The Helenian - 6 August 2026

One of our key initiatives across the College over the past few years has been to strengthen our 'One School' approach to the organisation and operation of Helena College. A key part of this has been ensuring that students and parents feel connected to, and included in, the life of the College across both our Junior and Senior School campuses.

A recent example of this was inviting parents of our Year 4 and 5 students to join us for a guided tour of the Senior School campus. The tour gave parents the opportunity to see the campus during a normal school day, gain an understanding of the learning environment their children will experience in Year 6, and ask questions about the transition from the Junior School to the Senior School.

The tour was very similar to the many campus tours we conduct throughout the year for prospective families. As Principal, I always enjoy meeting with families, showing them around the College and talking about what makes Helena College such a special place. Every family is different, and I find it fascinating to learn what has prompted them to consider Helena College for their child's education.

One of the most common reasons parents mention is that they are looking for an independent school without a religious affiliation. Others are attracted by our reputation for providing a nurturing and supportive environment where students are known as individuals and encouraged to achieve their personal best. Many are also looking for a strong academic program. More often than not, it is the combination of these qualities that leads families to choose Helena College.

I also enjoy asking families how they first heard about the College. It is always pleasing to hear that many come to us because they have spoken with current Helena College parents. There is no better endorsement of a school than parents who are prepared to recommend it to others, and I sincerely appreciate the confidence our families show in the College by doing so.

As our parents are often our greatest ambassadors, I thought I would share a brief update on our current enrolment position.

We currently have 192 students enrolled in the Junior School and 590 students in the Senior School, giving us a total enrolment of 782 students. This represents continued growth for the College and reflects the strong demand we are experiencing across a number of year levels.

With this growth, we expect several year levels to reach capacity over the coming years. Unfortunately, this also means that some students who are currently registered may not ultimately be offered a place. Looking ahead to next year, we anticipate having waiting lists for Kindergarten, Pre-Primary and Year 7.

Kindergarten and Year 6 continue to be our main entry points into the College, and the level of interest we are seeing in these year groups provides us with confidence about future enrolment growth.

Our class structure is based on both student demand and the resources available to the College. From Kindergarten to Year 3 we operate one class in each year level, increasing to two classes in Years 4 and 5, and four classes from Years 6 through to Year 12.

This year, however, we have an unusual situation with a smaller Year 5 cohort, resulting in a single Year 5 class. While enrolments for students joining Year 6 next year remain consistent with previous years, only one class will transition from our Darlington Campus. As a result, we will have three Year 6 classes in 2027 rather than the usual four. Pleasingly, we already have strong enrolment numbers for students entering Year 7 in 2028, and we expect to return to four classes at that point.

If you know families who may be considering Helena College, I encourage you to suggest they book a campus tour. Seeing the College in action is the best way to gain an understanding of what we offer and the opportunities available to our students. If they decide Helena College is the right fit for their family, our Enrolments Registrar, Kate Paterson, will be happy to assist them through the enrolment process.

Ellie S - Year 6

Congratulations to Ellie on being selected to represent Western Australia in the 2026 Swimming 10-12 Championship. Ellie will compete as part of the WA team at the School Sport Australia National Championships in Melbourne, Victoria, from 30 November – 3 December 2026.

Selection to a state team is a significant achievement and reflects Ellie’s dedication, skill, and commitment to swimming. State representation is a great honour and provides an exciting opportunity to compete against some of the best young swimmers from across Australia.

We are incredibly proud of Ellie’s achievement and wish her every success as she represents Western Australia on the national stage. Good luck in Melbourne, Ellie!

Issac D C - Year 7

Congratulations to Issac on being selected to represent Western Australia in the 2026 Netball Boys 12s Championship. Issac will compete as part of the WA team at the School Sport Australia National Championships in Darwin this September.

Selection to a state team is a significant achievement and reflects Issac’s dedication, skill, and commitment to his sport. State representation is a great honour and often serves as an important stepping stone towards future senior and national opportunities.

We are incredibly proud of Issac’s achievement and wish him every success as he represents Western Australia on the national stage. Good luck in Darwin, Issac!

Ella N - Year 9

During the July school holidays, Ella took part in a four-day, St John Ambulance Youth Academy State Camp held in Hillary’s. Ella and her teammates from the Woodridge Division attended with six other divisions from around the state.

The highlight of the camp was the competition day, held at the Western Australian Police Academy in Joondalup. Ella and her team-mates faced real-life emergency scenarios that tested their clinical skills, teamwork, communication, and decision-making under pressure.

As a result of their dedication and teamwork, Ella and her division proudly took first place in the state, outperforming the six other divisions which is an incredible achievement that reflects their commitment and professionalism. Well done, Ella!

The Joy of Reading

Reading is something most adults do countless times every day - whether checking emails, reading road signs, following recipes or enjoying a good book. Because it comes so naturally to us, it is easy to forget what an important skill it is for children to develop.

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is a love of reading. Children who read regularly not only build their literacy skills but also develop their imagination, vocabulary, knowledge and confidence.

Here are a few simple ways you can support your child’s reading at home:

Read together every day, even for just 10-15 minutes.
Let your child choose books and topics that genuinely interest them.
Talk about the story by asking questions about the characters, events and what might happen next.
Encourage reading in everyday life by noticing signs, labels, recipes, menus and instructions together.
Re-read favourite books - repetition helps build fluency and confidence.
Celebrate your child’s efforts and praise them for persevering with unfamiliar words.

Most importantly, help your child see reading as something enjoyable rather than a chore. When children see adults reading for pleasure and sharing books together, they are more likely to develop positive reading habits themselves.

If your child is finding reading difficult or seems reluctant to read, please do not hesitate to speak with their classroom teacher. We are always happy to work with families to support every child's reading journey, and our Junior School Library has a terrific selection of books to engage even the most reluctant readers.

Protective Behaviours | Body Safety and Consent

At Helena College, we recognise that our students are the most valued, but also the most potentially vulnerable, members of our community. We are therefore committed to teaching children practical and easy-to-understand personal safety strategies to help keep them safe. Parents also play a vital role in this partnership.

Please click here to read an article from Jayneen Sanders which highlights eight body safety and consent skills you can cover with your child, both formally and informally, as they grow.

Over the past six weeks, our Kindy and Pre-Primary students have had the opportunity to participate in an Educated by Nature program, supported through a grant from AISWA. The program provided a wonderful opportunity for students to develop their connection with the natural environment through hands-on exploration, observation and play.

Our first sessions took place during Makuru (Noongar cold and wet winter season), with a focus on developing our senses and becoming more aware of the natural environment around us. The children explored the school grounds, using their sight, hearing, touch and smell to investigate what they could discover. They were encouraged to slow down, observe carefully and notice the small details within our environment.

As the program progressed, the children became increasingly confident nature investigators. We explored our school’s nature area and observed how the plants and flowers were changing as Djiba (August–September) arrived. We investigated living and non-living things and searched for clues that living things had visited our school. The children discovered feathers, holes in the ground, leaves, flowers, honkey nuts and rocks, using these findings to make observations and develop their own ideas about what had happened.

Our Creek Adventure provided another opportunity to extend this learning beyond the classroom. The children investigated the creek environment and identified a range of living and non-living things. They observed natural materials including leaves, flowers, honkey nuts and rocks, and worked collaboratively to construct small dams. They then watched carefully as the water moved around and between the rocks, providing opportunities to experiment, problem-solve and explore cause and effect.

Across the six-week program, students have developed their skills as observers, explorers, problem-solvers and curious thinkers. Most importantly, they have developed a greater appreciation for the natural world and the many opportunities it provides for learning.

We are very grateful to AISWA for supporting this program through the grant, and to Educated by Nature for providing our students with such valuable opportunities to learn, explore and connect with our natural environment.

Vashti Vaughan | Kindy Teacher, Kellie Sorensen | Pre-primary Teacher and Donna Fox | Education Assistant

Children's Book Week® 2026 – Symphony of Stories

The library is buzzing with excitement as we prepare for Book Week, and this year’s theme, Symphony of Stories, promises a wonderful celebration of reading, creativity, and imagination. Throughout the week, students can look forward to a range of exciting activities, displays, and challenges designed to bring stories to life and celebrate the many voices that make up our literary world. We can’t wait to share the fun with our students and encourage everyone to join in the celebrations!

As always, keep reading!

Rebecca Murray | Teacher Librarian

Study Skills Handbook – Streamlining your digital study life

Stay organised and productive across all your devices

As schoolwork becomes increasingly digital, many students find their laptops, tablets and online accounts overflowing with files, tabs, downloads and notifications. A cluttered digital space makes it harder to focus, slows you down, and increases stress. Streamlining your digital study life helps you stay organised, find information quickly, and create a calmer environment for learning. With a few practical strategies, you can turn your devices into powerful tools instead of sources of overwhelm.

1. Clean up your desktop and folders

A tidy digital workspace makes it easier to start homework and stay focused.

Delete old screenshots, duplicate files and unused documents.
Create subject-specific folders with clear names like “Science – Notes” or “English – Assessments.”
Move everything on your desktop into its correct folder so nothing sits loose.
A simple folder structure reduces decision fatigue and saves time when studying.

Tip: Do a quick “folder reset” every Friday so digital clutter never builds up.

2. Organise your Google Drive, OneDrive or cloud storage

Cloud spaces fill up fast, and messy file systems quickly become overwhelming.

Create a main folder for the year and subfolders for each subject.
Rename files clearly with dates or topics so they’re easy to find later.
Star or highlight your most-used documents for quick access.

Good digital organisation supports better revision and assessment planning.

Tip: Use the search bar effectively — type keywords like “essay,” “photosynthesis,” or “practice questions.”

3. Keep your downloads folder under control

Downloads are often the most chaotic space on a device.

Clear out your downloads folder weekly and sort important items into subject folders.
Delete files you no longer need, like old PDFs, worksheets or images.
Avoid working directly from the downloads folder — move files to the correct place first.

A tidy downloads folder reduces stress and prevents lost files.

Tip: Change your settings so your browser asks where to save each file — this stops clutter from piling up.

4. Manage tabs and notifications effectively

Too many tabs and constant notifications drain focus and slow your brain down.

Keep only the tabs you need open during a study session.
Turn off unnecessary notifications, especially social media or game alerts.
Use tab groups if your browser has them to keep subjects separate.

Reducing distractions helps your mind stay clear and improves concentration.

Tip: Try a browser extension that limits tab numbers or blocks distracting sites during homework.

5. Use digital tools intentionally

Technology works best when it supports your learning, not when it overwhelms it.

Use note-taking apps, task managers or calendar tools to stay organised.
Try digital flashcards, video tutorials or practice quiz platforms for revision.
Keep your most important apps easily accessible and remove any you don’t need.

Intentional use of technology boosts productivity and helps you focus on what matters.

Tip: Review your apps each term — uninstall any that are distracting or unused.

A calmer, clearer digital space

Streamlining your digital study life reduces stress, improves efficiency and helps you stay in control of your schoolwork. By organising your files, cleaning your downloads, managing tabs and notifications, and using digital tools wisely, you turn your devices into supportive study companions. A clear digital space leads to a clearer mind — and better learning.

You can learn more at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au by logging in with the details below and working through some of the units.

Username: forhelenaonly

Password: 71results

Darlington Campus (Kindy to Year 5)

Glen Forrest Campus (Years 6 to 12)

Darlington Campus

Glen Forrest Campus