Recently, the College Executive, together with our Chair of Council, Ty Theodore, visited York to present to prospective families about Helena College and to extend an invitation to tour our campuses. As Principal, meeting with families and sharing insights into our learning programs, and what makes a Helena College education a unique experience for our students, is one of the most enjoyable aspects of my role.

Choosing the right school is a significant decision for any family. When I meet with parents, I am always interested to learn what draws them to consider Helena College. One of the most common reasons parents share is their desire for an independent school without a religious affiliation. Many also value our reputation for fostering a nurturing and supportive environment that focuses on the whole child. Others are seeking a rigorous academic program. In most cases, it is a combination of these factors that resonates with families.

I also take a keen interest in how families first hear about our College. It is particularly heartening to learn that many of our prospective families come to us through the positive recommendations of current College parents. We are committed to being a school that families feel proud to be part of, and it is deeply gratifying to know that our parents are sharing their positive experiences within the wider community.

Given that parents are often our most effective ambassadors, I’d like to share an update on student enrolments. Currently, we have 210 students enrolled in our Junior School and 564 in the Senior School, bringing our total enrolment to 774 students. This represents growth on previous years, and we expect our enrolment numbers to continue rising in the year ahead.

With strong demand for places, we anticipate that several year levels will reach capacity in the coming years. Unfortunately, this also means that some prospective students who are currently registered may not be offered a place. Looking ahead to next year, we expect to have waitlists for Kindergarten, Year 2, Year 3, and Year 6. With Kindergarten and Year 6 being our primary entry points, these numbers are a positive indication of continued enrolment growth.

Our class structure is based on our available resources and overall demand for places. From Kindergarten to Year 3, have one class per year level. This expands to two classes in Years 4 and 5, and increases further to four class groups in Years 6 through to Year 12. This structure has worked well; however, this year we have an anomaly with a smaller Year 4 cohort, resulting in a single class. Throughout this year we have focused our efforts on promoting Year 5 as a key intake point, aiming to establish two Year 5 classes next year. Despite these efforts, current enrolment numbers indicate that we will not have sufficient students to form a second Year 5 class in 2026. Therefore, while we expect to return to two Year 4 classes, Year 5 will remain a single class for next year.

If you are speaking with prospective parents, we encourage families to visit the College for a tour and experience firsthand what we offer. Should they wish to proceed, they can contact our Enrolments Coordinator, Kate Paterson, to register their child for a place at the College.

Peter Coombs

Principal

Helena College - Proudly supporting Bullying No Way: National Week of Action

This year Helena College will be participating in the Bullying No Way: National Week of Action, from 11 to 15 August 2025.

Bullying No Way Week is a commitment being made by thousands of schools and supporters across the country. It provides an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to bullying prevention. It gives us an opportunity to connect with students, staff and school communities to implement workable solutions to prevent bullying.

The theme for this year's campaign is Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up

It takes a community to be brave and address bullying behaviours, within and beyond the school gate.

Students can be bold, kind and speak up to support others being bullied. While trusted adults are there to support children and young people learn how to be kind to each other and report bullying.

This Bullying No Way Week, we’re asking you to be bold and say something, be kind and support someone and be proud to speak up against bullying.

As Friday, 15 August is our GFC Interhouse athletics carnival, the Senior Campus will hold our annual NWA Action against Bullying Assembly the following Friday, 22 August.

For more information about Bullying No Way Week and bullying prevention, visit the Bullying No Way website.

As we begin Semester Two, I would like to extend a warm welcome to each and every one of you. At their heart, schools are so much more than places of learning - they are dynamic environments where curiosity is sparked, creativity is nurtured, and friendships flourish. As we embark on this next chapter together, we are reminded of the joy and strength that comes from a community united in its support of young minds.

Term Three is often considered one of the most productive times in the school year. With routines firmly in place, classrooms are alive with the energy of eager learners, teachers are guiding with passion and purpose, and parents are closely engaged in their children’s development. Our term ahead is rich with opportunities that stretch beyond the classroom - from excursions to local museums and historical sites, to camp experiences, sports carnivals, assemblies (our Year 3 students and Choir singers were fantastic this week), competitions and showcases. These activities not only enrich students’ understanding by connecting learning with the real world, but also create treasured memories that celebrate the wonder of junior school life.

Each term, we are fortunate to welcome new families to the Darlington Campus and I have already begun conducting enrolment interviews for 2026 - which will continue throughout the semester. If you happen to meet any of our new families, I encourage you to offer them a warm welcome and help them feel a sense of belonging in our vibrant community.

Finally, thank you to all parents and carers for the vital role you play in shaping and supporting our school. Your partnership and involvement make a meaningful difference, and together we can continue to meet challenges with resilience, and celebrate successes with pride. I hope you find time to enjoy the special moments of learning, growth and friendship that this semester brings.

Wishing you a restful weekend as we embrace the final month of winter.

Kind regards

Greg Miller | Head of Junior School

Congratulations go to Joshua (Year 4) who has been chosen as the Aussie of the Month for August 2025.

The award recognises personal endeavour, achievement and contribution to the community. The award also reflects some of the values we share as Australians: a sense of fair play; generosity of spirit; commitment to community participation; and a real concern for the environment.

Our Pre-primary students had a wonderful time celebrating their 100th day of school! The children made crowns decorated with 100 dots to represent each day we've spent learning together. In small groups, they worked collaboratively to build towers using 100 cups, an exciting opportunity to problem-solve as a team.

Miss Ve added to the fun by introducing 100 quick and engaging tasks to complete in just half an hour, which the children absolutely loved. We also finished our final bundle dance and practiced counting our bundles of ten, counting 100 straws

We enjoyed a lovely party lunch. It was a fun celebration!

Kellie Sorensen | Pre-primary Teacher

We are looking forward to another busy term in the Junior School Library.

This term the Year Five students will be working on their ‘Book in a Box’ projects where they decorate a box to represent a book of their choice and fill it with objects that represent different parts of the book. I know all the students at Helena College will enjoy viewing the finished products.

Thank you to all the students who participated in the Premier’s Reading Challenge which finished last month. We hope to have even more students participate in 2026 with even more books being read and enjoyed.

In Week Five we will be joining schools and libraries across Australia to celebrate books, and Australian children’s authors and illustrators during Book Week. At the Helena College Darlington Campus we enjoy dressing up as one of our favourite book characters and participating in a Book Week Parade. Our dress up day and Book Week Parade at the Darlington Campus will be held on Friday 22 August. This year the theme is ‘Book an Adventure’ (costumes don’t have to match this theme) and all the nominated books can be viewed at the Children Book Council of Australia's website.

With the wet weather please help your child be extra careful with their library bag so the library books inside don’t get wet. Unfortunately, wet and damp books tear, wrinkle and grow mould.

We look forward to another term of reading, dressing up... and then back to more reading (maybe while dressed up!)

After the wonderful success of previous years, we are have been overwhelmed by the support for the upcoming Helena's Got Talent Show.  Applications have now closed, and auditions will be get underway soon.  This exciting celebration of the Performing Arts showcases the wonderfully talented students we have here at the College, and it is wonderful to see the wide variety of talents and skills hidden amongst our students.

Students from Years 1-5 were invited to enter a performance - either solo or in a small group with classmates from the same year level. One to two finalists from each class audition will be selected to perform in the Helena’s Got Talent Showcase on Tuesday 23 September (Week 10).

We look forward to sharing updates as the auditions get underway. 

Kind regards

Alysha Emanuele | Performing Arts Teacher

Project Supervisors

Students should be organising to meet with their supervisor at least once a month so as to receive support and guidance during their project. Students should have completed meeting 2 with their supervisor by the end of week 1 this term with clear directions of anything that needs to be completed to keep their project running smoothly.

Process Journals

Looking through process journals during Connections classes shows some impressive entries in the journals. There are many prompts throughout the student booklet to assist students with ideas for these important reflections. Students will using the evidence they create in their process journal during the marking interview.

Helena College Student Learning Goals

The five Helena College Student Learning Goals appear in the student booklet and form the basis of the assessment of the project. The rubric can be found on pages 5 and 6 in the student booklet. Students should make sure that they are making connections between their project and the relevant goals and writing short reflections in their process journal. These short reflections then form evidence for their upcoming interview.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any further queries regarding the project.

Rebecca Murray | Project Coordinator

Helena College Ski Trip 2025 | Melbourne & Mount Hotham Adventure

In the first week of the school holidays, a group of enthusiastic Helena College students and staff set off on an unforgettable journey to Melbourne and Mount Hotham.

Our adventure began in vibrant Melbourne, where we immersed ourselves in the city’s rich art and culture. Highlights included exploring the National Gallery of Victoria, and the Museum of Film and Television, which proved to be a favourite among the group. We wandered through the famous graffiti alleys, marvelling at the ever-changing street art, and enjoyed some retail therapy at the DFO. Evenings were spent sampling a variety of cuisines, with memorable dinners in Chinatown and Lygon Street. We also visited the bustling Queen Victoria Markets and experienced the thrill of a night AFL game under the lights at the iconic MCG.

From there, we travelled to the snow-covered slopes of Mount Hotham, where an abundance of fresh “pow pow” awaited us. For five exhilarating days, students hit the slopes, improving their skills and making the most of the perfect snow conditions. Our nights were filled with fun and laughter, including snowball fights, the highly competitive Snow Person Challenge, a quiz night, bingo, games night, and even night skiing under the stars.

The students behaviour was exemplary throughout the trip – a true credit to their parents. A huge thank you goes to the dedicated staff who generously gave up time with their families during the holidays to make this trip possible: Mr Zarb, Ms Settelmaier, Miss Lewis, and Mr Hillman, thank you for making my job very easy.

It was a week filled with culture, adventure, and unforgettable memories – one we will be talking about for years to come!

Tracey Wood | Ski Trip Coordinator

Homeroom 11K recently enjoyed their traditional pancake morning breakfast, expertly run by Mr Sam Davy. Mr Davy handed over the tongs to the students once he felt they could handle the prestigious job.

Big thanks to Shafie for bringing down the BBQ so quickly for us.

Ms Thea O’Keeffe & Mr Sam Davy

Outdoor Education has started Term Three with a bang! Year 10 students have already had a few days down at the climbing gym before beginning to take on the Abseils at Mountain Quarry. Year 9 students have begun preparing for their three-day, two-night hiking and mountain biking expedition early next term while the Year 11 Outdoor Education class has continued to prepare for the week long expedition through the Kalbarri Gorge in Week Seven.

The big event for this early part of the term has to be the final expedition the Year 12 Outdoor Education class just undertook together. A five-day, four-night canoeing, caving and camping expedition in the Margaret River region. The first two and a half days were spent paddling along the Blackwood River followed by caving through Giants, Golgotha, Brides and Calgardup caves. The students had a great final expedition together.

Well done to everyone involved!

Joel Cullen | Outdoor Education Teacher

CBCA Book Week – Book an Adventure

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Children’s Book Week. Each year since 1945 the Children’s Book Council of Australia has brought children and books together through CBCA Book Week. During this time schools and public libraries spend one glorious week celebrating books and Australian children's authors and illustrators. Classroom teachers, teacher librarians and public librarians create colourful displays, develop activities, run competitions and tell stories relating to a theme to highlight the importance of reading.

This year on the Glen Forrest Campus a range of activities have been organised to celebrate children’s literature. Students will be able to enter a range of competitions centred around literature including guessing the teacher holding their favourite book, guessing the famous quote, word search, book related quizzes and an homeroom quiz. The Year 6 students will have their costume parade on Friday 22 August, with more information to follow from Mrs Lee.

The Book of the Year Awards is a key part of Book Week. The awards were established in 1946 and aim to:

• promote quality literature for young Australians;
• support and encourage a wide range of Australian writers and illustrators of children’s books and;
• celebrate contributions to Australian children’s literature.

The library staff look forward to celebrating their love of literature during this national week of celebration.

As always, keep reading!

Rebecca Murray | Teacher Librarian

STUDY SKILLS HANDBOOK | Handling Digital Overload

How to Stay Focused in a World Full of Distractions

Screens are everywhere—smartphones, laptops, tablets—and while they’re essential for learning, they can easily become a source of distraction. Between endless notifications, social media feeds, and gaming apps, it’s easy to lose focus and waste hours. Managing digital overload is key to staying productive and maintaining balance. Here’s how you can regain control of your screen time and use technology as a tool for success.

1. Set Digital Boundaries

To stay focused, establish clear boundaries for when and how you use your devices. For example:

• Turn Off Notifications: Silence alerts during study time to avoid interruptions.
• Create a Study-Only Space: Designate certain areas, like your desk, as screen-free zones for non-study activities.
• Set Screen Time Limits: Many smartphones have features that let you track and limit time spent on specific apps.

Tip: Use apps like Focus Keeper or Forest, which gamify productivity by encouraging you to stay off your phone.

2. Schedule Regular Screen Breaks

Staring at screens for long periods isn’t just distracting - it’s also tiring for your eyes and mind. Breaks help you refresh and refocus. A great method is the 20-20-20 rule:

• Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
• In addition, try incorporating non-screen activities into your routine. Read a physical book, go for a walk, or practice a hobby to give your brain a break from digital input.

Tip: Use break time to stretch, hydrate, or grab a healthy snack—these habits boost both focus and well-being.

3. Use Technology to Your Advantage

While screens can be distracting, they’re also powerful tools when used wisely. Leverage apps and digital tools that help you stay organized and productive:

• Google Keep or Notion: For organizing tasks and notes.
• Quizlet: For studying with digital flashcards.
• StayFocusd or Freedom: To block distracting websites during study sessions.

Tip: When using your laptop, keep only one tab open at a time to maintain focus. Avoid the temptation of multi-tasking with multiple tabs.

4. Unplug Before Bedtime

Excessive screen time, especially at night, can interfere with your sleep cycle. The blue light emitted by devices reduces melatonin production, making it harder to fall asleep. To combat this:

• Turn Off Devices an Hour Before Bed: Swap screens for relaxing activities like reading or journaling.
• Use Night Mode: If you must use a device, enable night mode to reduce blue light exposure.

Tip: Create a bedtime ritual that signals your body it’s time to wind down, such as a short meditation or light stretching.

Balance Is Key

Digital devices are an essential part of life, but they shouldn’t dominate your time or attention. By setting boundaries, taking regular breaks, and using technology intentionally, you can stay focused and productive while maintaining balance. Remember, you control your screens—they don’t control you. Start making these changes today, and enjoy the benefits of a healthier relationship with technology.

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

Our school’s access details are:

Username:
 forhelenaonly

Password: 71results

Preparations for Senior School Musical of Wolfstock are running along at a cracking pace - this is down to the wonderful support of all staff and students involved!

We have a huge team of student choreographers this year as well as seasoned and new performers. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of our volunteer-parent vocal coach Ms Belynda Alves, who assists us every musical. Our parent Stage Manager Ms Vanessa Vance has finally hung up her backstage mic after six years, and passed the baton onto Mrs Kristina Ussi. Thank you!  We are looking forward to seeing everyone in Week Six.

I would also like to thank parents who have been so supportive in arranging their child’s costume – the students looked terrific at rehearsal!

Thea O'Keeffe | Head of Arts

Have you booked your tickets yet?

Due to overwhelming demand, only a limited number of tickets remain for the Matinee performance, Saturday 30 August. Don’t miss your chance to experience this high-energy show—secure your spot before it’s too late!  BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE

Second-hand Uniform Shop Opening Hours

JUNIOR SCHOOL | SAFETY REMINDER

Exiting or Entering a Vehicle

Students are asked to only exit from / get into vehicles in the designated drop-off / pick-up zones - and where possible, via the rear passenger door behind the driver. Where no option is available for students to exit / enter via the rear passenger door behind the driver, students are to always remain in view of the driver - proceeding briefly in front of the vehicle.

By way of reminder, children aged under 7 years must not be in the front row of seats if the vehicle has two or more rows of seats; furthermore, children aged between 4 and 7 years can travel in the front seat only if all other rear seats are filled with passengers aged under 7.

In most circumstances, parents are asked to remain in their vehicles at all times in the drop-off / pick-up zones. Parents who have to exit vehicles to strap their children in are requested to park in a marked bay rather than use the drop-off / pick-up loops.Wherever possible, please keep school bags, musical instruments, news items etc. inside the car for easy access.

Established in 2012, the Helena Basketball Club is a parent-volunteer-run club that enables Helena College students, graduates, and friends to play basketball with the Hills Raiders Basketball Association in Mundaring.

Pre-registrations for the upcoming summer season (Term Four, 2025 to Term One 2026) will open in the coming weeks. To register your interest as a new player, please visit our website and subscribe to our mailing list. Existing members will automatically be notified.

Do you have questions?  Contact us at: basketballhelena@gmail.com

Disclaimer: Inclusion in the Helena College Noticeboard is at the College's discretion and does not imply endorsement. Information for listings is supplied by third-party participants and organisations, with sole responsibility for the accuracy and further use.

The following are this edition's submissions:

Other items (click link to download PDF for further information

• All Abilities Indoor Hockey
• Hills Indoor Night Hockey
• Hills Rangers Year 6 Open Day
• Master Class
• Swan Tee Ball
• Tuition Classes
• Winter Concert - Fundraiser