4 has been busy for the Year 12s, who are sitting the VCE exams. They have been working incredibly hard and completing countless practice exams for their teachers, all to ensure they are ready to do their best on their exams.

Term 4 is a special time, where we get to celebrate the Class of 2024 as they finish their time at Williamstown High School. To celebrate, we kicked off the celebrations with shirt signing. Many messages - both meaningful and eligible - were passed along to the sleeves of classmates as they created a memorable souvenir to look back on in future years.

The next day we organised festival events at the school that involved a dunk tank, sumo wrestling, a bucking bull and axe throwing (blow up axes, of course). Best dressed went to Aisha De Niese and Olivia De Zilva with their Joker costumes. The day was great fun and a nice way to say goodbye while letting off some much-needed steam!

The following day we boarded buses and headed off to Funfields theme park. Students spent the day running around, going on water slides and rides before saying goodbye and heading off to prepare for exams.

Shortly after the celebration events, the Year 12 VCE exams commenced. Following tradition, the three-hour English exam was the first official written exam. In the past, this has been the exam that brings about the most anxiety. However, this year this was not the case. Students seemed to strut out with confidence and big smiles across their faces! This is certainly a testament to their hard work over recent months.

As the Year 12s continue to finish off their exams, we now look forward to their Graduation. This is always a happy time of celebration as we get to celebrate their achievements and send them off to their post school lives.

Well done Class of 2024! It has been an incredible pleasure working with you this year and we can’t wait to see all the good you are going to do in the world.

Mr Rodda & Mr Urwin

Term 4 has only just begun and we already have an eye on 2025. In recent weeks, Bayview hosted the families of our future Year 7 students during our transition evening, where families had the opportunity to listen to staff share information regarding the school curriculum, wellbeing, music and sports programs, among other items. We are looking forward to seeing our 2025 Year 7 cohort start their secondary college journey here at Williamstown High School.

Our current Year 7, 8 and 9 students have also been achieving their goals as they continue with their final learning tasks for 2024. Moreover, these students recently completed their subject preferences for 2025 and will be notified about the outcome in the coming weeks.

Our Year 9 students have their Semester 2 examinations coming up in Week 8 on Wednesday and Thursday, 27-28 November. The exam timetable will be sent out to families and students shortly. Following the exam period, our Year 9 students will begin their senior campus experience with the Headstart Program beginning in Week 9. This allows our students to get a jump on Year 10 content before the end of the year, and to help them settle into their new campus.

Finally, we will also get the chance to acknowledge our students’ success at our end of year assembly in our final weeks of term. This is an amazing opportunity to acknowledge academic, musical and sporting achievements and success across 2024.

DRAMA STUDIES

Unit 4 drama studies students had been busy with their essential assessment preparation for the VCE drama solo assessment. The drama solo requires students to create, develop and perform a solo performance in response to a prescribed structure. Drama studies students are permitted school access to continue researching, writing and workshopping their original solo performances. We wish the Unit 4 drama students all the best for the solo performance examination held at the phoenix centre in Footscray on the 24th October. A big thank you to Lucy Pellegrino and Alex Fimeri for helping the students with their solo performances.

Dean Commons

Science Curriculum

It is always important to collect student feedback and perspectives to ensure our Science curriculum here at Williamstown High School is invigorating. Therefore, for this W-Files edition,Gauri Gautam(7I) was approached to provide her thoughts on completing Science here at this school for the first time ever:

“... Science has been such a fun experience this year, with so many interesting experiments and learning opportunities. Starting with our Marine Biology unit, I personally loved learning about the different animals that reside in our ocean. The starfish dissection was a fascinating experience, as we explored the starfish with a very hands on approach, helping us learn in a different way.

“Another unit I really enjoyed was our exploration of physics, as we learnt about forces and their impact on everything. In our inquiry into forces, we designed a parachute to help land a rover (a 60-gram ball of clay) on Mars’ surface (the floor of the B-Wing). It was fun and it gave me a greater understanding of forces in general.

“Using the Bunsen burner was another huge part of Science that I know the Year 7 cohort and I really enjoyed. We dabbled a bit into chemistry, learning about solvents and solutes, and experimenting with chromatography and centrifuges, which was intriguing and riveting.

“One of the main parts I love about Science is the fact that it is very interactive. The experiments and outcomes are what make it one of my favourite subjects, and that everything just makes so much sense and helps me understand more about my everyday life.

“Overall, Science this year has been phenomenal, and one of the Year 7s’ most favourite experiences.”

Science Week

Our Science Team had the joy of starting second semester by celebrating National Science Week. This year’s theme was ‘Species Survival - More Than Just Sustainability’. The entire Bayview cohort had the pleasure exploring this theme with the following activities:

• Investigating whale snot for illness and disease

• Reptile handling with our very own Bayview snake and frog

• Giant bubble making competition

• Recyclable sculpture competition

• Endangered species trivia

• Making biodegradable confetti

This week was indeed special to our Science Team, as the entire campus connected key ideas and ethical thinking outside of our usual Science lessons.

Nahtasha Nelson-Miriklis
Bayview Science Coordinator

Term 4 is always a busy time of year at the Pasco Campus. Our students have been wrapping up their final assessments, and our Year 12s have been reminiscing about their time at school while preparing themselves for the final push towards exams.

We are immensely proud of the hard work our Year 12 students have put into their learning and preparation for the VCAA exams, and they’ve had some amazing experiences to cap off their final year.

Our Psychology students had a private screening of the movie “Inside Out 2” during Term 3. They had the chance to apply what they had learnt about mental health and analyse how accurately it’s portrayed in the media.

The Physics classes got to visit the Synchrotron, the only electron accelerator in Australia, and see the applications physics has to other disciplines. As for our Chemistry classes, they’ve been busy using the brand new distillation kits, extracting essential oils out of oranges. Our Science classrooms have been smelling amazing.

We wish our Year 12s all the best, and encourage our Year 10 and 11 students to try their hardest with their upcoming in-house end-of-semester exams.

Mathew Hrasko

Pasco Science Curriculum Coordinator

In Term 4, the Mathematics Team at Williamstown High School will be creating many learning opportunities for our students before the school day even starts.

Continuing on from Term 3, our Before-School Numeracy Support Program will now aim to support a select group of Year 7 and Year 9 students, who were identified as needing additional support by this year’s NAPLAN results. Each session of the program will begin with a warm-up activity to improve their numeracy skills, before front-loading them with content that they will soon see in their Mathematics classrooms, so that they can feel more confident amongst their peers.

Below is an example of a warm-up game that our Year 9s competed in to practise squaring numbers. You can print it out to play at home; all you need are two six-sided dice and some coloured counters (or two coloured pens):

Speaking of warm-ups, during Weeks 5-7 this term, Mathematics teachers from both Bayview and Pasco campuses will be collaborating to present three Year 10 Mathematics Advanced Warm-Up Sessions for our Year 9 students, who will be enrolled in Year 10 Mathematics Advanced in 2025.

Sessions have been scheduled in the Bayview Hub from 8:00-8:40am on the following dates:

• Thursday, 7 November - Session 1 - Algebra 1

• Thursday, 14 November - Session 2 - Algebra 2

• Thursday, 21 November - Session 3 - CAS Calculator

This program will have limited spots available, and it is intended that any students participating in the program will attend all three sessions.

If your child is interested in attending, please email Academic Enhancement Leader Ezra Bangun (ezra.bangun@education.vic.gov.au) by 1 November, including your child’s full name and homegroup for reference.

Martyn van Reyk

Mathematics Learning Specialist

During Semester 2 of aerobics, a new team of aerobics students started training for the Spring Competition.

The new students in Years 7, 8 and 9 trained every Thursday with Ms Withers to prepare for the October competition in Doncaster. The training sessions included physical conditioning and skills development to prepare a high intensity and synchronised routine for the Stage 1 section.

The new team included: Isla Briggs-Kennedy, Lucinda Collins, Rosie Cushion, Charlotte Dunbar, Matilda Florentine, Rebecca Gray, Grace Jeans, Maya Laskovsky, Daisy Leonard and Ella Sharkie.

At the competition, the team put in a fantastic effort and brought their best performance to date. This earned them a score of 69.6 - an excellent and competitive score for a first time team - and placed sixth overall. However, there was only a two point difference between the third and sixth placed teams, so it was a close race!

Next year should see the return of the WHS schoolaerobics program. The aim of our program is to see students improve their confidence, fitness, health, teamwork and self-esteem through participation in a healthy and fun competition. More information can be found at the school website: www.willihigh.vic.edu.au/co-curricular/school-aerobics

Any student who is interested in participating in aerobics should see Ms Lauren Withers or Ms Karen Mahoney. Everyone is welcome!

We are thrilled to extend our congratulations to our incredible Year 12 singing students Excelsior Madden and Indy Readsmith for their outstanding performances as principal vocalists in the recent Victorian State Schools Spectacular!

After many months of auditions, hard work and dedication, these talented individuals showcased their performance skills alongside student singers, dancers, orchestra members and backstage crew from across the state on 14 September at John Cain Arena. The students had the opportunity to learn from industry mentors, gaining valuable professional experience and representing our school to an audience of thousands.

Hosted by Home and Away’s Ada Nicodemou, the special broadcast with behind-the-scenes highlights will air in Melbourne on Saturday, 14 December, at 7:00pm on Channel 7 and 7plus.

Congratulations to Year 12 students Violet Mccurly and Harriet Ronchi, along with Year 11 students Tiffany Temuskos and Han Nguyen, for being shortlisted for the Biennial Youth Art Prize for Hobson Bay.

Woods Street Arts Space in Laverton will hold a special event to announce the winners on Friday, 15 November, at 6pm. Friends, family and the school community are all invited to attend!

Woods Street Arts Space

44 Woods Street

Laverton

The show will be open to the public from 14-29 November.

It has been a busy and rewarding period in all Technology areas with students engaging in real life and practical activities on a range of levels. Students have been busy project managing, finalising production work and participating in a range of activities that are both challenging and enjoyable.

We are very proud of our Year 12 students and the mammoth effort that they have put into the school assessed task in VCE Product Design and Technology (Textiles and Woodwork) and in VCE Applied Computing (Software Development and Data Analytics). We would like to recognise the countless hours students have spent on this task, both inside and outside of school.

The school assessed task in these subjects has numerous components in which students need to demonstrate key knowledge and skills. Many students have toiled away tirelessly at ensuring they are doing their very best in all areas. They are to be commended for their efforts.

In VCE Food Studies, students have continued their learning about where food comes from, how it is produced, what influences our selection of food and the impact of food on the health of individuals and the environment. Students have completed a range of both practical and theoretical activities to support their development in these areas.

On a more junior level, students have worked on a wide variety of activities. They have designed and constructed personalised hoodies and wallets in Textiles and Fashion. Other Year 10s have worked on developing their food styling skills in a high tea activity. Additionally, Year 11 food students have designed their own pizzas using their food and nutrition knowledge. These have all been engaging and extended students to add to their “toolbox” of life long skills and knowledge.

Health and Physical Education - Bayview

The HAPE program at Bayview Campus has been action packed, with all Year 7-9 students actively participating in a range of experiences throughout this semester. All programs are built around developing knowledge and skills in movement and physical activity as well as personal, social and community health.

Thank you to our energetic HAPE staff for providing our students with meaningful and fun learning opportunities at Bayview. We are very fortunate to have such dedicated staff that help to create and conduct these programs for our students.

HAPE Week at Bayview

We celebrated all things HAPE during October through a series of fun lunchtime and homegroup activities. Monday saw the staff take to the netball court for a staff vs students game. Our Year 7 and 9 students put forward a talented team to challenge the staff, with the final whistle declaring the staff victors of this match!

Tuesday saw us put on our disco shoes and dance lunchtime away with a Just Dance session. The final activities for the week were a frisbee challenge and a nearest to the pin golf challenge - fun and prizes were on offer. Homegroups also had the opportunity to enter the HAPE Week Kahoot quiz and to test their sporting knowledge.

Year 7 Water Safety Sessions

In Term 4, all Year 7 students will have the opportunity to participate in a two-session program that is facilitated by trained lifesavers from Lifesaving Victoria (LSV). These sessions aim to create ‘Everyday Lifesavers’ out of students by teaching them practical and engaging water safety, lifesaving and emergency response skills. The second session will be held later in the term at Willi Beach, and will give students the opportunity to apply the skills learnt to one of our much-loved waterways.

Years 8 and 9 Elective Classes

This semester our many Year 8 Outdoor Adventure classes had awesome adventure experiences, including mountain biking in the You Yangs, indoor rock climbing at Cliffhanger Altona, a ropes course at Treetops Adventures and snorkelling in Queenscliff. At Bayview, they have also participated in an Earth Wisdom indigenous incursion, trangia cooking and orienteering.

The Year 9 Water Adventure classes developed their sailing skills through a five-week unit at RYCV Williamstown and a two-day course at Victorian Sailing School in Geelong. We’re so lucky to have these amazing facilities on our doorstep! These students also had the opportunity to explore other water-based activities, such as surfing at URBN Surf and with Go Ride a Wave on the Bellarine Peninsula.

It has been wonderful to see our students enjoying our many outdoor spaces during class time, but also in their breaks. Our new pickleball courts have been a hit and have seen a new game of soccer down ball emerge with lots of activity.

We look forward to HAPE at Bayview becoming bigger and better in 2025.

Amy Curran

Bayview HAPE Leader

Next meeting - Tuesday, 12 November, 7:30pm - online and at Bayview Campus

Guest speakers are Inclusive Education Leading Teachers, Connie Messina and Simone Barlow.

Many thanks to the Assistant Principals, Tyson Hartwig and Corrine Hall, who spoke at the October meeting about the homegroup curriculum, covering a diverse range of subjects from wellbeing to study habits to interpersonal relationships. Content can also be added/altered throughout the year to address particular issues that may arise for a particular year level/group of students.

Fundraising raffle tickets - NOW ON SALE

The Scouts and Schools Monster Raffle is one of the PFA’s greatest sources of fundraising, and tickets are NOW AVAILABLE. The PFA receives 75 percent of every ticket sold, so please click on the link below to purchase your tickets.

This year the PFA has:

• committed to donating $15,000 over the next three years to enhance the Year 11 area at the Pasco Campus

• funded student leaders to go to a leadership conference

• provided smart new sports kits for interschool competitions, and

• bought recreational equipment for students to use at recess and lunchtime at the Bayview Campus.

Your ticket purchases will enable the PFA to continue providing additional resources like these for WHS students: https://scoutsvic.raffletix.com.au/willyhigh

There is more information about the PFA on the school website under the Parents tab. Or email presidentwhspfa@gmail.com to receive PFA updates or to get in touch.