Cunderdin District High School

Term 4 2023 Newsletter

"STRIVE TO BE YOUR BEST'

From the Admin Team - Mr Arnott and Mr Jasper

Welcome to the last newsletter for the year. It is hard to believe that 2023 is over, the years continue to whizz past at a rapid rate. Thank you to all our families for your support this year, together we have achieved so much.

Term 4 is always busy as we are trying to finish off the year, as well as ensuring we are organised for the following year so it starts well. End of year events are a big focus this term and of course we cannot forget Semester 2 Reports. We are very fortunate that we are retaining most of our staff, which will enable us to have a streamline transition into 2024.

2024 STAFFING

A letter was sent home recently which outlined the staffing changes for 2024. This time of the year is always full of mixed emotions and with three much loved staff members moving on, this year is no exception. On behalf of the staff, students and school community we would like to acknowledge Mrs Corria Reynders, Miss Alannah Smith and Miss Breanne Isard for their considerable contribution to our school. We wish you all the very best for the future and whatever it may hold.

In addition to the letter that was sent home, we are pleased to announce that we have appointed Miss Meghan Couper as our Year 4/5 classroom teacher. Miss Couper will be joining us from Dongara and we are very excited to have her join our team, along with Mr Benjamin Air who will be joining us from Port Hedland as the Year 5/6 classroom teacher.

SCHOOL BOARD

I would like to take a moment to thank our outgoing School Board Member Mr Frank O’Hare. Mr O’Hare has held a position on the board since we first became an Independent Public School in 2015, and was our inaugural Chairperson. We acknowledge his significant contribution to our school and assisting us to ‘strive to be our best’. I would also like to welcome Mrs Julie Mussared, who will join the board as a community representative. We look forward to all ensuring the School Board remains a positive force within our school.

CUNDERDIN DHS P & C

I would like to thank the P & C for their ongoing support of our students and the school. This year they continued to fundraise and support our school. They were instrumental in the organising and running of the school’s 75th Anniversary celebrations and the installation of the Nature Play Space in the Primary Playground. We thank the school community for your ongoing support of our school and P & C.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP

Congratulations to the outgoing Student Leaders on their achievements this year and the positive manner in which they lead the student body. We hope they have developed a range of skills that will assist them in the future and they enjoyed their time as a leader.

The election of the 2024 Student Council and the 2024 Faction Captains was held during Week 9 of Term 4. Prior to voting taking place, Student Council and Faction Captain nominees were required to prepare and present an election speech to the Year 4-9 student body and staff. We had 17 Student Council and 18 Faction Captain nominations and the students are to be congratulated on the quality of their speeches and their sound preparation.

They presented their proposals on Monday, 4 December and voting took place in the classrooms straight after. The quality of nominees was indeed outstanding this year. Each and every one of them is to be acknowledged for putting themselves forward and being the ‘best they can be’.

During the Presentation Ceremony run by the 2023 Student Councillors, the Student Council and the Faction Captains’ Handover was held whereby the outgoing Student Leaders presented the 2024 Student Councillors and Faction Captains with their badges. 

Congratulations to the Student Councillors for 2024:

Shaynae & Deia (Yr 9/10 Representatives)

Zoe & Callan (Year 7/8 Representatives)

Norlia & Kaleb (Year 6 Representatives)

 Congratulations to the Faction Captains for 2020:

Secondary:         Georgia & Thomas (Blue Bombers)     Kimberley & Brody (Red Barons)

Primary:               Anjali & Hugo (Blue Bombers)     Miley & Jadd (Red Barons)

Duties for the 2024 Student Councillors and Faction Captains commence on Wednesday, 31 January 2024.

YEAR 6 TRANSITION TO SECONDARY SCHOOLING

In Week 8 and 9, CDHS Year 6 students and incoming Year 6 students from feeder primary schools became ‘secondary students’ as they experienced three days in the life of a secondary student. 

On the first morning, the Year 6 visitors undertook a tour of the school by Secondary Student Councillors. Year 6 students met with Principal Jonathon Arnott and Associate Principal Paul Jasper and discussed what secondary schooling looks like. They then participated in the school’s ‘Play is the Way’ Social and Emotional methodology to encourage the students to develop a philosophy of behaviour that fosters independent, self-managing, self-motivated, empathetic, life-long learners.

The students attended formal secondary lessons in Science, English, HASS, Physical Education, Digital Technology, LOTE, and Mathematics taught by secondary teachers in their particular cohort. Time was also allocated for the students to spend recess and lunch with all the secondary students and attend Form as normal next year.

During the three days’ students had the opportunity to learn the following:

•             Differences and similarities between primary and secondary schooling

•             Diary use/Homework/Study

•             Secondary Assessment Policy

•             Expectations of secondary students

•             Understanding a secondary timetable

•             Extra-curricular activities

•             Requirements of their year level in all different courses

 It was an exciting learning journey for them which allowed them to bond as group and be ready for secondary schooling in 2024. 

INTERM SWIMMING

We are in the process of finalising Swimming Lessons for the PP to Year 6 students in Term 1, 2024. They will run from Wednesday, 31 January through to Friday, 9 February 2024. Hopefully this will mean the weather is warm and the students would have had an opportunity to build their swimming fitness prior to the Faction Swimming Carnival on Wednesday, 14 February 2024.

AND FINALLY…

As I will prepare to head to the WA College of Agriculture - Cunderdin for 12 months I find myself battling mixed emotions. It's a new adventure that awaits me, but please know that my heart remains firmly tethered to the Cunderdin District High School community. I express my deepest gratitude for the unwavering support I've received from the School Board, the Parents and Citizens Association (P&C), and every member of our school community.

 We would like to wish all our families a fabulous Summer break. Please be safe if you are off on an adventure and we look forward to having you all back in 2024.

 

Years 3 - 6 Primary Award Recipients

Year 3 Citizenship Award: Edee

Year 3 Endeavour Award: Emily

Year 3 Academic Award: Savannah S

Year 4/5 Citizenship Award: Miley

Year 4/5 Endeavour Award: Kaleb

Year 4 Academic Award: Mitchell

Year 5/6 Citizenship Award: Addison

Year 5/6 Endeavour Award: Jacob

Year 5 Academic Award: Jadd

Year 6 Academic Award: Zoe

Primary Sciences Awards: Sophia and Alexander 

Primary Sportsperson Award: Georgia

Primary Health and Physical Education Endeavour Award: Kimberley


Years 7 - 10 Secondary Award Recipients

Secondary Citizenship Award: Jessica

Secondary Lions Ambassador Award: Charli

Secondary Endeavour Award: Shaynae

AMPOL All-Rounder Award: Brody

Year 7 Academic Award: Ethan

Year 8 Academic Award: Lindsy

Year 9 Academic Award: Denielle

Year 10 Academic Award: Vaniah

Secondary Sportsperson Award: Melanie

Secondary Health and Physical Education Endeavour Award: Vaniah

Florence Moore Short Story Award: Jorjia

What has been happening in the K/P with Mrs Chant?

Well, the year has flown by yet again and here we find ourselves at the end of Term 4. Everyone has grown and learnt so much.

The term was jam packed with fantastic fun and learning as well incursions and excursions. On Friday, 20 October, we were very lucky to have an excursion to the park. On this day, we all dressed up in pink for a gold coin donation in recognition of Breast Cancer awareness. The students were able to buy pink jelly cups for recess. After recess, we all set off to the park for a pink teddy bears picnic which we shared with the children from REED Cunderdin. The wonderful ladies from the Shire provided us with some yummy sandwiches and fruit for our picnic. It was a very warm day, and we were exhausted after we walked back to school again. Everyone enjoyed the rest time after lunch!

Two weeks later, on Friday, 3 November, Shannae from Remote Society and Cassie from Bush Wick Candles came to do a candle making incursion with us. We all went down to the art room, where we smelt some amazing scents wafting out of the door. Once we had listened to instructions, we were allowed to smell all the different scents and choose one to make our candle with. Mrs Chant helped measure out the scented oils and then Cassie helped us get some melted wax. We then had to stir the oil and wax together before we poured it into our candle tins with the wicks. It was then a very patient wait for the candles to cool down. We went back later in the day to decorate our candles. Cassie melted the top of the wax a little as it had already set. Then we chose decorations and glitter to make our candles look as pretty as they smelt. That afternoon, we excitedly took them home to show our families.

This term we were extremely lucky to have a visit from Mr Ben Elliott. Mrs Chant told him how wonderful we all were and that we deserved a special surprise. So, Mr Elliott set to work and created an amazing wooden playground car for us. It was very exciting, and we love playing in our new car and pretending to go on all sorts of adventures. Thank you, Mr Elliott, for our amazing car.

On Friday, 10 November, we were invited to be a part of the Primary Good Standing Water Fun Day reward. It was great fun inviting some older kids into our playground to have some water play with the Kindy students while the Pre-Primary students got to experience the big school and participate in water fun with the Year 1/2 class. We all got very wet!

The Pre-Primary students had two very special visitors on Wednesday, 22 November. Miss Williams came and brought her gorgeous baby, Regan with her. We found out that Miss Williams is now Mrs Harris. We sang some songs to Regan and asked some questions. Regan is very cute!

The Pre-Primary students have very excitedly been transitioning into the ‘big school’. This has included some opportunities to buy recess from the canteen. We love lining up and choosing from all the yummy food. It has also been fun to have a play on the Primary playground ready for next year. On Wednesday, 29 November next year’s kindergarten students visited the classroom for an orientation day. It was lovely meeting all the new students and seeing them enjoy the classroom ready for next year.

We hope everyone has an amazing and restful holiday and stays safe. We look forward to welcoming back our Kindy students as Pre-Primaries next year as we wave off our amazing Pre-Primary students into Year 1. Thank you for a wonderful year.

 

Kindy/ Pre-primary

Year 1/2 Class with Miss Isard

This term in the Year 1/2 class the students have been very busy learning lots of new and exciting things.

 

In English, we learnt how to structure narrative stories and how to create a building problem using the pebble, rock, and boulder climax, and then finishing our stories with a resolution. We created fiction stories that were exciting and interesting! We then went onto learning how to write a persuasive text and discovered some strong words to use to convince our audience of a certain point of view. Lastly, we studied an assortment of poems, and created poems on our favourite things through acrostic poems, alliteration, and similes.

 

In Mathematics, we explored the world of division, multiplication and skip counting, fractions, and finally, we finished the term learning all about the world of money! We were able to represent these mathematical problems through world related and hands on experiences. Alongside learning all these new things, we worked hard on practising our mental math strategies for our addition and subtraction problems.

 

In HASS this term we continued our investigation in Geography. We discovered the seven continents and five seas, and learnt about important landmarks within Australia and the world, as well as important landmarks for ourselves, friends, and families and how and why they differed for everyone. We also explored how to read the weather forecast to help us keep safe and the importance of water to help us and the world survive.

 

In Digital Technologies, we learnt about data and how it can be represented in many ways. We learnt how to record topics such as our favourite food or animal through pictographs and bar graphs. Lastly, we learnt about Glyphs, and how to represent data about ourselves through colouring different parts of a picture to give a representation of ourselves and our favourite things. 

Year 1/2 Classroom activities

Year 2/3 Classroom happenings with Mrs Packham

On our waterplay afternoon we went to the K/P area. Blake and I were riding on the bikes. I was in the trailer and Blake was driving. The trailer hit the side of the sandpit which made a big crash, and I bounced up and down. We got to sit in the wooden car. It was really, really, really fun! By Myles
After our assembly we went up to the Home Economics room to have morning tea. I had fun with my friends and had a sweet morning tea. I made cupcakes, red velvet and vanilla. The vanilla ones had blue icing and the red velvet ones had red icing. One of my favourite sweet things was the Oreo Slice. The assembly was very special to me because even though my dad was busy, he came anyway. I was very nervous thinking I was going to drop my pool noodle. But once I saw my friends, I felt much more supported. That was such a great day. By Edee
Mrs Jasper helped us with candles. My favourite part of the day was putting the glitter in it. By Savannah Y
In Week 5 I had lots of fun because it was our assembly. After it was finished, we put all of the things into the classroom and then went to the Home Economics room and had lots of treats. Then we had to clean up and go to recess. My dad came. It was so much fun. By Holly
In school we all made candles. There were so many steps. The materials we needed were glitter, wax, a tin, stickers, and liquid oil scent. I choose Ambered Sandalwood. We added in cool beads. It smelled so good. I loved it as it was so much fun. By Felicity
In Science we made Coolamons. Some of them did not survive. It got really wet. We had to fill up a cup as fast as we could. Even if we lost, we still had fun. All of us did great and tried our best. I liked that it was a race. Lots of us got at least a little bit wet and we did it in the undercover area. I had fun with this challenge and the coolamons were pink. By Hazel
We made coolamons with our group. They are Australian Aboriginal carrying vessels. We raced how fast the coolamons filled up the jug. My partner and I won three times. Our coolamon was successful because it was big and wide and held lots of water. We were very happy. We did four races in the undercover area, and I loved it. We challenged ourselves with filling up out coolamons and running with them and filling up our jugs. By Blake
We got pink wool and sticks to make Talking sticks for Pink It Up day. We also made paper chains and lanterns. We put it all up on the big tree and CDHS sign at the front of the school. We took them home afterwards. We had streamers and pink pom poms around the classroom. It was so pretty. By Estelle
Louis and I have been working on a habitat -a tray full of leaves, rocks, sand, bark, and dirt. A paper plate has blue cellophane on it for the water hole. We made lots of animals out of plasticene. We made a hut, 2 snakes, a wasp, 2 geckoes, a bee, an ant, a snail, an eel, and a dingo. By Ally
In Science we made coolamons out of plasticene. We had races with water. We had to fill a jug with the water we carried in our coolamon. It was lots of fun to build with plasticene. Ours came out kind of bad. We used pink plasticene. By Jake
I found lots of different things to do with the Kindy’s and Pre-Primary’s when we had water play with them. Sophia, Estelle, and I got to paint the cubby with water. They have a new car. Someone built it out of wood. Mr Elliot did a great job to build it. By Mackenzie
We made candles in the art room. Cassie from Bush Wick’s came to teach us. We had to follow steps. First, we had to pick our scent. Next, we went to get our strawberry and champagne scent and our wax and combined them together. Then we poured the wax into the tin and let it sit. We came back later and decorated it with glitter, flowers. by Emily
This term we had our assembly and after it we had a morning tea with our parents. We had lots of food, sweet and savoury. There were slices, cupcakes, fairy bread rolls, cookies, scrolls, lollies, sausage rolls, popcorn and juice boxes. We had friends laughing our heads off. I had my mum there for my assembly and morning tea and my dad came for just my assembly. After we had to do schoolwork and then we finished off the left-over food. By Savannah S
We watched the story of Tiddalik and then created a habitat. We got a tray and added in rocks, sand and bark. I got a plate and put blue cellophane on it. We then made animals out of plasticene and put them in the habitat. By Whitney
On Friday, 4 December the Primary had their good standing. We had water play activities. One of the activities was water play with the K/P’s. We painted with water, rode the bikes, pretended to drive the new car and did an obstacle course. It was really fun to see all of the Kindy’s and Pre-Primary’s. By Sophia
Jake and I created lots of animals out of plasticene. We made echidnas, spiders, and birds. We also added lots of sand, rocks, wood chips and leaves. It was lots of fun. By Flynn
We made pink talking sticks for Pink It Up day. We also made pink lanterns and paper chains. It was fun. We also blew up lots of balloons and on Pink it Up day we put all of it on the big tree at the front of the school and on our school sign. By Penelope
To make the habitat from the story Tiddalik we went outside to get stuff to make it. Then we made the animals from plasticene. We made the habitat. Ally and I made a wet land habitat. We made lots of animals. By Louis
This term we were making candles with Bush Wick’s. We got to choose our scent and decorate the candles at the end. Cassie and Mrs Jasper helped us make them. We had to put stickers on the tin and under the tin. We also had to put the oils in it to make it smell nice. When we were finished making the candles there were drawings on the table. When then added in beads, diamonds, glitter, and flowers on top of the candle. At the end we got to take the candles home. We had so much fun. By Aubree

Year 4/5 Classroom with Miss Schmidt

What an amazing term it has been in our classroom. Can you believe we have almost completed our final term of the 2023 school year? We have had so much fun in Room 4 this year.

Students in our classroom have had so many learning experiences across all subjects this term. We have reflected on our final term of the year and some students have given detailed responses of what we have been learning.

This term in the Year 4/5 class we learnt in English about how to write a persuasive letter, and we learnt all about fantasy novels. In science we learnt about erosion, rocks, and different types of soil. In HASS we made a poster about any product, and we did a little bit of budgeting. My favourite part of this term was the persuasive letters to our Principals, and learning the Play is the Way games like touch and go, piccadilly circus, running raiders. - Hayley 

This term in our class we have learnt chance and budgeting in maths. We have also learnt soils and erosion in science, and in digital technology we have learnt about Spheros. My favourite part of the term was the cricket carnival and Play is the Way. - Hudson 

This term in the Year 4/5 class we have learnt in maths budgeting, shapes, and data. It is so fun learning and all these subjects have been amazing. In HASS we have learnt how to farm without going over the budget. In writing we have learnt to write a persuasive text and narratives. My favourite part of the whole term was doing the farming budgeting task. - Kaleb 

This term in the Year 4/5 class in English we have learnt about reading groups, persuasive texts, and fantasy narratives. We have also learnt in Maths about angles, budgets, and picture graphs. My favourite part of the term is learning and games. - Bella 

This term in our class we have learnt about angles in maths. We have also learnt about erosions for the Year 4s and the Year 5s have learnt solar systems. In English we have been learning about fantasy narratives, but throughout the whole term my favourite part was the cricket carnival. - Rylan 

This term in our classroom we have been learning angles, budgets, shapes, fractions, and chance and data. In digital technologies we did Spheros with mazes and crash courses. In HASS we did product designs and farming budgets. My favourite part of this term was the cricket.-  Eli 

This term in the classroom we have learnt about erosions, soils, rocks, and the solar system in science. In digital technology we have used Spheros to make mazes and crash courses. In English we have done persuasive letters, handwriting, and reading groups. My favourite part of this term was the games we play in the morning for fitness. - Casey 

It has been a fantastic year in Room 4! On behalf the Year 4/5 class we wish you a very happy holidays and an amazing start to 2024!

Year 4/5 Classroom happenings

Year 5/6 Classroom with Mr Hill

The end of the year is fast approaching, and wow has it been another action packed, fast paced and hardworking term 4 in the 5/6 class. I would like to first start by commending the students on their efforts across the year. They have continued to persist in the face of challenges and changes and produced high quality work throughout the year.

We have focused on disasters this term. Students have explored volcanoes, tsunamis, earthquakes, and floods to name a few, identifying causes and financial, social, and environmental impacts on communities. It has been great to see students engage with these natural phenomena and ask challenging questions, conduct experiments in science and develop strategies and action plans for the event in real life situations.

During the term, we ventured to Tammin for the Milo Cricket Blast T20 carnival day. Students who participated had a lot of fun, smashing the ball all around the park or taking wickets and classic catches. Our teams placed well overall, and students demonstrated sportsmanship and encouragement of teammates and the other competitors. A few superstars in the making I'd say, so watch this space.

We also dressed up our town in pink to support breast cancer awareness and research. Students came in all sorts of pink attire and created posters highlighting the need for conversation and understanding around this disease.

During Week 8, Year 6 students participated in transition to high school classes, separating themselves from the familiar primary school space. Students experienced movements between classrooms, new teachers, how to read a timetable and the inevitable horror of homework.  Safe to say, they all survived and experienced enjoyable times in their new environment.

On Monday, 28 November, the Year 6 students attended the annual Year 6 graduation dinner. Students dressed up to the nines and delivered speeches, reflecting on their primary school journey. A lovely dinner was provided by the kitchen at the Cunderdin Sport and Recreation Club which was followed by more speeches, memories being shared and the graduation video, which of course included a series of embarrassing baby photos.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved with the 5/6 class this year. You have all had an impact on these students and supported me which I am extremely grateful for.

I wish everyone a safe and relaxing holiday period, a merry Christmas, and a happy new year.

Mr Cameron Hill

5/6 Teacher

Year 5/6 classroom happenings

District High School Country Week

DHS Country Week is an annual event for country schools to participate in Badminton, Futsal, Hockey, Netball, Touch Football and Volleyball at venues in Perth. This year we submitted a Basketball, Netball and Badminton team.

As well as playing multiple games a day in their respective sports, students participated in evening activities including ice-skating, prison tour, movies, ten pin bowling and bounce.

 

The students did well on the competitive side of things, with the basketball and badminton teams moving up a grade after the first day. The netball team won the overall Sportsmanship Award for their division, and we received a lot of positive feedback about the sportsmanship of all our teams.

DHS Country Week

Netball: Jorjia Melanie Shante Shaynae Jess Felicity Charli Ella Makayla
Basketball: Ryder Brody Jhian Barra Henry Robert Noah Thomas Kai
Badminton: Lindsy Lezley Deia Faith

Secondary Science

This term in Secondary Science, students learned about Biology. Year 9 and 10 students learnt about genetics and got to extract DNA from strawberries. Seeing DNA was quite surprising for the students as it looks more like clear snot. Year 7 and 8 students got out in nature and used magnifying glasses to investigate soil and find out about its role in food webs. Students also enjoyed comparing different mutations, for example wearing safety glasses so they couldn’t see or taping their fingers together. This showcased how mutations in genetics helps create diversity and that not all mutations are bad. 

Secondary Science

Cunderdin District High School