17 Sep 2021
As Term 3 comes to a close, we reflect on the challenges we have faced due to COVID and the manner in which we, as a school community, have collectively navigated these challenges. The 1:1 device program that was implemented early this year allowed a smoother transition to home learning this time around. We acknowledge the challenges that our students experienced during this time and it was wonderful to hear the many positive stories from teachers about the levels of online engagement from our students. All students should be congratulated for their efforts during this time.
We would like to thank our parents for all the effort that they have put in over the last 5 weeks supporting our students to engage in home learning. Playing stay-at-home parents and teachers at the same time, has provided some significant challenges and we thank you for your support during this time.
A special mention needs to go to our current Year 12 students. These students have arguably been impacted the greatest by COVID regulations, including both last year in Year 11 and this year as they prepare for their HSC. The resilience and determination they have all shown over the last 2 years, under obviously trying circumstances, has been inspiring and they should all be very proud of themselves, as we are.
This week we would have farewelled our Year 12 students at their graduation ceremony and formal. Unfortunately both these events were unable to occur. We will continue to assess the situation next term and be guided by appropriate health advice and guidelines from DoE in determining if we will have the opportunity to arrange a farewell ceremony in some form after the completion of all HSC Exams.
The HSC Exams will commence on Monday November 9. A copy of the revised exam timetable can be found here. Teachers of year 12 classes will continue to provide support for their students in the lead up to the start of the exams.
Term 4 will commence for students on Tuesday October 5th. At this stage, if stay-at-home orders continue, learning from home will continue accordingly. During this time students will continue to follow their normal timetable for the full 6 periods. If stay-at-home orders are lifted during the holiday period, all students will return to school on level 3 restrictions on Tuesday October 5th. Closer to the start of term, we will update the school community via our school website and Facebook page about these details. If stay-at-home orders continue into Term 4, the DoE has released information on the staged return of all students on level 3 plus. This will be as follows:
- From 25 October – Year 12 will have full-time access to school and their teachers.
- From 1 November – Year 11
- From 8 November – Years 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Year 11 will be undertaking modified exams for most subjects during class time in the first 2 weeks of Term 4. These will be in lieu of not running a formal face to face exam schedule in weeks 9 and 10 of Term 3. More information will be provided to Year 11 students via their year group Team and individual class teachers. We will provide an update early in Term 4 on the situation around assessment tasks for Year 7 to 10.
We have 4 staff members who will be departing Willyama to take up new challenges elsewhere. Georgia Puriri in English, Raija Chapman in Maths, Christopher Parker in HSIE and James Boyce in TAS. We would like to thank them for their contribution to Willyama High School and we wish them well in their future endeavours. New staffing has been secured for all positions commencing in Term 4.
Stay safe everyone and please find some time during the holiday period to recharge and look after yourselves.
Matthew Cawley
Rel. Principal