At the College, student leadership is a core element of our learning program, providing students with meaningful opportunities to lead across the campus. Taking on leadership roles empowers students to actively engage in the school community, fostering a broad range of valuable skills.
A prime example of this is the Peer Support program. In preparation for 2025, selected Year 9 students have received specialised training to work with Year 6 students. This journey begins with Peer Support leaders facilitating activities during the Orientation Day on Wednesday, 20 November. The Peer Support program not only helps new Year 6 students form friendships as they transition to Senior School, but also teaches them the importance of building connections, empathy, and inclusion. Recently, the 2025 Year 10 Peer Support Leaders attended an overnight camp to develop leadership strategies and explore ways to guide younger students in building resilience, understanding values, and promoting anti-bullying. This program fosters strong bonds that will enrich the lives of both younger and older students throughout their years at the College.
It was also wonderful to see our Year 5 House Leaders in action during the Pre-primary to Year 5 Orientation Day. The Year 5 leaders led tours for incoming students and shared insights about Junior School life with new families, embodying the confidence and independence that we strive to instil in all Helena College students.
Introducing the 2025 Year 12 Student Council
We are pleased to announce the new Year 12 Student Council for 2025. Candidates went through a rigorous selection process, including a written application and interviews with a panel of Executive team members, Heads of Department, and current Year 12 Captains. Candidates for Head Student also delivered speeches to their peers. I wish all new council members success in their roles for the coming year. Special thanks to our Director of Upper School, Craig Hillman, for overseeing this process.
The Student Council for 2025 is as follows:
Head Students: Megan Sargent and Luke Sutherland
Sports Captains: Charlie Bailey and Ellis Gould
Arts Captains: Xavier Hurst and Sarah Major
Council Secretary: Thalia Buckingham
Academic Captain: Téa Sills
Environment Captain: Scott Stephenson
Middle School Captain: Olivia Blight
Wellbeing Captain: Ren Middleton
Cardan House Captains: Deacon Little and Ella Parish
Kiara House Captains: Ella Danvers and Jay Wright
Waughul House Captains: Lauren Ohm and Sam Ryan
Year 9 Project Showcase
It was a pleasure to see many parents on campus for the recent Year 9 Project evening. Parents shared how impressed they were by the students' presentations and the thoughtful engagement that extended beyond the classroom. The Year 9 Project allows students to develop and execute a project of their choosing, challenging them to acquire new skills, communicate effectively, and overcome obstacles. This year’s projects exemplified student creativity, dedication, and growth.
A sincere thank you to Rebecca Murray and all the teachers who served as mentors, guiding students throughout the year and supporting them in their project endeavours.
Child safe organisations create cultures, adopt strategies and take action to respect and prevent harm to children and young people.
The National Principles for Child Safe Organisations were endorsed by members of the Council of Australian Governments and outline how organisations can become safer for children. Helena is engaging with all 10 principles and is committed to being a Child Safe Organisation.
This year as part of our strategic plan and as part of our College re-registration process we have completed a full review of how we engage with all 10 national principles. I can proudly say we have engaged in all aspects of the Child Safe Organisation WA guidelines. By completing a self assessment and being involved in an audit process we continue to strive for continuous improvement when it comes to keeping young people safe.
Staff are required and have completed annual mandatory training and many key staff have completed additional child safe training. Resources and strategies available as part of the Child safe organisation process have been used to help review and develop our child safe practices. Many of our students and some parents have been involved in Child Safe workshops and information sessions.
Our College Council and School leadership teams continue to have a strong focus on child safety and this year we completed a full policy review and endorsement of all child safe policies and procedures as part of the College’s re-registration process. The full 5 years registration was granted, further evidence of our dedicated approach to child safety.
Helena College has signed up with Child Safe Organisations and we will continue to get updates and new resources to ensure we are fully engaged with all 10 child safe national principles.
Helena College is committed to being a child safe organisation.
Leadership
Head of Junior School | Greg Miller
It is hard to believe we are already in the final full month of the 2024 school year. We know this is an especially busy time for everyone, so thank you for your continued efforts, understanding, and support.
World Teacher’s Day
This term, we celebrated World Teacher’s Day! At Helena College, we recognise every staff member for their tireless dedication to meeting the needs of each student and family. To thank and acknowledge everyone’s hard work, we enjoyed a delicious morning tea together.
Darlington Arts Festival (DAF)
What a fantastic time we had recently at this annual festival! Our students took the stage with confidence - singing and dancing as wonderful ambassadors for the College. The Helena College stand and Darlington Oval were buzzing with art displays, food stalls, crafts, homewares, rides, and more. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this wonderful event - we are already looking forward to DAF 2025!
Drama Showcases | 2024
Last week, our Drama Elective students put on performances that were truly entertaining. Led by Mrs Alana Urlus, these shows featured a series of skits and plays worthy of a Broadway stage! For some brave students, it was their first experience performing for such a large audience, while for others, their confidence continues to grow. Congratulations to all involved in these fantastic showcases!
Orientation Days
Our recent orientation days were yet again a huge success. These occasions are a rewarding way for our College to demonstrate the importance we place on a quality early education experience. Whilst parents and families will always remain a child’s first educator, schools certainly take over the reins and, in partnership, foster and develop educational understandings and social skills.
Three Weeks Remaining - Finishing Strong
With only a few weeks left and planning for 2025 well underway, we have an exciting calendar of events to close out Term Four, including the Carols Concert, Computer Assembly, ELC Christmas Activities, Year 5 Celebration Evening, and year of end activities and excursions.
Supporting your child(ren) to stay focused and engaged through the end of the school year will enhance their learning experience and promote a positive mindset, both at school and home. Here are some helpful reminders for the weeks ahead (which are great for adults too!):
Maintaining regular routines
Ample sleep (including on the weekends and particularly Sunday night)
Healthy eating habits
Being mindful of not doing too many activities on the weekend - allowing for some beneficial ‘down time’ at home (remembering there is a lengthy holiday period coming up)
Striving for quality over quantity - especially at this stage of the academic year
Being mindful that your child will return to 2025 recharged, developmentally more mature, and ready for new learning and consolidation of understandings.
Carols Evening
We are eagerly looking forward to seeing families at next Friday’s Carols Concert, held at our Glen Forrest Campus oval on 22 November 2024. Please refer to the email invitation sent to families for additional details.
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend.
Greg Miller | Head of Junior School - Kindergarten to Year 5
Director of Upper School | Craig Hillman
Upcoming Webinar for Parents - How You Can Build Resilience in Your Child
We're excited to announce that Elevate Education's next free webinar will take place on Tuesday, 3 December, focusing on Resilience. Elevate Education works with our Upper School students, delivering high-impact workshops on study skills, motivation, wellbeing, and exam preparation. By tuning into their webinar series, you will learn how you can help better support your children at home by reinforcing the skills they learn at school:
In this webinar, Elevate Education will be showing parents:
What resilience means, what it doesn't mean, and why it's important.
How to help build your child's resilience levels, both in and out of school
How to help your child break their 'fear of failure'.
Year 10 Locker Clean-out
Year 10 students are reminded that their locker needs to be cleaned at Lunchtime on Thursday, 28 November. As a result, they will not have access to your locker for the End-of-year Celebration Day.
I request that students do this task progressively and NOT leave it until Thursday because that will overload the bins. Overfilling the bins anytime becomes an occupational health and safety issue for the maintenance staff.
Homeroom teachers will check lockers are clean and empty (no stickers, foodstuff, etc.) on Thursday at lunch time. Students can take their bags to Periods 6 and 7 on Thursday. Students must turn their phones off on Thursday afternoon to avoid breaching our Acceptable Use of Mobile Phones Policy.
Year 10 End-of-Year Celebration Day
Date: Friday, 29 November 2024. This marks the last day of Year 10 for 2024.
Program:
8.40 am: Homeroom. Arrive at College in HOUSE Uniform.
8.50 am: House-Based activities in Year 6 Undercover Area.
10.00 am: Morning tea. Students change into their themed ‘Tropical’ outfits.
10.30 am: Depart Helena on the Party Bus to Point Fraser.
11.30 am: Depart Point Fraser Jetty on 'River Bells’. Lunch and dancing aboard.
2.30 pm: Return to Point Fraser.
3.30 pm: Return to Helena via Party Bus. Students dismissed.
Theme: ‘Tropical’
Uniform:
House Uniform at School 8.40 am - 10.00 am
‘Tropical’ Theme for Party Bus rides to and from Perth, as well as during the River Cruise.
Normal Casual Dress Day Guidelines apply in that attire should be suitable for attending school (i.e., no short shorts, no miniskirts, no bare midriffs, or bare shoulders are permitted). In addition, shoes must be fully enclosed and meet OSH requirements (i.e., no thongs, open sandals, high heels, wedges, or stilettos are permitted).
Given the day's celebratory nature, normal jewellery and hair restrictions will be relaxed for the River Cruise aboard ‘River Bells’. Hair must be a natural colour but may be worn down. No face piercings are allowed.
No inappropriate slogans or graphics on clothing.
Cost: $80 (includes Morning Tea at the College, Party Bus transfers, Boat hire, Live Band on ‘River Bells’, Subway lunch on board and soft drinks). ‘River Bells’ will be our vessel for the afternoon. She will depart from Point Fraser and cruise on the Swan River for a few hours before returning.
To ensure this event is enjoyable, we would like to inform students that all school rules and expectations pertaining to behaviour apply throughout the day. If there are any concerns about students' behaviour, especially those about smoking, intoxicants, and illicit drug use, we will place those involved in a taxi to be returned home at the parents' or guardians' expense.
We would also like to point out that the school does not sanction any post-celebration party.
Class of 2025 Leavers Jackets
Wearing the Leavers Jacket is both a symbol of belonging and a positive part of the Year 12 experience at Helena. The Class of 2025 Leavers Jacket is expected to be delivered in Week Two, Term One 2025. The design process was carried out by our student Leavers’ Jacket Committee.
Students will have their first name embroidered on the back of the Jacket – below the embroidered "Twenty 25 Leavers" logo. Students are NOT allowed to have a name or symbol embroidered on the Jacket after purchase. Gear Up Promotions will again provide our jackets. The GST–inclusive cost is $140. In addition, an instructional 'care' sheet will accompany the delivery of each Jacket to ensure it remains in good order throughout 2025.
All payments for the Leavers’ Jacket will be processed through the Front Office. Jackets must be paid for in full before they can be collected. The cost of the Jacket is not part of any payment plan that has previously been arranged.
There has been a hold-up with the design from our suppliers and, therefore, our voting process. I encourage Year 11s to monitor their email over the next week or so and vote on their preferred alternative when prompted.
I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the excellent work done by our Leavers Jacket Committee and acknowledge the time and effort they put into the Jacket's design.
Year 11 – Results Day | Friday, 29 November
As per the School Calendar, the Year 11 Results Day is Friday, 29 November.
The school will start with Homeroom at 8.40 am, and students will follow an amended Timetable for the day via SEQTA. Attendance is compulsory for all Year 11s, and they are to wear their school uniform.
Students will have finished their Semester Two Exams and Work placements, and the day gives them the opportunity to check their exam and overall year results and grades before heading off on their well-deserved holiday. Once students have signed off their results, marks and grades will be uploaded to the School Curriculum and Standards Authority.
Year 11 students will need to bring a day pack (they will not have access to their locker), a pen and their laptop to access class resources on the day and follow their amended timetable. The canteen will be open.
Class of 2025. Driving to School
Driving a vehicle to and from school is a privilege, not a right, and it carries several responsibilities as outlined in our Student Driver Policy. You can find the Policy at SEQTA Learn>Documents>HC Student Driver Policy.
Suitably qualified drivers of the Class of 2025 may use the lower car park between the Oval and Bilgoman Road from Friday, 15 November.
Any student from the Class of 2025 who intends to drive to and from the school, either regularly or occasionally, must comply with the Student Driver Policy. In addition, the student must complete the Student Vehicle/Driving Permission Form and, if necessary, ensure the Passenger Permission Form is also completed.
A completed Student Vehicle/Driving Permission Form must be submitted to the Front Office before students can begin parking in the dedicated car park adjacent to the College Oval.
Year 12 Retreat | Sunday, 2 February to Tuesday, 4 February 2025
Year 12s return to school on Sunday, 2 February, at 10.30 am and begin their school year with the Year 12 Retreat. The Retreat is designed to start the year on a positive note, enhance their study skills, refocus on the challenges ahead, develop skills of resilience and gratitude, and build a sense of group cohesiveness and identity.
TIME: Students arrive at the College at 10.30 am in time for an 11.00 am departure.
WEAR: Casual dress day guidelines apply at St George's College and for University visits. This includes closed-in shoes. While beach attire is appropriate for Rottnest, closed in shoes must be worn while riding bikes to all activities.
THINGS TO BRING
Please be advised that St George's College supplies all bedding. A sleeping bag and pillowcase are optional.
Water bottle.
Small daypack or backpack suitable for riding activities on Rottnest.
Pens for writing at St George’s and Rottnest.
Bathers and beach towel.
Towel and toiletries.
Comfortable clothes to cater for all weather (hot/cold)
Hat, sunscreen, insect repellent.
Personal medication (as prescribed by GP and stated on the medical form).
Mobile phone.
Power board (to share between friends for charging phones, cameras etc.)
Closed-in shoes for cycling while on Rottnest. (Students will not be allowed to ride if they don't bring closed-in shoes)
Bicycle helmets must be worn at all times whilst riding on Rottnest. If you don't want to wear the Rottnest Express hire ones, please bring your own helmet and ensure that you have it with your day pack on Sunday.
Snacks.
Money for free time expenses on Rottnest as well as for LUNCH ON MONDAY and TUESDAY
REMEMBER TO: Sign the e-permission form.
DETAILS: The three-day Retreat details are on SEQTA>School Documents>Camps, excursions, incursions - GFC>Year 12 Retreat Overview/Program.
Wednesday, 5 February - First Day of 2025 School Year
Normal Classes commence.
Please support the College and aid your child's transition back to school by ensuring that hair, dress lengths, shoes, jewellery, cleanly shaved faces, and other uniform standards are adhered to. We have a smart-looking, comfortable, and easy-to-wear uniform, and I thank families for their ongoing support of our College's values and standards.
Black Leather School Shoe
Our Uniform Policy states that the College expects all students to develop a high standard of dress. Please note that neither the Vans® style black leather or canvas shoe, the Nike Air Force 1, nor a Mary Jane style meets the high standard of dress expected by the College.
Skirt/Dress Length
While the College values high uniform standards, it is undesirable to commit an excessive amount of time and resources to enforce this policy at the expense of our core business, which is student learning. To this end, parental and student support is imperative for the College to maintain the uniform standards detailed in our Uniform Policy.
This is a timely reminder for students, parents/guardians that the specified skirt/dress length should be just on top of the knee. Please use this holiday break to amend the skirt/dress length if required. Don’t get caught short.
Class of 2025 Year 12 Family Information Evening | Thursday, 6 February 2024. 6.30 pm - 7.45 pm
Parents and Guardians are encouraged to join their child in the Performing Arts Centre for the presentation ‘Year 12 Thrive and Succeed’. The session will cover Post-school Pathways, WACE attainment, University Entrance, Calculating an ATAR and a guide to thriving in Year 12. Students should sit with their parents for the presentation. We look forward to seeing you there for this very important session.
Admin Notices
Administration Notices - Darlington
End of School Year Finish Time Reminder
Junior School students finish on Thursday 5 December 2024 at 12noon.
Parenting Resource | The Power of Saying Sorry
For an insightful article by Maggie Dent on the importance of saying sorry, please click here.
Administration Notices - Glen Forrest Campus
Years 6 to 9 End of Year Excursion | 4 December 2024
We kindly request that parents respond to the Outback Splash excursion permission notice (sent via Paperly) as soon as possible. If your child will not be participating, you will need to make alternate arrangements for their care on the day, as there will be no classes running at the Senior School Campus (GFC) on this date.
Final Day of Term Four | 5 December 2024
The final day of Term will be Thursday 5 December. Students will finish early, at 12.15pm, with buses running to their usual routes, but commencing at the earlier finish time. Awards Night will take place that evening from 6pm.
2025 Booklists
Booklist and stationery lists for the 2025 school year are now available for all students who will be in Years 7 to 12 next year (i.e. current Year 6 to 11 students). All Year 6 2025 and other Senior School students new to Helena College in 2025 will receive their booklists after their respective orientation events. There are no booklist requirements for students in Kindy to Year 5.
NOTE: PDF copies of booklists and stationery requirements are also available through the SEQTA School Documents portal.
ONLINE ORDERING
Year 6 to 12 booklist items may be purchased online through our preferred supplier, Campion, or direct from the Campion outlets if you prefer. To ensure delivery by the start of the new school year, all online orders must be completed by Tuesday 31 December 2024. Orders may be placed after this date, but may incur a late fee.
Click on the red button labeled PARENTS ORDER HERE
Enter your email address or mobile number to obtain 6-digit verification code
Enter the verification code
Click on the blue button ORDER NOW
In the second search bar, type in 'Helena College'
Enter your child's First Name and Last Name
Enter the Resource List Code CVQ3
Junior School | Darlington Campus
Drama Elective Showcase
We were treated to a wonderful week of performances by the Junior School Drama students last week under the direction of Mrs Alana Urlus. Tuesday's Showcase saw the Year 4-5 students perform small group pantomimes, exploring the use of sound effects, staging and music to tell a story. Some students were also excited to create some Musical theatre performances from the stage production, Annie! A fantastic production enjoyed by the audience.
Also worth mentioning was the addition of some wonderful new props thanks to Sam Davy (Design and Engineering) and Jules Tascone (Facilities and Maintenance). These items will be a great asset to the DC props library for future productions.
Thursday's Showcase saw our Year 1-3 students dive into the world of Dr Seuss. The lower school students have been exploring script work, staging and dance with Mrs Urlus. The confidence the students demonstrated on stage is a credit to all their hard work preparing for the Showcase.
It was great to see so many parents attend the showcase events. It is a highlight for the students to be able to showcase their performances in front of family. This was the final Showcase event for 2024 for the Junior School Electives Program. We look forward to more great events in 2025.
We are thrilled to announce that our Junior School has been crowned the #1 school in WA in the Oz Rocks Competition. Oz Rocks is online times tables competition aimed at boosting maths confidence alongside accuracy and recall speed.
In addition to taking out the top WA Spot, we also placed 4th nationally among schools across Australia. A special shoutout to our Year 5 students Georgia, Sophia, and Chloe who each earned a spot in the Top 50 students in the state out of 6,548 students. This incredible achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our students, especially when it comes to mastering those tricky times tables! Congratulations to all the students who took part.
Spreading Joy at DC
Helena College's Junior School is proudly supporting Operation Sunshine WA and the Midvale Hub Parenting Service Perth North East this festive season. We will be accepting donations of new toy and food items. All toy items will be donated to Operation Sunshine WA who provide gifts to WA children and families impacted by crisis and trauma and children currently in care. All the food items will be donated to Midvale Hub Parenting Centre who will be making Christmas hampers for families in need from the local area across 17 suburbs within the 6056 area code. Items can be dropped into the DC Administration from Friday 15 November until Friday 29 November.
Senior School | Glen Forrest Campus
Year 9 Project
The Year 9 students are all breathing a sigh of relief at present with the Year 9 Project coming to an end in week 4 and they are all eagerly awaiting the release of their marks and certificates. With a record number of booths in the gym this year students were able to showcase the effort they put into their projects and are now able to relax and, for most, bask in the glow of their success.
As in previous years, the project often is the beginning of a new passion, hobby or even business and if, in the future, the Year 9 Project bears some recognition then please let the College know as it certainly warms the heart when we hear of the continuing success of our Year 9 efforts.
During the past few weeks the Senior School Library has been undergoing a mini ‘facelift’. So far the fiction collection has been rearranged to be shelved by genre. The features genres include science fiction, fantasy, horror, adventure, relationships, romance, classics, biographies, adventure, historical, war and humour. The books are still shelved in alphabetical order by the authors surname but now sit within a genre.
The non-fiction collection is currently in the process of also been rearranged into genres. Whilst the Dewey number will remain on the spines, the books will be shelved into more welcoming and current ‘collections’. The Library staff expect lots of conversations about the new arrangements and hope that the borrowing statistics reflect the revitalisation.
As always, keep reading!
Rebecca Murray | Teacher Librarian
Overcoming Roadblocks to Study Success - Study Skills
Overcoming Roadblocks to Study Success
Find Your “Why”: Search for a meaningful reason to aim higher than the minimum. Whether it’s getting into your dream course, pursuing a career you’re passionate about, building your neural capacity as a learner, or just proving to yourself that you can succeed—use that as motivation to stop making excuses and invest extra effort.
Tame Your Distractions: Distractions are everywhere—social media, friends, pets, hobbies can all pull you away from your studies. Implement strategies like turning off notifications, setting specific “study hours”, or using apps designed to limit screen time so you can focus and allocate enough time to your schoolwork. A distraction-free environment helps you stay on track and makes study sessions more effective.
Turn Mistakes Into Momentum: Don’t let mistakes discourage you; instead, see them as stepping stones to growth. Each error or setback is a chance to identify what you can improve. Reflect on what went wrong, adjust your approach, and focus on learning from your experiences. Mistakes are often the best teachers and can launch you toward greater achievements if you use them wisely.
Set Small, Achievable Goals: Break down big tasks into smaller, manageable goals. Rather than thinking about an entire semester’s worth of material, focus on mastering one chapter or concept at a time. This makes studying less overwhelming and gives you a sense of accomplishment with each small win, motivating you to keep going.
Create a Supportive Study Environment: Surround yourself with people who encourage your success—whether it’s classmates, friends, or family members who support your study efforts. Consider forming or joining a study group to share resources, discuss topics, and keep each other accountable. A positive support system can keep you motivated and make studying feel like a team effort rather than a solo challenge.
Develop a Routine That Works for You: Consistency is key to successful studying. Establish a study routine that fits your lifestyle and energy levels. Whether it’s studying early in the morning, after school, or late at night, find a time that you can consistently dedicate to your work. A consistent routine helps your brain recognise study time, making it easier to focus and be productive.
Reward Your Progress: Motivation is easier to maintain when you celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Set rewards for yourself when you complete a study session, finish a chapter, or achieve a good result. It could be something simple like a snack, time with friends, or a short break doing something you enjoy. Rewarding progress helps reinforce positive habits and keeps you motivated to keep pushing forward.
You and your student can learn more about how to study effectively at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au by logging in with the details below and working through some of the units.
Username: forhelenaonly Password: 71results
French Culinary Video Competition
FRENCH ON THE MENU | We are thrilled to announce that two of our talented Year 10 French-language students, Veronique and Rivalee, have secured 2nd place in the Asia-Pacific Culinary Video Competition. Students were required to create a video of them demonstrating and explaining how to cook a traditional French dish - with the added challenge of speaking only French throughout their cooking demo! Out of the 110 entries in the 15-16 age group, they were real stand outs. Congratulations to Veronique and Rivalee for their exceptional work, and a heartfelt thank you to the teachers who inspired and supported them along the way.
Alliance Francaise Award Ceremony
As it is every year, it was a pleasure to accompany the winning students from the Poetry recital competition and the High School Exams competition to the awards ceremony on Friday 25 October. Nearly 1,000 students from 35 schools took part this year, with just 40 winners in the end! Well done to them all!
High School Exams > Year 10 Winner for the state of WA: Rivalee McE
Poetry Recital Competition > Year 6 Winner for the state of WA: Flynn C
Year 7 Winner for the state of WA: Amelia T, Second place: Niamh M and Third place: Réka L
The Side-by-Side Language competition was offered to French and Indonesian students in Years 7, 8 and 9. Two students had to hold a conversation about any topic, using familiar language that had been explored during Languages lessons. The conversation had to be filmed as one take (i.e. no pausing or editing).
The conversation needed to be spontaneous and sound as natural as possible. This was an opportunity for students to apply the language structures that had been practised previously, but in a slightly different context/with a different speaker/unpredictable question order. Language fillers, error correction, survival phrases and repair strategies were allowed and tolerated in order to sustain interaction.
Time limits for each category:
Years 7 and 8: 90 seconds
Years 9 and 10: 2 minutes
Quite a few students submitted entries and three teams from the College won:
Enzo and Zade (Year 7 Indonesian)
Evelyn A and Darcy D (Year 8 French)
Fife T and Violet T (Year 9 French)
The students attended the Award ceremony on Thursday 24 October (photos in folder). Congratulations to all the students for their amazing effort!
Mme Archambaud | Head of Department, Languages
Pencak Silat
A few weeks back, our Year 7 Indonesian students were thrilled to participate in an engaging Pencak Silat incursion led by Southern Cross Bujutsu. Pencak Silat, a traditional martial art form from Indonesia, encompasses a variety of fighting styles that include striking, grappling, and throwing techniques. Known for its fluid and graceful movements, Pencak Silat focuses on strategic manoeuvres to outwit your opponent with precision and agility.
Our students embraced the challenge with enthusiasm, learning to apply the techniques while developing their confidence and coordination. It was a fantastic opportunity to experience a unique aspect of Indonesian culture firsthand. Check out the 'in-action' photos from the day!
Here are the 1000% authentic feedback comments:
The Pencak Silat incursion was so fun! I loved learning the moves and trying them with my friends. I didn’t know martial arts could be so cool. I hope we can do it again!
It was awesome learning Pencak Silat! The instructors were really nice, and I learned a lot about Indonesian culture. It was so cool to try something new in class!
School Sport WA Triathalon
Recently, we had 45 students take part in the SSWA Triathlon, with six competing as individuals and 13 teams on the new course in 2024 (400m swim, 12km cycle, 3km run). We had a variety of teams this year, including both mixed age and mixed gender groups, ranging from Year 7 to Year 11. The weather conditions on the day were very hot, though not quite as bad as the 41 degrees that were forecast a week out, which was a relief! All our students competed well with great sportsmanship and integrity in the tough conditions and represented Helena College brilliantly. Congratulations to all students for your outstanding efforts and to the staff who assisted in the lead up and on the day.
Recently, the Year 8/9 Helena College boys played four games of footy against Darling Range and Bullsbrook College. The first game against Darling Range 2 was an eye opening experience for the boys as the opposition came out firing and we were a bit shell shocked with the intensity. Game Two against Darling Range 1 was a big improvement as we matched their intensity around the contest but struggled to capitalise our chances in front of goal and the opposition made us pay.
Game Three against Bullsbrook saw the Helena College boys step up their games even further and led by some ferocious tackling by Zaquiuz and some classy finishing from Mitchell and Oliver, saw us take out our first win. The last game was a tight tussle from the get go with both teams trading goals. Unfortunately for Helena, Darling Range 3 kicked a goal in the last minute to put them up by two points and see them to victory. The boys did an amazing job and gave it their all, especially on a warm 33-degree day. They enjoyed the Zooper Doopers at the end of the day, and they should be proud of their efforts. Thanks to Mrs Fairclough for driving the bus and Mr Waterhouse for helping to organise the day.
Mr Chris Scott | Health and Physical Education Teacher
Visual Arts and Media ‘VISIONS’ Exhibition 2024
On Thursday, October 24th, Helena College held its annual Visual Arts and Media exhibition, 'Visions,' celebrating the impressive creativity of our Year 6 to 12 students in Visual Arts, Media, and Photography. We were delighted to welcome students, families, and friends to join us in recognising the dedication and talent displayed in this year’s show.
The 'Visions' exhibition featured a diverse array of artworks and short films created by our students. Artworks included paintings about society and culture, portrait and landscape compositions, vibrant pop art, surrealistic explorations, insect art and unique sculptures inspired by Mexican alebrijes and steampunk aesthetics. A display of Year 10 digital surreal photography added an extra layer of visual appeal to the night. Media films, presented on a big screen in the gym, encompassed a variety of student-made films, offering audiences a glimpse into youth perspectives through storytelling.
As guests arrived at the exhibition opening, they were greeted by live performances from some of Helena College’s talented Music students. Their musical pieces set a warm and inviting tone, enhancing the atmosphere and enriching the experience for all who attended.
We extend our congratulations to Oscar J, winner of this year’s Year 12 'People’s Choice Award' for his thought-provoking piece, "Crowded Silence," and to Meg O’C, who earned second place with her impactful work, "Where will the Children Play?".
This year’s exhibition was a testament to the diversity and imagination of our students, making it a truly memorable evening for all who attended.
This year Helena College GFC is supporting the local charity Midvale Hub with items to include in Christmas Hampers. Please drop items to the library for collection by Midvale Hub on Monday 2 December.
Camps
Peer Support Camp
Last Thursday and Friday our Peer Support students attended a training camp at the Swan Valley Adventure Centre. The Year 9s were great and overall, we were really pleased with the enthusiasm and commitment the leaders showed during all of the activities. The feedback we received was that the leaders felt more prepared to deal with potential challenges with the Year 6s, for the Orientation Day and just for running the program as a whole.
Mr Zarb and Ms Francis also attended the camp and ran several activities, and the leaders loved working with them. Mrs Coombs and the Food Tech department prepared all of our delicious morning and afternoon tea. Mr Pitt came to speak to the students about leadership and Mr.Coombs also visited the camp to check on how the leaders were progressing with their training.
We think these leaders will be a great fit with the 2025 Year 6 cohort, and are just as excited about the upcoming Orientation Day as our newest Senior School students are.
Daniel Hortense and Maddison Lewis | Peer Support Coordinators
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Shire of Mundaring 2025 Australia Day Citizenship Awards
The Shire of Mundaring is seeking nominations for the 2025 Australia Day Citizenship awards to recognise the remarkable individuals and groups who have made a significant contribution to the community. Nominations are now open and will close on Wednesday 27th November 2024. If you know of anyone within your school or your network that have made a noteworthy contribution please consider nominating them.
This year’s categories are: • Young Citizen of the Year– recognising individuals or groups (up to 30 years) who have significantly contributed to the community. • Inspirational Volunteer – celebrating volunteers whose efforts have positively impacted the local community. • Access Mundaring – honouring individuals or groups who work towards a more accessible and inclusive community. • Long Service – acknowledging those who have been community champions, dedicating over ten years of service to the local area.
