Cunderdin District High School

Term 1 2026 Newsletter

"STRIVE TO BE YOUR BEST'

From the Admin Team - Mr Arnott, Mrs Dowd and Mr Jasper

As we close out what has been an incredibly full and successful term, it’s a great opportunity to reflect on the many highlights across our school and community.

Firstly, at the start of this term we warmly welcome Nat Dowd to Cunderdin DHS in the role of Associate Principal - Primary. Nat joins us at an exciting time, and we look forward to the experience, energy and perspective she brings to the role. Please continue to make her feel welcome as she settles into our school community.

At the same time, we farewell someone who has been synonymous with Cunderdin DHS for over two decades. Pauline Smart retires after 25 years of dedicated service, including 24 years as our Manager of Corporate Services. Pauline’s connection to the school stretches back even further as a parent and active P&C member. Her knowledge, care, and unwavering commitment have made a lasting impact on our school. Pauline has been a steady and trusted presence through years of change, and her contribution to both the school and wider community will not be forgotten. We wish her all the very best for a well-earned and fulfilling retirement.

This term has been a busy one for our students. Our swimming lessons program provided valuable opportunities for students to build water confidence and develop essential safety skills, an important part of life in Western Australia. It was fantastic to see the growth in both ability and confidence across all year levels.

Our Faction Swimming Carnival was a highlight, showcasing great participation, enthusiasm and house spirit. This was followed by the Interschool Swimming Carnival, where our students represented the school with pride, demonstrating not only skill but excellent sportsmanship.

Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 also completed NAPLAN testing this term. We commend our students for their focus and effort throughout the assessment period, and thank staff for ensuring a smooth and supportive process.

A significant milestone this term was our Public School Review. We are very pleased to share that the school met The Standard and received a recommendation for a three-year return. This is a strong endorsement of the work happening across our school and reflects the collective efforts of our staff, students and community. Thank you to our School Board, P&C and families who contributed to this process.

Looking ahead to Term 2, a reminder that students will return on the same day as staff, Monday 20 April. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for another productive term of teaching and learning.

Thank you to our entire school community for your ongoing support this term.

Kindy with Mrs Freind

Our Kindy students have had a wonderful start to their school journey. It has been fantastic to see how quickly they have settled into the classroom and begun learning daily routines. Students are becoming increasingly confident as they learn where things belong, how the classroom operates, and what to expect throughout the day. 

A key focus this term has been the development of social and emotional skills. Students are learning to share, take turns, listen to one another and work collaboratively. It has been lovely to see new friendships forming as students play, learn and explore together. They are also doing a great job learning the names of their teachers and classmates. 

We were very excited to begin visiting the library. Each student is able to borrow two books to take home and share with their families. This supports the development of early literacy skills and helps foster a love of reading at home. 

This term, we also welcomed Nurse Donna and medical students from Notre Dame University. They spoke with students about health and wellbeing, and students enjoyed learning about how to care for their bodies. Our teddies were invited to a ‘Teddy Bear Hospital’, where they received excellent care. Following this, our home corner was transformed into a hospital, with students enthusiastically caring for their dolls and engaging in imaginative play. 

In the classroom, students have been developing a range of foundational skills. We have been practising counting to 10 and recognising numbers through a variety of engaging activities. Students are also beginning to learn the initial sounds in words, supporting early reading and writing development. In addition, we have been enjoying a range of nursery rhymes, which help build language, rhythm and listening skills. 

It has been a wonderful start to the year, and we are very proud of how well students are settling into Kindy. We look forward to continuing our learning journey together throughout the year. 

Kindy class activities

Pre-primary and Year 1 Class with Miss Reynders

Room 1/2 has had a very busy and productive start to the year. Throughout Term 1, students have worked hard to develop their learning across all areas while consistently demonstrating our class expectations and the school’s values. 

Our Class Focus 

This term, our focus has been on being our best and showing respect. As a class, we collaboratively developed class rules to guide our behaviour each day. These include keeping our hands and feet to ourselves, listening respectfully when others are speaking, and using kind and considerate language. 

Students have also participated in explicit PBS lessons and class discussions, exploring practical ways to demonstrate the school’s values both in the classroom and across the school. 

Writing

In Writing, students have been focusing on constructing complete sentences that include both a noun and a verb. Throughout these lessons, students have been introduced to higher-level vocabulary such as brainy, clever, intelligent, and educated. Students have enjoyed applying these words to enhance their sentence construction. 

Reading 

In Reading, students have engaged with a variety of texts while developing their comprehension skills. There has been a strong focus on questioning and predicting to support deeper understanding. 

One of the texts explored this term was Stay for Dinner by Sandhya Parappukkaran and Michelle Pereira. Students identified key story elements, including characters, setting, problem and resolution, and discussed these as a class. 

Mathematics

In Mathematics, students have revised numbers from 0–20 and practised sorting collections. They have also been developing their understanding of addition and subtraction using number bonds and number lines. 

Additional concepts explored this term include days of the week, months of the year, tallies, patterns and shapes. These skills have been reinforced through engaging rotations, maths games and hands-on activities. 

Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)

In HASS, students have been exploring History, with a focus on families and celebrations. Students have discussed how families can differ, the variety of ways families celebrate, and the difference between celebrations and commemorations. 

Art 

In Art, students have explored key elements including colour, line, shape and texture. They have investigated primary and secondary colours, as well as warm and cool colour palettes. Students have also experimented with both natural and man-made materials to create a variety of artworks. 

Digital Technologies 

In Digital Technologies, students have been learning about computers and the different types used in everyday life. They have explored the key components of a computer, including the mouse, keyboard and printer, and revised the concepts of hardware, software and data. 

Health

In Health, students have been developing an understanding of growth mindset and how to approach challenges with a positive attitude. We have also focused on important safety concepts, including water safety, identifying safe people and places, medicine safety and road safety. Through discussions and practical activities, students are building the skills needed to make safe and responsible choices. 

Pre-Primary & Year 1 Class Activities

Year 1/2 Classroom happenings with Mrs Chant

The year has begun positively in Year 1/2, with students working hard to re-establish routines and settle into classroom expectations. It has been pleasing to see students demonstrating a strong commitment to their learning. 

Earlier this term, students participated in swimming lessons during Weeks 2 and 3. Despite some very cold mornings, students showed resilience and enthusiasm in the pool. In Week 4, we held our swimming carnival, where students enjoyed participating in activities in the small pool and cheering on their faction as the older students competed in races. 

Mathematics

In Mathematics, we have focused on number and place value. Students have been working with ones, tens and hundreds to build their understanding of number. Year 2 students have explored data collection and representation through graphs and tables, while Year 1 students have been learning about shapes and patterns. 

We have also introduced the Ninja Maths program to develop fluency with addition and subtraction facts. Students have shown strong progress and are motivated to improve their levels, with many continuing their practice at home. 

Literacy 

Our Literacy lessons have focused on grammar and sentence structure, with students working to construct clear and meaningful sentences. We are building confidence in writing by encouraging students to create sentences that are both accurate and engaging. 

Students have also been participating in the Sounds-Write program, learning alternative ways to represent sounds in words. This has been a challenging but rewarding process as students develop their phonics knowledge. 

Home reading continues to be an important part of our program, with reading books sent home regularly to support practice and fluency. Books are changed on Tuesdays and Fridays. 

Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)

In HASS, students have been exploring the concept of past and present. Through discussions and activities, students have compared how toys, technology and daily life have changed over time, while recognising that some familiar items have existed for many years. 

Science

In Science, we have been investigating how things move, with a focus on the forces of push and pull. Students have made predictions about how different objects move and tested these through hands-on investigations using classroom, playground and sporting equipment. 

To conclude the unit, students have been designing and creating their own toys or games that demonstrate push and pull forces, applying their learning in a practical and engaging way. 

Art 

In Art, students have explored the work of Eric Carle. Through studying his illustrations, students have identified key artistic techniques and experimented with a range of methods including colour washing, splattering, brush strokes, scratching, printing and collaging. 

Students have created a “paper bank” of textures and colours, which will be used to design their own Eric Carle-inspired artwork. 

Digital Technologies 

In Digital Technologies, students have been developing their typing accuracy using an online program. They have also explored the difference between hardware and software, while building skills in digital photography and presentation creation. 

Students will continue developing their ability to source and use images to represent their interests and ideas in digital formats. 

Class activities with Mrs Chant

Year 3/4 Classroom with Miss Harper

The year has begun with a busy and positive start in Year 3/4. Students have settled well into classroom routines and are consistently striving to be their personal best. It has been particularly pleasing to see students demonstrating kindness, respect and teamwork, contributing to a supportive and inclusive classroom environment. 

Earlier this term, students participated in swimming lessons. It was fantastic to see all students engaging positively and giving their best effort, with many building confidence in and around the water. 

Literacy

In Literacy this term, we have been focusing on sentence structure and developing clear, purposeful writing. Students have been learning to construct compound sentences and expand their ideas through the use of descriptive language, including adjectives, to engage the reader. 

As a class, we have begun reading the novel Matilda, which has been highly engaging for students. The text has supported rich discussions, predictions and deeper thinking as we explore characters, themes and events within the story. 

Mathematics

In Mathematics, our focus has been on addition and subtraction, alongside strengthening students’ recall of basic number facts through the Ninja Maths program. Students have been applying a range of strategies to solve problems efficiently, building both confidence and accuracy in their mathematical thinking. 

Art

During Art lessons, students have been exploring a range of painting and drawing techniques, with a focus on how artists use colour and line to create different effects. Students have enjoyed experimenting with these elements while expressing their creativity through individual artworks. 

Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)

In HASS, students have been learning about Australian history, developing their understanding of the cultures and stories of Australia’s First Peoples. We have also explored the history of our local community, helping students build a stronger connection to Cunderdin and their sense of place. 

Auslan

This term, students have been introduced to Auslan. They have enjoyed learning to fingerspell their names using the Auslan alphabet, as well as learning signs for numbers, colours, animals and food. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm as they develop skills in communicating in a new and inclusive way. 

It has been a wonderful and productive start to the year, and I look forward to continuing our learning journey together next term. Wishing all families a safe and happy Easter break.

Year 5/6 Classroom with Mr Hill

Time has certainly flown this term, and it is hard to believe how quickly Term 1 has come to a close. The Year 5/6 students have worked hard throughout the term and have settled well into the expectations of the upper primary environment. 

Students are to be commended for the way they have managed a busy and demanding term, which has included swimming lessons in Weeks 2 and 3, carnivals, NAPLAN, and the everyday challenges of classroom learning. Their resilience and commitment have been pleasing to see. 

Literacy

In Literacy, students have been reading Black Cockatoo by Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler. The novel explores themes of culture, family and personal growth, and has prompted thoughtful discussions and reflections. 

In Writing, students have been developing their skills in both narrative and persuasive texts, supporting their preparation for NAPLAN. Creative writing tasks have focused on developing fictional characters, including detailed descriptions and backstories, with students demonstrating creativity and originality. 

Students have also engaged in persuasive writing, respectfully debating a range of topics, including class pets, camp activities, and whether students should be paid to attend school. These tasks have supported students to develop their ability to express and justify their opinions clearly. 

Mathematics

In Mathematics, students have been exploring a range of strategies in multiplication and division, building confidence with increasingly complex concepts. Students have also applied their learning to topics such as perimeter and equivalent fractions, both within and beyond the classroom context. 

It has been pleasing to see students demonstrate persistence when working through challenging concepts and developing their problem-solving skills. 

Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) 

In HASS, Year 5 students have been learning about colonial Australia, including settlement, reasons for colonisation and its impacts, as well as significant events such as the gold rushes and the Eureka Stockade. 

Year 6 students have been exploring Australian Federation, developing an understanding of its significance, key contributors and the broader historical context, including more complex aspects requiring reflection and discussion. 

Art 

In Art, students have been exploring perspective, focusing on how space can be used to create depth in their artwork. Students have selected landscape settings and applied these techniques to produce detailed and creative pieces. 

As we look ahead to a well-earned break, students continue to demonstrate our Great Expectations each day. We look forward to building on this strong start as we move into Term 2. 

Secondary English and Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)

So far this term the 7/8 English class have been focusing on revising language conventions and have been completing a unit of work on persuasive speeches from Victorian England. The Year 9/10 English class have explored the importance of language choices and how to identify and avoid hate speech.  There has been in-school and standardised testing in Reading, Writing and Language Conventions to assist in identifying what areas need to be focused on during our EDI lessons.

Over the term, our Year 7–10 students have been working through a range of Civics and Citizenship concepts that build their understanding of Australia’s political and legal systems. Our Year 7s have been exploring features of the Australian Constitution, principles of justice, and the diverse nature of Australian society, while Year 8 students have been examining how Australia’s democracy operates, how laws are made, and how national identity develops. Moving into Year 9, students have been beginning to evaluate aspects of Australia’s political system, the justice system, and the influences on people’s political choices. Across all year levels, students have been steadily developing their inquiry skills—asking questions, analysing information, and considering different perspectives as part of their learning

The Year 10's all have the opportunity to undertake Workplace Learning this year, which is a course that counts towards their WACE attainment in Year 12. We are very grateful to the following businesses for supporting this program and having our students work with them on Thursdays:  Shire of Cunderdin,  Mortlock Timber, Manta Performance and Water Corporation. The Year 9's will be undertaking Work Experience in second semester.

A reminder that the assessment outlines for courses are on Connect and when work is marked the results can be found there. If anyone has any concerns regarding their child's course or progress in English are HaSS, please contact me via email.

Science and Mathematics with Mrs Tozer

Year 7/8 Science
The year 7/8 class has been learning and practising their practical skills, so we can conduct experiments safely in Science. The year 7 students all received their Bunsen burner licences. We have been learning how to make and test different gases in the laboratory and designing and conducting our own experiment.

Year 9/10 Science
In 9/10 Science we have been learning about the nervous and endocrine systems and how they control and coordinate everything that is happening in our bodies. We conducted experiments to test our reflexes and balance to demonstrate how the nervous system operates. At assembly in week 5 the year 9/10 class conducted their own science experiments for the audience.



Year 7/8 Maths
The year 7/8 class has been learning about fractions and probability. For their investigation year 7 got to play a dice game to collect data and year 8 learnt all about the probability of playing snakes and ladders to win.

Year 9/10 Maths
In year 9/10 Maths we have been probability in relation to games involving dice and marbles and chutes. We then moved onto solving problems using Pythagoras’ theorem and Trigonometry.

Year 5/6 Science
In year 5/6 Science we have been looking at adaptations of plants and animals in the desert environment and designing our own animal that can live in a hot/dry or cold/dry environment.

Year 3/4 Science
The 3/4 class has been looking at living things. We have been learning all about plants and animals and what they need to survive and how they interact in the environment and doing a project on our special living thing.

Faction Swimming Carnival

On Friday 27 February the Cunderdin DHS and Meckering PS Swimming carnival was held at the Cunderdin Pool. The hot weather ensured that students were enthusiastically participating in events throughout the day, with the highlight for many students being the fun novelty relays and bombie comp. Competition was fierce, and multiple records were broken with the competition coming down to the last events of the day to decide the winner.

Congratulations to the Red Barons for being the overall shield winners as well as the Be Your Best shield winner.

 Congratulations to all students for your enthusiasm, participation and sportsmanship. Congratulations also to the age champions for each year group:

Year 3.4 Champions: Oliver and Imogen 

Year 3.4 Runners Up: Ayden and Savannah H

Year 5.6 Champions: Aiden and Emily

Year 5.6 Runners Up: Myles and Edee

Year 7.8 Champions: Leon and Lily

Year 7.8 Runners Up: Hudson and Sophia

Year 9.10 Champions: Marshall and Georgia

Year 9.10 Runners Up: Bentlee and Tealah

Faction Swimming Carnival

Physical Education

Despite the warmer weather all students have been eagerly participating in their Physical Education lessons in Term 1! One highlight of the term is the Year 9/10 students participated in a coaching session with the students from room 1/2. As part of the Certificate in Sport and recreation, students ran stations and small games for the Year ½ students. Below are some photos of this activity!

 

Secondary Health Education

Secondary students have been lucky to experience a variety of incursions to support their Health program in Term 1. At the start of the term we had the Road Safety Education team deliver an interactive workshop, and in week 4 we had Olympian Conor Nicholas visit to discuss his olympic journey, goal setting and resilience.

Cunderdin District High School