Cunderdin District High School

Term 3 2025 Newsletter

"STRIVE TO BE YOUR BEST'

From the Admin Team - Mr Arnott, Miss Hoskins and Mr Jasper

Term 3 is always a busy term, but like always, we somehow managed to do even more.

We had the Deadly Coders incursion for Years 3-10, the Yalagan Industry Training Incursion for Year 9/10, Parent/Teacher meetings, and Aurizon met with our primary students about Railway safety, all in Week 1. Our students loved the Book Week Parade, almost as much as they loved the Book Fair with over $2000 in sales. The Science Fair and Science Week, the Year 3/4 excursion to Scitech, the Interschool Cross Country, the Faction Athletics Carnival, a visit from the Constitutional Centre of WA, Father’s Day activities, Kindy Athletics, the Year 7/8 Excursion to AQWA, the Year 5/6 and 7/8 excursion to the WACOA-Cunderdin Open Day, and the Year 5/6 Assembly all made for a busy middle of the term. To finish the term we had Weld Australia visit our Year 9/10s, R U OK? Day, Free Dress Day for Telethon, the K-1 tour of Cunderdin, the Interschool Athletics Carnival in Kellerberrin, and the Kindy assembly!

Within all of this, our staff have been harnessing their skills with an array of training sessions and delivering the best learning experiences for our students.

STAFFING

As outlined in a letter previously, we have a number of changes to our staffing occurring in Term 4. These changes have been considered and meticulously planned with lengthy handovers, in order to ensure the least disruption to student learning.

For a full list of the changes, please refer to the letter sent out on Audiri 11 September 2025.

2026 PREPARATIONS

As a school we are busily preparing for the 2026 school year, however, we need your help to ensure our student numbers are accurate. Can you please notify Mr Jasper by phoning 9635 3300 or email paul.jasper@education.wa.edu.au if your child/ren will not be attending CDHS in 2026. This enables the school to be well prepared for the students ready for day one.

STUDENT COUNCIL AND FACTION CAPTAINS

We continue to be extremely proud of our student leaders as they have continued to embrace their roles and contribute greatly towards the success of our school.

Next year, we are increasing our Student Council to include two Year 5 students. This will give our students an earlier opportunity to develop their leadership skills whilst increasing the representation of primary students to be a more equitable Student Council.

In Term 4, Year 4-9 students will have the opportunity to nominate for 2026 positions. We encourage all students to consider this opportunity and prepare their speeches for Week 9.

WHEATBELT BALL

The 2025 Wheatbelt Ball will take place on Friday, 5 December 2025, to be hosted by Dowerin DHS. Further details will be sent out early next term.

SECONDARY EXAMINATIONS

The Secondary students will be undertaking their Semester 2 Examinations in English, Humanities & Social Sciences, Mathematics and Science during Week 6 of Term 4 (17-21 November 2025).

All students will be issued with an Examination Timetable prior to Examination Week and will also take part in revision work in the classroom environment. In addition to this, students need to ensure they spend time revising the content they will be examined on through setting up a home revision program. All students have the opportunity to participate in the Secondary Homework Club which runs every Tuesday afternoon from Weeks 2-9 of each term.

OLNA

The Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment in Term 4 is for students in Year 9 and 10. Students that are required to complete the assessment will be advised prior to the testing window opening. The OLNA testing period commences Monday 27 October and closes Friday 7 November.

Kindergarten News with Mrs Freind.

What a fun-filled and action-packed Term 3 we have had in Kindy!

In the classroom, we have been buzzing with learning:

In Literacy, we have been tuning into sounds by identifying the initial and final sounds in words, and exploring syllables through clapping, stamping, and humming.

Our Talk for Writing focus was the much-loved tale of Mrs Wishy Washy – we acted it out, retold it, and even added our own creative twists!

In Maths, we have been diving into patterns, exploring length, and working with numbers – especially identifying the numbers that come before and after our “magic number”!

This term we held our Kindy Faction Athletics Carnival at school, and what an energetic day it was! The children had a blast running, jumping, and cheering each other on. A big thank you to all the wonderful parents who joined us for the three-legged race, flag race, and sack races – your enthusiasm and team spirit made the day extra special!

Our Father’s Day Afternoon Tea followed the carnival. The children were so proud to prepare a special treat for their dads, including fancy fairy bread and jelly. There were plenty of smiles and sticky fingers as we shared food, laughter, and lots of love. The kids also worked hard creating crafty gifts, making crowns, ties, and more to show their appreciation for their amazing dads and special people in their lives.

This term we also ventured out into our community on an exciting excursion to the Museum, Post Office, and Co-op. It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to explore and learn about the important roles different places play in our town. They asked fantastic questions and represented our Kindy beautifully – well done, everyone!

We are also getting ready for our Week 10 Assembly! The children are busy learning their lines, singing songs, and creating fabulous costumes.

Thank you for all your continued support this term. We are so proud of how much our little learners have grown, and we are looking forward to an exciting end to the term!

Pre-primary and Year 1 Class with Miss Reynders

Room 1/2 has had a wonderful term of learning, laughter, and growth. From tackling new challenges to celebrating achievements big and small, the students have shown curiosity, determination, and a real sense of pride in upholding both our classroom and school values. It has truly been a term to remember!

Our Class Focus:

This term, our class focus has been on being our best and developing a positive growth mindset when approaching learning challenges. Students have taken part in explicit PBS lessons, engaging class discussions, and fun PBS games that highlight ways to live out our school values each day. We have also been recognising and celebrating moments when students show resilience, kindness, and responsibility, encouraging everyone to support one another and keep striving to do their best.

Writing:

This term, our writing lessons have had a strong focus on storytelling and recounts. To build storytelling skills, we began with the Talk for Writing approach, using the text The Little Chicken. Students enthusiastically joined in with story actions, created story maps, and took part in shared writing. These activities have helped them see how a story is built and practise writing in clear, complete sentences.

More recently, our focus has shifted to recount writing. Using the text Our Trip to the Farm, students are learning how to organise events in order and use the correct past tense. They are developing confidence in recording their own experiences and understanding how to sequence their ideas logically.

Reading:

Our reading program this term has encouraged students to think deeply about the texts they encounter. We have been working on important comprehension strategies such as questioning and predicting, which help students develop a stronger understanding of what they read.

To make lessons more meaningful, we have recently linked our comprehension work to our Geography topic, The World Around Us. Using interactive PowerPoints, students have been able to practise their skills while also exploring new knowledge about the world. This connection has made our reading sessions both engaging and purposeful.

Mathematics:

This term, students have explored a wide range of mathematical skills. They have practised using ordinal number names and finding different combinations that make 10, as well as recognising and working with Australian coins. We have strengthened our addition and subtraction strategies, including the part–part–whole approach, and revised our understanding of place value. Students have also begun exploring equal groups, sharing, and simple fractions, building early foundations for multiplication and division. It has been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they apply these strategies to solve problems. Our learning has been supported through fun, interactive games during maths rotations and creative, maths-based crafts.

Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS):

This term in HASS, our focus has been on Geography. In the early weeks, students explored different types of places, their natural and built features, and ways we can care for and protect them. More recently, we have been learning about Our Local Community - examining the important places around us, the roles people play, and how we can show respect and responsibility in looking after our community. Through discussions, activities, and reflections, students are developing a deeper understanding of their place in the world and the positive impact they can have on their environment and community.

Music:

This term in Music, students have been exploring the key elements that bring music to life - beat, rhythm, tempo, pitch, and dynamics. They have enjoyed clapping and moving to different rhythms, experimenting with how tempo can change the mood of a piece, and using their voices and instruments to explore high and low pitches. Through singing, games, and listening activities, students are discovering how these elements work together to create music and express feelings. It has been wonderful to see their confidence and creativity grow during each lesson.

Design and Technology:

In Room 1/2, students have been exploring different materials and the properties of products. They have worked through the full design process - planning, designing, creating, and testing - to develop a solution for a sandpit that keeps losing its sand. Next, students will continue their designing journey by tackling a new challenge: creating a playground that provides shade, applying their knowledge and problem-solving skills to design practical, creative solutions.

Pre-primary and Year 1/2 classroom activities

Year 1/2 Classroom happenings with Mrs Chant

Term 3 has been another whirlwind of activity in the 1/2 class, with events including interschool cross country, athletics carnival and our Father’s Day workshop. Amongst all that, we have also been very busy learning.

Mathematics

In Maths, we continue to practise our skip counting as well as working on arrays and learning about different forms of measurement. We have been using non-standard units of measurement and have now moved onto using standard units of measurement.

Literacy

To start the term in Literacy, we read the book, “The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name.” We did a lot of learning about feelings and the importance of names; we had a lot of fun practising how to say Zimdalamashkermishkada. We also did a Talk 4 Writing Story called ‘The Three Wishes’, which we then innovated on to create our own wishing story. It was a lot of fun, and we made up some great stories. We have now moved on to reading “Migaloo the White Whale” and learning a bit about whales. Miss Hoskins has been taking our Talk 4 Writing lessons and we have been learning an informational text about Humpback Whales. We have learnt a lot and we love to share what we have learnt. To innovate the text, we substituted humpback whales for other sea creatures.

On Monday 1 September, we were very fortunate to be able to have a Bunnings representative come out to school and present a workshop that we were able to complete with our dads and other significant males for Father’s Day. There was a lot of hammering and glueing and dads and other significant males chatting and we had so much fun. After all the hammering had finished, we shared donuts and cake with our guests for afternoon tea.  We were then able to give our special creations as Father’s Day gifts. 

Year 4/5 Classroom with Miss Couper

We have had a jam-packed term full of exciting activities, including our Year 3/4 excursion to Scitech in Perth. The day was filled with engaging hands-on activities about space, and students were thrilled to explore the planets through the Planetarium. Whether enjoying the exhibits at Scitech, the beautiful park in Mundaring, or even just the ride on our new bus, it was a fantastic day. I am incredibly proud of how all the students represented Cunderdin District High School with such enthusiasm and pride!

Literacy

This term, our class has been exploring informative writing, taking inspiration from the exciting text Fire-Winged Glider. Students have designed their own reports about imaginative “rare animals,” learning to use structure, description, and technical vocabulary effectively. To enrich their writing, we connected our learning to HASS by investigating habitats and climates around the world. This helped students consider where their animals might live, how they could adapt to different weather conditions, and the role their environment plays in survival. Combining literacy and Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)  has allowed students to be both creative and factual, and they have produced some fantastic, detailed reports that showcase their hard work. After completing their informative texts, students brought their rare animals to life by designing their own illustrations. Using these, I created more “life-like” images with AI, giving students a chance to see their ideas transformed into realistic pictures. This was also a wonderful opportunity to discuss how AI can be used in positive and creative ways.

In Reading, we have been exploring the novel Kensuke’s Kingdom, which has captivated the whole class and sparked a real enthusiasm for reading. Throughout the story, students have practised a range of comprehension skills, such as making predictions, drawing inferences, and discussing key themes, which has deepened their understanding and enjoyment of the text.

Mathematics

This term, Mathematics has been all about exploring numbers and solving real-world problems! We’ve been learning how to work with factors and use them to solve more complex number sentences. Students have also been building their confidence with fractions, learning to recognise, compare, and apply them in different contexts.

In Measurement and Geometry, we explored area and perimeter in greater detail, investigated different types of angles, and examined the properties of shapes. Students enjoyed discovering how these concepts connect to the world around us, such as designing spaces or identifying shapes in everyday life. It’s been a hands-on, minds-on term full of mathematical thinking and problem-solving!

We have seen fantastic improvements in students’ fluency with number facts through their daily Ninja Maths practice. The students are to be commended for their commitment to challenging themselves each day and taking the time to practise and master their skills!

Music

In Music this term, we have been focusing on beat and tempo, exploring these concepts through body percussion to develop rhythm and coordination. Students have also loved using Boomwhackers to play tunes and accompany their favourite songs, helping them apply their understanding of rhythm in a fun and creative way.

Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)

This term in HASS, we’ve been exploring climate and weather in both Australia and Africa. Students have thoroughly enjoyed comparing the different climate zones and discovering how these affect life in each country. We’ve also connected this learning to our Talk 4 Writing, giving students the chance to use their knowledge creatively in their own informative texts.

Indonesian

We have been learning about the different school stationary, as well, as different zoo animals! 

Year 3/4 classroom activities

The Cheagle the students drew
Lifelike Cheagle created using AI
The Water Bear the students drew
Lifelike Water Bear using AI
The CatBat the students drew
Lifelike CatBat using AI
Scitech excursion
Scitech excursion

Year 5/6 Classroom with Mr Hill

Spring is here! That means we are almost at the end of term 3! The year is flying by, and the 5/6 class have been hard at work. For some, the primary school journey is rapidly reaching its conclusion. The Year 5/6 class are to be commended on their efforts in such a busy term.

Literacy

In Literacy we have been working on Informational reports during Talk4Writing sessions. We have been analysing model texts, outlining structures, key details and strong vocabulary choices to sound like exerts and create interesting reports on animals linked to our Geography learning. Students have been fascinated by the in depth look at behaviours, habitats diets and potential threats to a wide variety of animals.

In Reading we have begun our novel study for this semester, “Can you see me” by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott. A story centred around a young girl Tally who is about to start high school and her unique experiences with Autism. Already this novel has generated fantastic discussions from the students and demonstrated high levels of empathy and understanding.

Mathematics

In mathematics we have been learning about fractions including equivalence, ordering fractions based on size and using fractions to add and subtract. We have analyses data and statistics using different graphs including column and line graphs. In addition, we have identified misleading data and identified how to improve data sets to become more reliable. Future architects in 5/6 have been learning to calculate area and perimeter of common and composite shapes and identifying real life applications such as construction of houses and farming.

Arts

For the Arts this semester, we have moved into the world of performing arts of Drama. We have had a lot of fun developing characters using drama skills of voice, movement and costume to create scenes. In addition, we have covered using scripts and stage directions. This culminated in our assembly production of “Hillville”. A tale of Wizards, Superheroes and Dark Elves and a battle for control. Students have worked hard to create this drama production and delivered a wonderful performance for assembly. You should be proud of your efforts.

Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)

From Australia, we have “travelled” to the shores of North America and South America, as well as Asia in Geography. Students have explored landmarks, natural features of flora and fauna, made structures and climate of countries within these continents. Students have investigated social, demographic and economic characteristics of different countries and assessed liveability comparing to Australia. A component of Geography is environmental impacts, and students have discussed and identified these for hypothetical land developments, outlining positives and negatives for the environment and local communities.

In week 7, Students attended the Western Australian College of Agriculture Cunderdin Open day. We were provided with a full tour of the College facilities and were fascinated by the Trades, Piggery, Shearing and Cattle departments and what daily life at the college could be like in the future for the 5/6s. We would like to thank the WACOA Cunderdin for the day.

Have a wonderful and relaxing Holiday.

Secondary English and Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)

So far this term the high school students have been studying Geography in Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS). The Year 9/10's have been sharpening their map reading skills and used contour lines to create models of landforms. The Year 7/8's have done a mock Rally Around Australia, have been made models of different types of landforms and explored the idea of water scarcity.

 In English the high school has been looking at print media. The Year 7/8's have produced News Articles, whereas the Year 9/10 expanded into Feature Articles. They used the film "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" as their inspiration and drew connections with their topics for HASS. Moving onto units of work on poetry, all students have had the opportunity to express their creativity with Blackout Poetry.

The Year 7/8 class went on an excursion to AQWA on 3 September where they went on a glass boat bottom and ventured on top of the aquarium. They enjoyed learning about marine life, making memories with the friends and highly recommend the glass bottom boat to anyone considering visiting AQWA.  We want to thank Andrew Moore for driving the bus and joining in the activities with such positivity and enthusiasm.

Year 7/8 AQUA Excursion

Science and Mathematics with Mrs Tozer

Year 9/10 Science held a Science Fair at school during National Science Week in August to showcase their science investigations which they had been working on during terms 2 and 3. Every class in the school visited the Science Fair and voted on their favourite experiment. ‘Elephant Toothpaste’ was the most popular, with ‘Steam Engines’ and ‘Smores’ being second and third, respectively. All students did a great job designing and carrying out their own investigations and they enjoyed displaying them for all the students. We then finished the term learning about the periodic table and atoms, acids and bases, and writing chemical formulas.

Year 7/8 Science began the term finishing our Body Systems topic before moving onto Matter. We learnt all about particle theory and how substances change between a solid, liquid, and gas, as well as the difference between chemical and physical change. At the end of the term, we looked at renewable and non-renewable resources and the water cycle, and their importance to Australia. This has been a very busy term with our year 7/8 excursion to AQWA in week 7. The most exciting part was the ride in the glass bottom boat where we got to see turtles, sharks, and giant stingrays swimming underneath.

In 9/10 Maths we have been learning to calculate simple and compound interest (year 10) and using these to compare interest rates for loans and investments, real life skills they may need someday. We finished off the term with Algebra.

Year 7/8 Maths started the term with Algebra and problem solving before moving onto ratios, fractions and percentages. At the end of the term students got to complete an investigation where they were able to use their skills from statistics and graphs with real data, they collected themselves. Students also learnt some valuable finance lessons during the 7/8 excursion to Midland Gate shopping centre with regards to banks and spending limits.

In week three we held the Australian Mathematics Competition for students in years 7 to 10, congratulations to all those students who participated and received certificates.

Diffusion Experiment
Shark at AQWA
Diffusion Experiment
Secondary Science Fair
Secondary Science Fair

Physical Education

It has been a busy term at Cunderdin District High School with multiple events across the school including students competing at the Interschool Cross Country in Meckering, the Faction Athletics Carnival, Kindy Athletics afternoon and Fathers Day Celebrations in the lower primary classes.At the carnivals all students demonstrated their personal best and showed excellent sportsmanship. A highlight of the Kindy Athletics Day was seeing parents join in the fun and compete against the students!As well as some outstanding personal performances on all three days, Cunderdin also took home the Secondary Shield at the Interschool Cross Country. Well done to all students involved!

Athletics Carnival

Cunderdin District High School