Term 1 2023 Newsletter Learners today ~ Leaders Tomorrow

Ledley King's Visit

Ledley King spent his whole career at Tottenham Hotspur, playing 323 matches with them from 1999 to 2012. On March 24, Ledley King visited our Soccer Academy students as an Ambassador for the club. He was warmly welcomed by the Soccer Academy students, generously giving his time for over 2 1/2 hours, live coaching during a practice match, conducting interviews, signing shoes and other paraphernalia, and then contributing to a fantastic Question and Answer session in front of 150 students and staff.

Junior Indoor Competition

We had an absolute thriller today in indoor soccer as the Junior Final was played at lunch. After a term’s worth of games, the two year eight teams were on top, Gripple Game with a clean record, Dean Squad in second followed by the year seven teams of the Stone Masons and Jack and his Beanstalks. The semi-finals saw Gripple Game comfortably beat the Beanstalks, but it was a different story in the other semi-final. Dean Squad only had four players but despite this had enough to put the pressure on the year seven team. However, it takes a lot to play with only four people and gradually fatigue kicked in and the Stone Masons pounced, taking the win and a berth in the Final.

At the start of the game, Gripple Game were clear favourites, but sometimes over confidence, good tactics, bad decisions, and luck can outweigh ability! Gripple had the early run but could not get any clear shots away as the Masons closed the door on everything. With little possession the Masons relied on counterattacks but highlighted they were in the game with a couple of close misses. With five gone the counter came off with a snatch shot followed by a lucky deflection putting the Stone Masons in front 2-0. Gripple piled on the pressure but mostly had to rely on long shots and unfortunately their radar was out. Luckily, a stray pass was capitalised on, and it was quickly followed by a second to bring it back to 2-2. The game then went back to type, pressure, and long shots versus counterattack. With only two minutes left and the game heading to penalties disaster as the Gripple’s keeper handled outside the box and as per LSHS Academy rules that have been in place for more than ten years, this meant a PENALTY! Alim put it away, redeeming himself for the earlier loose pass as the crowd went wild having picked the underdog as their team to follow. With thirty seconds left the game was beyond doubt and it was pure bedlam as the crowd rushed the pitch to celebrate.

Year 7 Camp

Week 5 saw the completion of another successful year 7 camp. After a hard slog at the XLRB obstacle course students were then sorted into their houses and played a four against four competitions followed by the world-famous TC Quiz night. Kayaking and raft building followed the next day before a friendly game against Safety Bay. The boys were the 5-1 winners whilst the girls went down 2-0 in a tight match. The final day saw many hours of vacuuming, as every substance known to man seemed to have been trapsed into the dorms before finishing with some Futsal games at the Cockburn Arc.

Senior Futsal Southern Cup

The Senior Soccer boys had their regional tournament last Wednesday. Lynwood took two teams made up of mostly Year 11s. This was a fantastic opportunity to play against Year 12 students. Both teams competed hard all day and pulled off some impressive results. Unfortunately, neither team could make it through to the final. However, this experience will help them out next Year as Year 12s.

Mr Galic

EaLS

In Term 1, students in the EaLS program participated in numerous community partnerships and incursions.

Our Year 7 EaLS class focused on biodiversity and ecosystems. They have commenced biodiversity surveys of Lynwood S.H.S and are busy working on recommendations for improvements that can be made around the school to increase our diversity of flora and fauna. Our Year 7 EaLS class is also assisting in the community recycling program and are managing the recycling stations located in the staff carpark at the rear of the school. This term in HaSS, Year 7s focussed on the topic Water in the World. In Week 4, Year 7 classes participated in a Water Corporation water supply incursion. The interactive activities gave students the opportunity to understand the importance of water, changing water supply and water conservation in Perth and surrounds.

The Year 8 cohort has been busy learning about life underwater. They have created some excellent dioramas to demonstrate their knowledge and appreciation of underwater ecosystems and the importance of water biomes in the environment.

The Year 9 and Year 10 EaLS students had the opportunity to participate in a workshop led by the Department of Transport. The 'Your Move' initiative aims to encourage students in primary and high school to use more sustainable transport options. In the workshop, the students worked through data relating to transport choices and the benefits of walking, cycling and public transport for individuals, societies, and the environment. The students worked through suggestions and initiatives to encourage more sustainable transport options within the school and wider community. We are hoping to have an ongoing partnership with Your Move to develop more sustainable transport options for students.

This year Lynwood S.H.S has also developed a partnership with Millennium Kids to offer exciting and valuable learning experiences to our EaLS students. Millennium Kids is a not-for-profit group who enable young people to drive change and advocate for climate change solutions. The organisation partners with governments, universities, and businesses to support young people in developing environmental action projects. Millennium Kids assists young people to transform their ideas into practical applications that can be implemented in their own communities.

All EaLS students were invited to participate in an important workshop on Friday the 31st of March. A group of enthusiastic students worked through the key issues facing humanity today and the key aims and practices in climate advocacy. Our students have also been invited to an Agents of Climate Change event on the 17th of April at the Canning River Eco Education Centre. At the event, our EaLS students will work with students from other schools to develop climate change initiatives in the City of Canning. The students will work through the following questions: What would you like the City of Canning to look like in 50 years from now? What do you value about the way we live, our community and our environment in Canning? What solutions could be implemented to secure a welcoming and thriving future in Canning whilst collectively tackling climate change? Student representatives from each of the participating schools will then be invited to participate in a Canning’s Future Youth Summit, bringing their findings together, and present their recommended solutions to the City of Canning.

We have lots of exciting learning opportunities coming up in Term 2 for EaLS students including university incursions, excursions, and continued involvement with community environmental organisations. We are also developing partnerships and events to revegetate some of our natural areas in the school including the wetlands. As the building works are completed, we will have an opportunity for students to be involved in the development of rich, biodiverse natural areas in the school. In Term 3 we have lots of opportunities to become involved in the Sustainability Expo.

For now, enjoy the break and the rest and relaxation.

Library

Welcome to 2023

This year began with welcoming our new staff to the Lynwood Senior High School Library. A morning tea was held on the 15th of February to introduce newcomers to the library, showcase its services, and inform them of school-based developed resources used by our teachers and embedded in the teaching learning programs. Teachers have access to a comprehensive suite of student data which helps inform teaching practice and helps track students’ progress across all Learning Areas. Lynwood Senior High School is committed to a whole-school approach to Literacy and the library plays a role in disseminating literacy strategies and frameworks. Recently our school was highlighted by the West Australian Newspaper (22/2/2023) on its WA’s NAPLAN best-performing honour roll. Lynwood performed better than “Like Schools” and in general on par with WA Public Schools.

The Reading Appreciation Program supports whole-school literacy in the school by encouraging students to read for pleasure. At Lynwood, we know the best way to encourage adolescent reading is through modelling the joy of handling and reading books. The Reading Appreciation Program (RAP) involves students in Years 7 -9 attending the library once a fortnight to discover the hidden gems in a range of amazing Australian and international authors. Themes, characters, plots, and contexts, as well as a range of literary devices, are explored and discussed. Students are supported to select and borrow books to read for pleasure, for the subsequent fortnight. These books are recorded in each student’s personal reading records upon their return. We provide feedback for individual reading achievements and facilitate an opportunity to share great reads with their peers.

We would like to encourage parents to support their children’s reading endeavours. Supporting adolescent reading in an age of personal media is a key issue for educators in our current times. Research indicates that reading as a recreational pursuit improves students’ outcomes on a range of literacy measures, as well as developing students’ capacity for increased empathy (Bal & Veltkamp, 2013), a desire for perspective-taking (Merga, in press), and the ability to “reflect on the contents of one’s own mind” (Baron-Cohen, 2001, p. 174).

Our latest initiative to encourage students to read is the addition of the Magazine Corner. Students can borrow a magazine for a fortnight and are encouraged to suggest appropriate magazine titles that they would like to see purchased for the library.

Our intention is to encourage the students to read, so any help or support on this front would be appreciated!

Music

The Year 7s have finished this term learning about and reviewing the fundamentals of music. The Year 8s have rounded off their learning about chord progressions and the ‘Axis of Year 8’ class medley activity, where they had to learn and perform a mashup of songs as a class. The Year 9s have had an exciting term diving into Program Music, writing and performing music based on narratives.

Lynwood’s signature after-school contemporary student band program has kicked off without a hitch this year. The returning students are now ‘promoted’ into Middle and Senior band respectively along with a new Junior band completing the triumvirate. Several rehearsals in and the Junior band are proving to be quick learners and keen performers - no doubt the enthusiasm and the experience of the older bands have rubbed off on them! Stay tuned for their performances this year!

Mr. Chan.

Technologies

This term the Design and Technologies team would like to welcome Mrs. Stewart to our team as a specialist Engineering/ STEM/ Electronics/ Digital Technologies teacher. Mrs. Stewart has extensive experience teaching in the United Kingdom and Australia, and even turned her hand at being a D&T technician and Science laboratory technician to further hone her skills with machine use and material safety.

Ms Melvin has also stepped into the Teacher-in-Charge of Home Economics and has been doing a wonderful job with one new staff member and one returning to the department. Miss Harrison joined us this year as a permanent staff member and has made an immediate impact with our staff and students, opening the Lynwood Café on Friday mornings, and ensuring the Vocational Education and Training (VET) Hospitality students are on track to complete their competencies with real working conditions. Ms Sugandhi Lakshminarayanan returns to the Home Economics team and brings her usual professional touch with her flair for cooking and student management. She is a welcome addition.

Year 7 and 8 Principals of Engineering (STEM) classes have been busy learning several ways of creating and building STEM principles into their theory and practical lessons. They have learnt about bridge building and different strengths of shapes in civil engineering, Ohms Law, and principles of circuitry for electronics, safe soldering, transistors, belt driven cars and which designs are quicker/stronger, captive airplanes and how different wings and fuselage change flight and LED picture frames and how LED lights have transformed for purpose.

This term the Year 10 Woodwork class has been lucky to have two tasks that they have been working on. A wooden table and a wooden chair compete with a woven macrame top. Yes, macramé! It is making a comeback! The students have learnt about different joins and how to mark out and construct them, as well as sanding, finishing and weaving skills.

VET Engineering

The Year 12 classes have been working their way through their final four competencies to complete their Certificates. A lot has been happening in these classes with camps, the Year 12 Ball, and leavers/ jackets all being discussed in length. Students will now have to knuckle down as they also must complete their final part of their Certificate which is to create their major project. Last year the Year 12s made a table for the school as their parting gift, with all members of the Year 12 graduating class of 2022 signing their name on it as a lasting memory of them for Lynwood SHS.

The Year 11 groups have a busy year with eight competencies to complete before they leave in week 4 of Term 4. They have completed their OSH competency and are now working away on their Manual Arc welding competency and the creation of their G Clamp.

Mr Worsley's Year 9 and 10 Class Updates

Year 9 Technical Graphics

This term the Year 9 Technical Graphics class have been designing Mobile Phone Stands using Computer Aided Design and Manufacture with the computer drawing program AutoCAD and a laser cutter to produce their work. The challenge was to design something that holds their mobile phone in both portrait and landscape position and has access to charging cables. They were also encouraged to include some of their own personal interests into their shapes and designs to make their work more individually unique.

Stay tuned for next time, where they will choose a meal to bring in to cook. Mr Ucich is betting on the annual 'burnt pancakes' to make an appearance.

Rottnest Excursion

It was a fantastic day for the Year 11 Outdoor Education students who embarked on a snorkelling trip to Rottnest Island. The temperature was a warm and comfortable thirty degrees Celsius, and the clear water of the island was irresistible. The students could not wait to dive in and explore the vibrant underwater world. They spent the day swimming and snorkelling, admiring the colourful fish and marine life. The perfect weather made the day even more enjoyable, and the students were grateful for the opportunity to experience such a beautiful island. It was truly a fantastic day that students will remember for a long time.

Year 12 P.A.R.T.Y. Program

The Year 12 Health Studies class participated in the much-applauded P.A.R.T.Y. (Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth) program at Midland Hospital during Term 1. They received some amazing insights into the trauma that can be caused by people who drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

There were guest speakers and medical professionals on hand to guide them through the day. The professionals, very patiently, answered all and any questions the students had whilst making it fun and interactive. The sobering take-home message of the day was to think about the ripple effect your choices have, not only on you but your family and the wider community too.

Science

The Science Department has had a busy start to 2023 with lots of hands-on educational activities and incursions organised. This term saw students in Year 12 Integrated Science classes going to Canning River Eco Education Centre to sample water and species and apply their understanding to help prepare them for their Externally Set Tasks. The Year 11 Biology students had the opportunity to visit the zoo on Biology Day. This saw a rotation of activities that helped to consolidate the Year 11 ATAR Biology course content and the Year 12 Biology students made their way to the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research Centre to put their understanding of Biotechnology in practice. The Year 11 Chemistry classes had a guest speaker from Curtin University come out and chat to students about the carbon world and nanoparticles. Stay tuned, as there is a lot more to come from the Science Team at Lynwood Senior High School!

Sarah Marfatia, Science HoLA

Careers

Term One is always such a busy time as our Year 12 students commence their final year of school and Year 11 students embark on their senior pathway. To help them manage these transitions, our senior students have been visited by the Curtin Ahead team for a tutorial on navigating the demands of ATAR, as well as a presentation on time management by Elevate Education. The students also visited Curtin University and the University of Western Australia for a day of interactive activities that gave them a taste of campus life. Year 11 and 12 students of both Woodwork and Building and Construction have had visits from the Jobs and Skills Centre and one-on-one interviews to educate them on apprenticeship opportunities. The Lynwood Careers website continues to be updated weekly so that students do not miss any valuable information with many open days and expos taking place over the next few weeks.

Our Year 10 Work Studies students have been working on our new Career Tools platform, an online career development program where they can undertake a series of learning journeys and create an e-Portfolio. They have just completed a workbook on the intricacies of secondary graduation in preparation for selecting their senior school pathway next term. To assist with this process, they have been invited to participate in one-on-one interviews with staff from the Thornlie Jobs and Skills Centre, where they get professional advice about their personal career pathway. This is a valuable opportunity for our students, and one that they feel really helps them to explore their options and consolidate their goals.

Finally, the Access 10 class recently had the opportunity to attend a Try-a-Trade at Skillhire, where they donned PPE and got dirty learning some skills in carpentry and bricklaying. The three-day Try-a-Trade is tough going, building large brick structures that they get to demolish on the last day! It gives the students a realistic taste of working in these trade areas.

Janine Guidera, Career Practitioner

Workplace Learning

Well done to all the students who have been undertaking Workplace Learning in Term 1.

Cade is completing a Certificate II in Electrotechnology and is required to complete a work placement for this certificate. Cade has been attending BGC at Naval Base each Wednesday in Term 1. BGC supervisors speak highly of Cade’s positive attitude and ability to both take and apply work instructions. Well done Cade!

Year 12 LEAF students have been busy over the past two weeks, they have been attending work placements in various industries and suburbs. Four students are working in the retail industry - Yesenia and Jacqueline are working hard at Red Dot, Kitana and Waimaria are helping customers at Rebel Sports when they are not pricing products.

Amir has been working at BTP Group, a company that supplies earthmoving parts and equipment to the mining industry. BTP are incredibly pleased with Amir’s work ethic and productivity. Ryan is at John Hughes, Ryan loves getting dirty with his head under a car bonnet! His supervisors are pleased with his efforts at work.

Mason is working at Ascent Shipwrights and working to the level of a trade's assistant due to his experience when he previously worked there in the holidays.

Heath is working with JW Electrical, his supervisors have advised he is quick to learn and reliable. Xavier is working with Lochness Landscaping, his supervisor has commented that Xavier works as hard as the employees who get paid!!

Year 12 Ball

What a busy term it’s been for the Year 12s! To kick off our last year of high school, the students all received their Leavers’ Jackets at the start of the term. The warm summer days did not deter the Year 12s, with students wearing their jackets with pride over the term.

Term One also saw us celebrate the most anticipated event of the Year 12 calendar -the ball! Taking place on Friday 24th March, the Esplanade Hotel was transformed into a Bridgerton-style gala. The students all looked amazing and approached the night in the same positive manner they are known for. Making the most of the dance floor, photo opportunities and guest illustrator, they will have many memories to keep with them from the evening.

Nicole Volaric, Year 12 Coordinator