2024 Yearbook Design (4)

2024

YEARBOOK

LEARNING MATTERS

RELATIONSHIPS MATTER

I MATTER

Acknowlegements

Thank you to our 2024 Sponsors

Front Cover Artwork

Photography

Editor’s Note

Year 11 student Alicia Snowdon

MSP Photography North East Photography Lauren Morris Kev McGennan

An appreciation and thanks to our school community who have contributed largely to the success of Wangaratta High School for the year of 2024.

Editor: Lauren Morris

Yearbook Contents Principal’s Report Assistant Principal’s Reports Wellbeing Update School Council Report Marrung Prefect Report 2/24th Infantry Battalion Report Library MacqLit 2024 DUX VCE Vocational Major Transition Careers & Pathways Headstart SBATs Junior Years Report English Junior Years Photos Humanities Middle Years Report Mathematics Middle Years Photos Science Senior Years Report Performing Arts Senior Years Photos Talent Quest Staff Photos Visual Arts Autographs Technology Outdoor Education Sport Swimming Carnival Athletics Carnival Physical Education & Health CLC Report Year 10 Formal Year 11 & 12 Formal

Principal’s Report Executive Principal Dave Armstrong

As I reflect on my third year as Principal of Wangaratta High School, I am filled with pride at how our school community continues to evolve and grow stronger. This year, we launched our new school website, prominently featuring the three words that best capture the essence of our school: unpretentious, caring, and inclusive. These words were chosen deliberately, with 'unpretentious' highlighting our genuine, down-to-earth approach to education.

Being unpretentious means we focus on what truly matters – genuine learning, real relationships, and meaningful growth – rather than superficial achievements or appearances. We celebrate all forms of success, from academic excellence to personal growth, from sporting achievements to acts of kindness. This is what makes our school special; we value authenticity, effort, and the strength of our community.

This year, the positive energy across our campus has been remarkable, with students embracing new opportunities for leadership and engagement. Our caring and inclusive environment has been further strengthened through our partnership with Real Schools, focusing on restorative practices. This initiative has already yielded significant results in enhancing our students' readiness to learn – a core value that underpins everything we do. The strong relationships we've built and the supportive classroom environments have directly contributed to better learning outcomes.

This year has also been significant in terms of our school's physical evolution. Working closely with our architects, GHD, we have developed plans for a comprehensive transformation of our learning spaces. The redesign of our Flexible Learning Centre (FLC) and Senior School, alongside improvements to our outdoor spaces, represents an ambitious vision for the future. The tender process is now underway, with the State Government's promised $11.7 million funding in the final stages of

confirmation.

I'm especially pleased with the new active playground that opened in Term 4, which was designed in the style of a ninja course. This project, initiated and led by students, exemplifies how student voice can shape our school environment in meaningful ways.

The growing sense of student leadership and agency has enriched our school culture. We've seen an increase in student-led initiatives, peer support programs, and participation in decision-making processes. Our senior students, in particular, have stepped up as role models for their younger peers, creating a culture that values being prepared and engaged.

The design process exemplifies our commitment to inclusive decision-making, with staff, students, and school council all contributing valuable insights.

When realised, these plans will transform our learning spaces with significantly improved acoustics, aesthetically stunning environments, collaborative learning zones, study booths, and a dedicated Year 12 common room – all designed to enhance our students' readiness to learn and support their educational journey.

Our commitment to academic excellence continues to be matched by our dedication to developing wellrounded individuals. This year, readiness to learn has extended beyond the classroom. Our students have excelled in performing arts, sports, community service, and environmental projects – all of which reflect their enthusiasm and focus.

None of these achievements would be possible without our exceptional staff team. Their professionalism, dedication, and commitment to student wellbeing and achievement are truly inspiring. They have embraced new approaches, including restorative practices, and their ongoing professional development has had a lasting impact on our school.

As I complete my third year as Principal, I feel deeply connected to the Wangaratta community.

The warmth and support I've experienced, both

within and beyond our school, reinforce what a special place this is to live and work. This sense of community is one of our greatest strengths, and I am grateful for the trust placed in our team to nurture and educate the young people of Wangaratta.

I would like to acknowledge our School Council, particularly our President, Helen Collins, whose leadership and dedication have helped guide our school through another successful year. The Council's strategic oversight continues to be vital to our school's development and success.

Looking ahead to 2025, I am excited about the continuing evolution of our school. The foundation we have laid this year, particularly through our partnership with Real Schools and our approach to student engagement, positions us well for future growth and achievement. Our commitment to continuous improvement remains unwavering, always guided by what's best for our students.

To our graduating class of 2024, my heartfelt congratulations. You have embodied our school values, and I have every confidence that you will continue to achieve great things. Remember that you will always be part of the Wangaratta High School community, and we look forward to hearing about your future successes. As we close another chapter in our school's rich history, I thank everyone who has contributed to making 2024 such a remarkable year.

Assistant Principal’s Report Assistant Principal John Paola

2024 has been a transformative year for Wangaratta High School, with a focus on student engagement, well-being, and inclusive programs. The efforts to nurture confidence, inclusion, and a sense of belonging have undoubtedly played a key role in shaping a positive school culture this year as we continue to move forward with a consistent approach. The highlights are as follows The evolving ‘Reconnect Therapeutic Intervention’ program has offered targeted support to students dealing with emotional, social, attendance, and behavioural challenges. The wellbeing team provided individualised counselling, group therapy, and crisis intervention. By focusing on collaboration with families and staff, the program ensures that students receive the support they need both inside and outside the classroom, promoting resilience and emotional regulation. As it evolves it will continue to be that support of intervention for our school community.

According to our 2024 "Attitude to School Survey," we have seen a 14% increase in student voice and agency. This reflects the school’s commitment to empowering students by creating platforms for them to express their opinions, participate in decisionmaking, and take ownership of their learning. It is gratifying to foster a culture where students feel heard and valued. We also saw a 21% increase in connectedness which highlights the school’s commitment to building a sense of community.

Through initiatives like peer support programs, extracurricular activities, and the promotion of inclusive practices, students are forming stronger bonds with their peers and their school environment.

This, in turn, is boosting their overall engagement which has been pleasing to see this year with students wanting to attend school.

Our Peer Support Program, Student Representative Council and the ‘Wang Highway’ assemblies have also flourished this year. Year 10 students worked alongside Year 7 students to build relationships and

fostering connectedness. Additionally, 15 students participated in the Student Representative Council this year organising fundraisers and school activities.

From mental health workshops to inclusive activities that celebrate diversity, these programs have ensured that all students feel accepted and supported. The emphasis on creating a safe and nurturing environment for all students is directly linked to the improvements seen in engagement and wellbeing. For example, this year we had our year 10, 11 and 12 students participate in NAPCAN’s highly regarded Love Bites Program. The interactive and engaging sessions focus on the development of respectful relationships for young people aged 11 to 17. The programs provided a safe environment in which our students discussed and learnt about their rights and responsibilities in relationships and look at ways to access support when needed. On these days the students participated at the GOTAFE campus a number of services in the community facilitated as did trained staff members.

Our initiatives and programs have created a nurturing and positive learning environment, allowing every student to grow and succeed. At the heart of our achievements are the core values we uphold being ready to learn, safe, personal best and respectful. These principles guide everything we do, shaping a supportive culture that empowers our students to excel both inside and outside the classroom and into society. I extend my warmest wishes to our school community and look forward to a brilliant 2025.

Assistant Principal’s Report Assistant Principal Sheri Parkhouse

It has been an exciting year for teaching and learning at Wangaratta High School, and my second year here in our wonderful community. Reflecting on the hard work of our team, I’d like to share some key highlights.

Firstly, I’d like to introduce two members of our teaching and learning team: Meryl Herman and Jess Langdon, who joined us as leading teachers in Term 3. They join our existing learning specialists, Peter Breukers and Katelyn Sheather. This expansion of the team has doubled our leadership capacity, allowing us to dive deeper into vital work in teaching and learning.

This year, we launched two fantastic programs: the Inclusion Hub and Futures. Both have been instrumental in transforming student learning. Led by Katelyn Sheather, the Inclusion Hub offers neurodiverse students a dedicated learning space with expert support, creating a safe and structured environment. By partnering with families, teaching staff, and external professionals, we’re seeing tremendous growth among our students.

The Futures program has grown from a pilot in 2023 to a thriving class providing hands-on, applied learning opportunities for students with diverse needs. Under the leadership of Jack Nolan, along with key staff Cory Stewart, Alice Reynolds, and Katelyn Sheather, the program has been so successful that we will expand it to Years 8 and 10. Our work in these programs is ground breaking and offers our students brilliant opportunities in both learning and career pathways.

We’ve also begun updating our teaching and learning model, starting with our classroom instructional practices. This update ensures our lessons align with Victorian curriculum standards and best practices for engagement and wellbeing. In Term 4, we focused on the Learning Focus phase, helping students understand what they are learning, why it’s important, and how they will learn it. We’re using engagement strategies to draw our learners into lessons from the start.

Our Subject and Careers Pathways Expo showcased the incredible offerings at the school. We’re proud to

work with universities, TAFEs, local businesses, and emergency service organisations, whose expertise helps our students make informed decisions about their future careers. We’re incredibly grateful for their continued support.

This year, we trialled a whole-school exam period for Years 7–11, and it was a great success. We were particularly impressed by the behaviour and commitment shown by our junior students, who took the exams seriously. Years 9–11 approached their exams diligently, understanding that these assessments contribute to their overall coursework.

Teachers embraced the opportunity to assess skills developed over the semester and to teach valuable lifelong skills in recalling and applying knowledge. We will continue this practice in 2025 and welcome feedback from our school community.

Lastly, I’d like to thank our incredible staff. Our teaching team dedicates countless hours outside of school preparing lessons, marking assessments, and caring for the wellbeing and success of our students.

Our education support staff are equally vital, working tirelessly in classrooms, often one-on-one or with small groups. Their work is invaluable but sometimes goes unnoticed. To our wellbeing and administration teams, you are often the first point of contact for students who are upset, unwell, or in need of help.

Your efforts are deeply appreciated.

As I wrap up my second year, I feel more connected to our school community than ever. I look forward to another fantastic year working alongside Executive Principal Dave Armstrong, Assistant Principal John Paola and the rest of the team, as we continue to provide an education journey that is as individual as each of our students—full of options and opportunities for them to challenge themselves and aspire towards their futures.

Wellbeing Update Student Wellbeing Leader Louisa Hayes

In 2024, we focused on a wide range of wellbeing areas such as mental health, social relationships, diversity and physical wellness to foster a supportive and inclusive environment, contributing to the overall health and resilience of our students.

Our Wellbeing Team comes with a wealth of experience consisting of the Wellbeing Leader, Mental Health Practitioner, School Psychologist, School Counsellor and School Nurse and a Therapy Dog. We provide evidence based programs to support our students, utilising data collected to guide our interventions and meet the needs of our students.

In 2024, we have provided students with access to the following programs “Seasons for Growth”, “Practicing Mindfulness”, “Social and Emotional Learning” and Diversity Club supporting our LGBTQI+ students. We have also provided education around Vaping for our students to discourage this practice.

This year has seen external referrals for parents to programs on how to support their children’s mental health, understand online safety and adolescents, and navigating adolescence. Wangaratta High School has built strong partnerships with local services, such as youth mental health providers (Headspace) and community organisations to offer additional support to students when needed.

Wangaratta High School offer Breakfast Club each week as a way of engaging students and making sure they are “Ready to Learn”. Before starting their day.

The integration of Respectful Relationships Education into the curriculum at Wangaratta High School continues to promote equality, mutual respect and healthy relationships and is strengthened by the delivery of LoveBites this year to our Year 10, 11 and 12 students.

This year has seen the development of a Wellbeing

Support Pinwheel which directs you to the response/support required for a range of adolescent issues. This is available on our website for parents to use as a guide for supporting their children and suggesting pathways that can support their child.

Guest speakers this year have included “Matt Brown” who is the author of “She is not my Rehab”.

Matt believes his true calling lies in his work to redefine societies view of masculinity and to encourage our boys/men to embrace their emotional side.

We look forward to 2025.

School Council Report School Council President Helen Collins

At the March 2024 annual general meeting the School Council farewelled outgoing School Council President Deb Fisher. Deb Fisher was a diligent, well-respected and hard working School Council President and council member. Deb had been in the role for five years and provided excellent leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic and appointment of a new Principal. Thanks Deb Fisher for all her hard work and dedication. The school is in an excellent position due to her leadership.

During 2024 the School Council has monitored the implementation of the 2023-2027 school strategic plan.

Our school’s two goals are simple expressions of what we want our school to achieve. These goals are: 1. To improve student learning; and 2. To improve student well-being.

Behind each of these simple goals are complex and sophisticated plans and strategies. The school has made significant gains in relation to these goals of which we are very proud. The School Council is confident that the school has the building blocks to make ongoing improvements to student learning and well-being. Every part of our school community has made a significant contribution in achieving these goals. The efforts of students, the staff, the families and the community all add together. Thank you for your role in improving life at school for the students and each other.

then await government allocation of funding for the first stage of building works to commence.

The School Council was proud to support a project led by the Prefects. The Prefects were successful in winning additional funds from the Active Schools Grants for a student designed outdoor activity course. We supported the allocation of funds to meet the final funding gap for a high quality surface to support the equipment.

The School Council has used the school building fund to install new chilled water fountains. The water fountains have been popular with students, improved the amenity of student life and health.

Donations to our school building fund are tax deductible and are always put to good use for the benefit of the students.

Please contact the school if you would like to make a tax deductible donation to the building fund.

Early in 2024, a student approached School Council for approval to paint a mural representing the school’s connections to First Nations people and the land. We were impressed by the effective student advocacy and subsequent efficient implementation of the project which was completed and formally unveiled at the end of term three. Thank you to the artists, staff and community (NESAY) support for this project.

In term three, a fundraising event was run in the form of a trivia night. More than the funds raised, was the fun-raising and friend-raising. It was a great opportunity for parents and friends of the school to get involved. Thank you to the team who worked so hard to run the trivia night which was a terrific success.

In December 2023, the School Council endorsed the Master Plan prepared by architects. Further work was completed by the architects during 2024 in relation to the detail. The architects consulted further with the school including students, parents and staff. In May 2024 the School Council endorsed the Schematic Design and later in October 2024, endorsed the Design Development Stage.

The School Council is made up of the leadership team, staff representative, student representatives, parent members and community members. Thank you to Sandy King (Vice President), Alexei Rowles (Treasurer), Ben Hedderman, Julie Tzaros, Swaye Frankland, Mabel Evgenidis (community member), Alice Reynolds (staff representative), and executive team Sheri Parkhouse, John Paola and Dave Armstrong.

In the process of considering the options and priorities for the buildings and grounds, the School Council prioritised improving the learning environment for the students and staff. These plans will be costed and

In 2025 we are keen to welcome new members, in particular parents and guardians with students in our year seven and eight cohort, to ensure the School Council maintains its long-term vision.

Marrung Program Leader Andrea Belci

2024 has been an amazing and creative year for Yarning circle participants.

In collaboration with local artist Ronan Holdsworth, students have gathered and planned around the most important aspects of Wangaratta and created a mural based around connection to community, and connection to country.

Students focused on ‘connection’ and connection to local landscapes Warby Ranges, local rivers Ovens & King Rivers, local native animals creation animal, rainbow serpent, and the long-necked turtle, animal footprints, local gum and banksia flowers, and a reference to the star constellations. Finally, and most important a strong connection to school, students creating something that they can be proud of and reflect on in the future.

The mural project was financially supported with funding from NESAY to provide a positive connection for Indigenous students to the school environment and MADEC who support Indigenous students with scholarships to support learning.

Students also had attended the Art Gallery to visit the current Indigenous art work display.

Prefect Report Kalika Miliankos-King

Caeleigh Cornhill

2024 Head Prefect

2024 Head Prefect

This year the 2024 prefect team has been up to a lot and are making big changes throughout the school.

We began the year with a planning day, where we brainstormed ideas of projects we’d like to complete throughout the year. The new Year 11 prefects were able to pitch us their initiatives and work out how to put their projects into motion.

With trying to get the school more active, we had begun running lunchtime sports activities. We played netball every Friday lunch and it was house versus house. We divided it into juniors and seniors.

Students came down to watch and help out from all ages. Lots of students enjoyed the competition and we can’t wait to see it continue on with next year’s prefects.

The Year 11 prefects really stepped up, Lillian OatsMason produced an amazing mural on the side of the office building highlighting beautiful indigenous culture. Hannah and Ivy were fast in implementing metal soap dispensers around the school to create a more healthy and hygienic environment.

We would just like to congratulate the new 2025 prefects for getting the role and can’t wait to see what you contribute to the school. And a bigger congratulations to Swaye Frankland and Alison Jones for becoming head prefects. We can't wait to see you thrive in the role.

We ran the barbecue at the swimming and athletics carnivals providing lunch and drinks for students to enjoy. This raised money for the prefect team to be able to fund our projects.

For Anzac Day we ran assemblies honouring the fallen soldiers some of which had gone to our school. We split into two groups on Anzac Day one supporting locally, laying wreaths in Wangaratta, and the other marching in Melbourne to honour the 2/24th battalion.

A group of Year 12 prefects continued on with their active school journey by applying for another grant to continue with their project of Ninja Warrior course for the school. We were successful and able to broaden what we were able to achieve in terms of the course. By the start of term four the Ninja Warrior course was built and is enjoyed by all students. We did this in hopes of creating a more active school which we believe we have accomplished. We were even able to go down to Melbourne and Shepparton to present to schools and show them what can happen when student voice is utilised and supported

2 / 24th Infantry Battalion Report Ambassador Swaye Frankland

This year Wangaratta High School has been active in its involvement with the 2/24th Battalion. The prefect team and I represented the 2/24th Battalion in both the Melbourne and Wangaratta ANZAC Day services in April, both of which were highly important events. As part of these days, we attended the RSL luncheons after the marches and helped to run the raffles at the events.

For those who went to Melbourne it was a long but rewarding day and our gratitude goes out to Assistant Principal Sheri Parkhouse for driving the group there and back and also to the O’Shea’s and Janice Young for their efforts and hospitality. It was truly an honour for all of us involved to uphold and honour the legacy the 2/24th, and all other ANZAC soldiers left behind.

Following this we also ran our annual ANZAC day assembly at school in which I was tasked with researching and speaking about Charles Powley of the 7th infantry battalion who was killed in the Gallipoli landing at only 20 years of age. The whole prefect team were integral to the success of the assembly, and everyone played their part exceedingly well.

The 2/24th reunion dinner was held on the 9th of November and both Alison Jones and I were able to represent the continued relationship between the Battalion and Wangaratta High School at the event.

On the 10th of November the 2/24th Remembrance Day service at the Wangaratta cemetery took place and those in attendance were able to see the newly refurbished monument to the 2/24th Battalion. The official Remembrance Day service on the 11th was attended by Alison Jones and a number of the other Prefects while the remaining Prefects coordinated the announcement and lowering of the flag at school.

Overall, it has been an educational and successful year. Through this role I have been able to learn about those who served for all of us, it has certainly had its confronting moments but has been incredibly meaningful and an opportunity I am so grateful for, as I am able to understand the history of this country and honour and remember those who laid down their lives for us. While they are gone, they are certainly not forgotten.

Thankyou all for an incredible year and I look forward to being able to serve the 2/24th Battalion and Wangaratta High School next year.

Library Librarian Bronwyn Wyatt

A busy and productive year for 2024.

Starting with Year 7 Library Orientation classes were enjoyed by students. These classes introduce students to where and what resources within the Senior Library and the FLC Library can be utilised by students via a "Treasure Hunt".

Humanities classes also accessed the Non-Fiction collection whilst completing assignments on Animals, Space and Roman/Egyptian History.

The Challenge of reading 15 or more books were taken up by 25 students who read 225 books for the Victorian Premier's Reading Challenge between March and September, 2024. Special congratulations go out to Clara Rocchiccioli, Jack Berry, Cam Sgarioto, Emma Jory, Daksh Kumar and Ruby O’Kane plus others for attending our yummy Book Club meetings every Tuesday at recess.

Current reading matter was discussed, recommendations shared and a love of reading expanded.

Book Week theme was "Reading is Magic". A variety of activities including quizzes and demonstrations of magic from budding magicians was enjoyed by students and staff. The school reception was fabulously decorated in "Alice in Wonderland" theme and I thank all admin staff for their many hours to produce such a fantastic display. Competitions were well attended by students and staff.

Other displays adorned the library including ANZAC Day, 2024 Olympics, Book Week and a variety of displays to attract students to increase their love in reading.

Inclusion Hub Learning Enhancement & Inclusion Leader Katelyn Sheather

In 2024, we launched our inaugural Inclusion Hub, welcoming 19 students. The program has been centred on supporting a wide range of learning styles through hands-on, applied learning strategies across various curriculum areas. Our focus has included diverse and engaging topics such as apocalypse survival planning, war and medieval history, and an array of art and technology projects.

In Term 1 students delved into the key events of World War I and II, exploring how these historical conflicts have shaped modern society. Through a combination of short stories, memoirs, and research, students gained insights into the multiple perspectives of the wars, understanding their impact on nations and cultures worldwide.

We introduced students to the theme of "Our Place in Space" in term 2 of 2024. Each student became an expert on a planet or celestial body, presenting their findings to the class. This research was followed by a creative expression through art, as students designed and painted representations of their chosen planets. Additionally, students began learning textile skills, including designing logos, flags, and operating sewing machines.

The Olympic Games and survival skills was the focus for term 3, where students explored lesserknown sports and countries, culminating in the design of action sculptures reflecting their chosen sports. In science, students studied forces and motion while simultaneously developing practical survival skills, including fire-based cooking, shelter building, and using flints.

In the final term, students focused on medieval European history. They explored significant events, castles, battles, and prominent families from the Middle Ages, drawing connections between ancient history and the modern world.

MacqLit MacqLit Literacy Support Officer Christine Watson

As we end another school year, we are thrilled to celebrate the continued success of the MacqLit program. This year, our students have once again demonstrated exceptional growth and progress in their literacy skills.

Throughout the year, the progress made by our students was nothing short of inspiring. Many students who previously faced difficulties with literacy demonstrated significant improvements from their dedication and hard work which have led to impressive improvements in reading fluency, comprehension, and overall confidence. It has been inspiring to see so many students transform their challenges into achievements.

VCE RESULTS & 2024 Dux Principal Dave Armstrong expressed pride in all student achievements in 2024: “Once again, our students have brought great pride to our school and our community.

Wangaratta High School consistently produces some of the most driven and successful students in the region. As the public secondary school of our area, we are dedicated to fostering excellence and providing meaningful opportunities for every student. Beyond the remarkable ATAR scores, we celebrate the countless personal stories of determination, growth, and ambition demonstrated across VCE and the VCE-VM. These qualities of resilience and effort are what we value most, underscoring our steadfast commitment to authentic and enriching learning experiences for all”.

We are pleased to congratulate Kalika Miliankos-King, who is our 2024 Dux of School.

Kalika achieved an outstanding ATAR of 93.55, putting her in the top 6.5% of all Australian Year 12 graduates. She has been at Wangaratta High School since Year 7 and is keen to pursue science studies at university. Whilst at Wangaratta High School, Kalika completed a Human Bioscience course at LaTrobe University, scoring highly in this full first-year university subject.

We look forward to hearing what successes Kalika and all our VCE students achieve in the future.

VCE Vocational Major VCE VM Leader Lyn Higgins

The Year 11 and 12 VCE-VM students started the year with a focus on team building, interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence in Personal Development Skills. Year 12 students, Makybe and Jett, were team leaders in a trip to Mayday Escape Rooms in Beechworth and luckily, all students were able to escape! The groups work together to solve the puzzles. We also visited Billson’s and learned about the history of the business and employment opportunities and enjoyed some samples. Billson’s arranged for different employees to hear about their work pathways which is an important part of Work Related Skills studies.

When studying a PDS unit called Connecting with Community, we joined with Jiara Atkinson from Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Education for a guided cultural knowledge sharing walk and talk around Northern Beaches Reserve. We learned about the importance of culturally significant trees and traditional methods of caring for country that have continued for the Bangerang people for thousands of years.

In this unit, we also learned about democracy, the rights and responsibilities of citizens and ways to promote community participation. Dr Helen Haines MP, Independent Federal Member for Indi, came and spoke to our class about her role as our elected representative in Federal Parliament. She encouraged students to reflect on issues that are important to them and talked about how she could put forward their views in Parliament as well as different forms of advocacy. In a follow up assessment task, students responded to the prompt: “What do you want your community to look like in the next 10 years, and what can the next parliament do to achieve it?”. Some students then submitted their responses to the Raise Our Voice Campaign which aims to amplify the voices of young people by having members of Parliament read the words of youth from their electorate in Parliament. Ella Walsh had her speech on the cost-of-living crisis read out by Senator Steph Hodgins-May and Lillian Oats-Mason

had their speech on the Education that is needed for our community to be more inclusive of diversity read out by Senator Lidia Thorpe.

For their major community project, PDS students organised events for RU Ok? Day to help spread awareness about mental health and increase engagement in our school community. Students came up with activities to run throughout the day including a market stall selling hand-made items including coasters, tie die bags and stress balls, all made by the students. The market also sold sausages, raffle tickets and donated items. We were joined by a local mental health service provider, NESAY and all profits made for the day went to the RU Ok? organisation. Other activities being held throughout the day were a community staff vs student football match and a quiet area for sensory activities such as slime making. The class should be very proud of the event and the way it brought students and staff together to spread awareness about mental health.

VCE Vocational Major As part of our Work-Related Skills class, students have been actively engaged in developing essential work-related skills that are crucial for future success.

This year, we focused on transferable skills—those versatile abilities that can be applied across various jobs and industries. Students learned how to effectively showcase these skills in their resumes and cover letters, highlighting their unique strengths and experiences. In addition to crafting professional documents, students participated in mock interviews, gaining valuable practice in articulating their qualifications and responding to common interview questions. Students attended a variety of Career Expos and were able to gain a greater understanding of possible future pathways. Students were developing skills in preparing for the workforce, by understanding the importance of communication, teamwork, and adaptability—skills that will serve them well in any career path they choose.

Congratulations to all Students for a successful year in VCE VM.

Transition Transition Leader Hannah Nott

The transition team has been hard at work behind the scenes, working to create a smooth transition for our new Year 7 students. Earlier in the year we had our first transition evening. This provided a chance for parents to speak to current staff about the subjects and extra-curricular opportunities that are offered at Wangaratta High School.

The next transition evening was held in September.

This evening was well attended with a multitude of past and present families. The evening provided further information regarding bus transport, uniform, music program and laptops.

Our Discovery Days were held on Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th of December 2024, with more than 200 local grade 5/6 primary school students attending Wangaratta High School.

The Grade 5 and 6 students from primary schools in and around Wangaratta participated in team bonding activities, art and a science experiment.

A highlight for the students was the scavenger hunt.

Where teams had to follow a series of clues and race around the grounds. The team who finished the quickest was the winner!

Each day culminated in a capture the flag game and a short assembly to award those students who showed Wangaratta High School's core values of Respect, Ready to Learn, Safe and Personal Best.

The Discovery Days are part of Wangaratta High School's annual transition program which aims to showcase some fun and engaging activities that Wangaratta High School has to offer.

Many thanks to our wonderful Prefects for running the activities, the staff for providing support and our Year 9 students who assisted each day.

The final transition event were our transition days which this year were from Monday 9th – Wednesday

11th. These days saw over 120 of our future Year 7's attend and follow a typical Year 7 schedule to prepare them for high school life. These days provided students opportunities to settle into their new classes and meet new friends. Students were also able to familiarise themselves with their surroundings and feel more connected to Wangaratta School.

Careers & Pathways Career Coordinator Andrea Lucas

2024 has been an incredibly busy year for the Careers and Pathways Team, with students participating in an enormous range of vocational activities.

This is the first year that students from Years 8-10 have had Careers Education classes offered to them, allowing students to explore their vocational interests and start building their pathway through school. These classroom sessions have been wellsupported with a range of excursions and incursions that provided students with a diverse range of experiences exploring career opportunities.

Some of the highlights of the Year: We started the year with the Zonta girls and Boys Breakfasts, which provided Year 11 students with the opportunity to network with local professionals, while listening to engaging keynote speakers.

The Year 11 and 12 students travelled to Melbourne to attend VCE Careers Expo’s, showcasing the many pathways available after school.

The Year 10’s participated in work experience placements in May, experiencing the world of work.

The Year 7, 8 and 9 students attended incursions by Latrobe University, exploring pathways beyond school.

Students from Years 10-12 travelled to Puckapunyal for the annual Army Day activities, showcasing the many opportunities offered, which was supported by guest speakers from Defence Recruitment, at school.

Interested students from Years 10-12 attended the Health Careers forum at Gotafe, showcasing the pathways into Allied Health fields.

All Year 9 students attended the annual ‘Hands on Trades’ day at Winton Race way, which provided interactive displays from local industry representatives and experienced the range of career opportunities on offer through local council at the Local Council Careers Expo.

Students passionate in pursuing careers in Food, Fibre and Agriculture travelled to Dookie for the Food and Fibre Careers Expo and participated in the ‘find your passion in Ag’ day at Gotafe.

Students interested in Early Childhood education attended a recruitment day with local employers, many receiving fantastic employment options!

The Year 12’s hosted a number of guest speakers across the course of the year, from real estate, Centrelink, universities and Tafe.

A sincere thanks to the many teachers that assisted with excursions and the delivery of engaging Careers education classes throughout the year.

With your support we have been fortunate to be able to offer an enormous range of activities for students across all year levels to participate in.

Careers & Pathways

Head Start School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships Assistant Director Goulburn Ovens Murray Hub Cassy Campbell

As the Head Start Program enters into its second year at Wangaratta High School, many local employers are willingly opening School Based Apprenticeships / Traineeships (SBAT) opportunities for Wangaratta High School students.

As a new Department of Education program to the area in 2023, Wangaratta High School have been hosting Assistant Director Cassy Campbell, who has been busy establishing many pathways for students into SBAT’s.

The roll of the Head Start Coordinator is to support all stakeholders in the SBAT process, by assisting staff at Wangaratta High School, the employers, students and their families to enable successful outcomes for the students.

The program allows students to work one day a week with a local employer, whilst remaining in school the other four days. The success of the program allows students to gain a Head Start in their career whilst receiving subject credits back into their VCE or VCE VM as they remain engaged with their schooling.

As the program goes from strength to strength, I look forward to matching many local businesses with eager Wangaratta High School students in their SBAT opportunities.

English Learning Area Leader Kylie Wealands

2024 has been another exciting year of learning and growth in the English Learning Area. Along with the multitude of topics, issues and ideas covered in class, we have also had students attend other exciting opportunities. In May, our Year 10 Core English students walked across to Galen to watch a live performance of Macbeth, which allowed students to gain further insight into the classic play.

In June, five students were chosen to attend the Alex Race-Stelling Young Writers Day at Cathedral College, where they participated in workshops run by best selling authors to build their skills with creative writing. Within the VCE VM program, students created and presented engaging speeches, and two students wrote speeches that where then read out in Parliament. Book Week had several students engage in the fun activities provided by our Librarian, Bron, and many of the English teachers also joined in with the dressing up component. Some English classes were also lucky enough to hold an Olympic silver medal, which led to many diverse conversations and written pieces about a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Outside of school, we have had many students enter writing competitions and be successful in achieving awards for their brilliant pieces.

Thank you to all of the wonderful members of the English Learning Area, your commitment to the learning and development of our students is outstanding!

Humanities Learning Area Leader Meryl Herman

2024 has been a year of major social, political, economic, and global challenges, and Humanities students from Years 7 to 12 have been at the forefront of understanding these issues. From understanding the ongoing economic impacts of the pandemic, to analysing the influence of rapid technological change and the increasing rise of artificial intelligence on work environments. From unpacking the deep historical roots that impact the evolving dynamics in conflicts and international relations, to understanding and comparing electoral systems to better appreciate Australia’s democracy.

Across these areas we have dug deep into the forces shaping our world, learning about issues in Humanities to help us sharpen our critical thinking, recognise bias, and understand multiple perspectives – a crucial skill set in an era of complex, interconnected challenges. By examining the lessons of the past and the implications of the present, we’re better equipped to be informed, thoughtful citizens who understand the importance of protecting our democracy and being ready to shape a more equitable and resilient future.

Highlights: Hosting regional schools and the Model United Nations Business Management – Vineyard, winery and cellar door excursion Community Services – cooking breakfast for the Open Door Neighbourhood and undertaking CPR training Years 9 and 10 excursions to the Melbourne Holocaust Museum Year 9 excursion to the Melbourne War Memorial and Parliament House Year 8 – “Knock ‘em Down! Castle Walls and Siege Engines” and “Build a Nation” projects Year 7 – Ancient Civilisation artefact building

Mathematics Learning Area Leader Ricki Ryan

What an amazingly busy year we had in the Mathematics Learning Area in 2024.

From competing in the Australian Mathematics Competition to facing off against other local secondary schools at the Maths Games Day in Myrtleford, staff and students have thoroughly enjoyed showing off their Mathematic prowess.

The 2024 Australian Mathematics Competition once again had a fabulous participation rate amongst students with 67 students in total competing across Years 7-11.

Our award recipients across the year levels were: Year 7: Teo Valle Year 8: Leo Woodburne Year 9: Amelia Harding Year 10: Merlin Tzaros Year 11: Kevin Shiju Thomas And a special congratulations goes out to Year 7 student Teo Valle for being awarded Top of School.

Well done to all students who participated and challenged themselves outside of the classroom.

This year a group of 16 students from Year 7 and 8, a group of 8 students from Year 9 and 10 had the opportunity to compete in the Maths Games Day at Myrtleford P-12 College. Our students competed against schools from Yarrawonga, Myrtleford and Wodonga. Teams were made up of groups of 4 completing hands-on tasks, earning ‘Gems’ throughout the day. Our students showed great persistence and a wonderful level of Mathematical knowledge, taking out second place in the Year 7/8 section and winning the Year 9/10 section.

Year 7/8 runners-up: Paige-Lee Dummett, Willow Norris, Amelie Booth and Mason Skermer.

Year 9/10 winners: Amelia Harding, Clara Rocchioccioli, Cameron Sgarioto and Ruby Burns.

We look forward to hosting The Maths Games Day in 2025!

There was amazing learning going on across the entire school this year in Mathematics. Staff worked extremely hard to deliver engaging lessons to their classes and students participated to the highest level.

Year 7's got to enjoy a new assortment of hands-on activities and board games as well as develop their farmyard posters whilst learning about measurement.

Year 8's explored online programs to create tessellations and delved into the world of finance to learn about cost price, sale price and discounts of grocery items.

Year 10 extended their knowledge of Trigonometry and Pythagoras’ Theorem and investigated how income, tax and overtime can be calculated and applied to budgeting.

The Inclusion Hub spent the year focusing on Number skills, participating in regular hands-on activities to extend understanding, as well as fluency tasks to consolidate topic content.

Mathematics We recognise the following students who achieved academic excellence in Mathematics in 2024: Year 7: Daksh Kumar, Paige Tanner & Teo Valle Year 8: Cody Graham & Oliver Cleave-Sessle Year 9: Billy Harwood & Amelia Harding Year 10: Hunter Boruch, Clara Rocchiccioli & Naomi Roberts Year 11: Anthony Chisholm & Ella Walsh Year 12: Tom Ford, Tara Rose Wevers & Daniel Bradford Across the school there has been a vast improvement in classroom learning environments and student engagement.

A massive thank you goes out to the amazing Mathematics Team who have worked tirelessly all year: Peter Breukers, Andrea Matheson, Cate Hoskin, Katelyn Sheather, Meg Whatley, Lesley Forman, Libby Walters, Jack Nolan, Michelle Pullin, Leah Tindill, Nathan Manning and Rheanna Lang.

We look forward to another exciting year of Mathematics in 2025!

Science Learning Area Leader Rheanna Lang

The 2024 school year has been an exciting one for Science at Wangaratta High School! This year, we’ve strengthened our partnership with the soon-to-open Wangaratta Tech School on Cusack Street. Junior students have had opportunities to explore advanced learning programs offered through other established Tech Schools around Victoria, giving them a taste of the future.

One of the highlights was the Gippsland Tech School’s mobile unit visit, where some of our Year 7 students took their first steps into the world of VR (virtual reality). Our second Tech School experience saw newly elected ambassadors from Wangaratta High join other local schools in visiting the Whittlesea Tech School campus. There, they explored working with cobots (collaborative robots) and even designed and laser-cut custom keyrings.

One of the Year Nine classes took a memorable trip to Mullinmur Billabong, where they explored ecosystems and expanded their knowledge of food webs. They learned about the environmental impact of European Carp on local river systems and the delicate balance within the Billabong. Highlights of the trip included fishing for carp, conducting water quality tests, and using cameras and monitors to observe possums and frogs in nesting boxes. It was a hands-on experience that brought classroom learning to life!"

In the senior school, Year 11 Biology students were inspired by a presentation from researcher Graham Jenkin, who shared insights into the medical potential of cord blood. Our Year 12 Biology students took on an exciting challenge at GTAC (Gene Technology Access Centre) in Melbourne, using plasmid maps and restriction enzymes to insert human insulin DNA into plasmids under the guidance of Mrs. Lucas.

One of the standout achievements this year was from Clara Rocchiccioli, a Year 10 student selected for the prestigious John Monash Science School Regional Exchange (REX) program. Clara spent three weeks in this hands-on program, which included classes in

Astrophysics and Microbiology, as well as weekly visits to Monash University to learn about ongoing scientific research. Among many unique experiences, Clara tested koala DNA for chlamydia and, in another exercise, explored earthquake predictions using party poppers and weighted strings. Her final week involved designing low-energy circuits with a graphite pencil, demonstrating the concept of conductivity.

Clara also participated in a 4-day Science Immersion Research Experience at GTAC, working on cuttingedge biomedical research alongside Melbourne’s top scientists. Her work included microscopy, DNA manipulation, bioinformatics, data processing, and science communication—an unforgettable experience at the forefront of science.

2024 has truly been a year of discovery, growth, and achievement for our Science students at Wangaratta High School!

Performing Arts Learning Area Leader Scott Solimo

Wangaratta High School has proudly offered a wellrounded Classroom Music Program and an extensive Instrumental Music Program to its students for many decades.

At Wangaratta High School, we believe that our instrumental music program is not just about learning to play an instrument but about fostering a myriad of essential skills that contribute to the holistic development of our students. Through weekly lessons, rehearsals, camps/workshops, tours, and performances many students develop an engagement with music that continues beyond the school gates and enriches our wider community.

August. With 30 students from Year 7 to 12 we recorded 14 tracks. This year’s album, titled ‘Polyphonic’ will be available to listen to on the Wangaratta High School website.

CONCERT BAND TOUR – September 2nd - 6th It was a windy and stormy start to the annual Concert Band Tour in early September this year. The Concert Band travelled cautiously south and made their way safely to Phillip Island on Monday 2nd September; 19 students, 3 staff, 1 volunteer, 1 orange bus, and a transit van full of musical instruments. With five performances across three days, they were a busy group! An invaluable experience for all involved; everyone had a wonderful time and gave some excellent performances.

BEGINNER BAND CAMP – May 6th - 8th With 30 newly instrumented students, Term 2 started with a camp to Harrietville. A three-day workshop, this camp fundamentally improved students playing and confidence. In just three days we got through five weeks of content! A noteworthy achievement for beginner musicians.

NEVR ENSEMBLE DAY – September 19th On September 19th Wangaratta High School had the honour of hosting the inaugural North-East Victorian Region Music Ensemble Day in our very own Performing Arts Centre. With 16 Schools from Corryong to Yea performing a broad range of music in different styles and groups, we had a fabulously diverse and inspiring day. Well done to everyone involved!

MIDWINTER CONCERT – August 1st On August 1st we held our Mid-Winter Concert, and our Beginner Band had their debut performance. The overall design of the night provided a clear demonstration of the growth and skills developed over all year levels. This was exemplified by the Symphonic Band's perfect and emotive performance of the Star Wars theme music. Truly amazing! An outstanding job done by all!

KOOL SKOOLS – August 19th & 20th We spent a long but productive two days in Melbourne recording our annual school album in

JUNIOR MUSIC FESTIVAL – October 22nd Terms 3 and 4 saw Classroom music students learning how to put together a rock performance for their curriculum assessment task. On Tuesday October 22nd, their efforts culminated in the Junior Music Festival which saw all the Year 7 and 8 perform. The Year 7's took the stage first with 7E taking home the Year 7 trophy for their outstanding performance of Miley Cyrus’s ‘Party in the USA’. With tough acts to follow, the Year 8s didn’t shy away from the limelight. With an epic guitar solo from Gus Hedderman, 8E snatched the year 8 trophy with Jon Bon Jovi’s ‘Living on a Prayer’. A big thank you to all the judges,

Performing Arts students and staff who helped on the day.

JAZZ FESTIVAL – November 2nd Wangaratta High School has a long history with the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues. Now in its 34th year, the Stage Band were proud to be invited to perform at the Wangaratta Club on the Saturday and uphold the tradition. Dressed to impress, the band played through some Jazz classics, and pieces featuring the soulful and textural vocals of Anthony Chisholm and Lilian Wilson.

PRIMARY SCHOOL PERFORMANCE DAY – November 7th Following the success of our Concert Band Tour in September we decided the Concert Band were ready to face their next challenge – performing at home to their old primary schools.

On November 7th they journeyed to Appin Park, Wangaratta West, and Yarrunga Primary Schools.

With several of the students now playing to friends and siblings the pressure was on! Soli kept the crowds entertained and the band gave three exceptional performances.

END OF YEAR CONCERT – November 20th Seeing the Wangaratta High School PAC lit up for our End of Year Concert always creates a sense of excitement. It was an emotional night of acknowledgment as we recognise the students who have gone above and beyond and we say goodbye to our Year 12s, some of whom have been part of our program since primary school.

This year’s Concert finished with the Symphonic Bands exhilarating performance of Lord of the Dance.

A remarkable evening that the students and staff should be proud of.

SYMPHONIC BAND TOUR – November 25th - 29th The Symphonic Band hit the road in questionable weather for the start of this year’s annual tour. With fingers crossed for a sunny change, they gave an upbeat performance at Anglesea Primary School on Monday afternoon. Tuesday saw us hit the beach in the morning before heading to the Geelong Botanic Gardens for their second performance of the tour.

Wednesday was spent in Melbourne – a trip to the museum, a tour at the Arts Centre, and off to Tina Turner the Musical that night. Thursday was a full day

in the recording studio, and to finish the tour, the Symphonic Band brought it back home for their final performance of the year in the King George Gardens in front of friends and family.

SANTA BAND – December 16th & 17th Always a bit of fun, our senior music students along with staff and our fabulous volunteers come together at the end of the year, don their best festive decorations and perform hits such as ‘Jingle Bell Rock’, ‘We Wish you a Merry Christmas’, and ‘Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer’ around Wangaratta.

MUSIC SUPPORT GROUP Now in their 44th year, the Music Support Group includes not just parents of music students, but also community volunteers, past students, parents of past students, and music enthusiasts, all united to make music education accessible at Wangaratta High School. We’d like to give special thanks to all support group members from the students and staff who have benefited from their service to music.

Finally, we’d like to say farewell to our departing Year 12 students Zoe Baguley, Ollie Chambers, Anika Robinson, and Xavier Zachariou and give a big thank you to all the band students, music staff, volunteers, parents, and friends for your participation, dedication, and continued support.

We look forward to working with you all for another busy year of music in 2025!

PERFORMING ARTS STAFF: Scott Solimo, Keyna Masin, Laurence Adorni-Dickson, Alex Johnson, Gary McDonald, & Carlia Van Hoorn.

MUSIC VOLUNTEERS: Rob Humphrey, Jordan Gosbell, Jenny O’Brien, Dave Baguley, David Roe, Kev McGennan, Quilan Goff

Performing Arts DEPARTING YEAR 12 SYMPHONIC BAND MEMBERS: Zoe Baguley, Anika Robinson, Ollie Chambers, Xavier Zachariou.

2024 MUSIC AWARD WINNERS Beginner Band Award – Awarded to students who have been excellent in their attendance and who have made exceptional progress on their instrument in their first year: Hayden Boyle, Angus Fraser, Trixie Danks, Noah Anderson, Amelie Booth, Jack Vincent, Darby Rowles.

Concert Band Award – Awarded to an outstanding contributor/s to the Concert Band: Tirandi Abeyawardana and Gus Hedderman Lichnovsky Award – Awarded to an outstanding contributor to Stage Band: Elliott Rowles and Amelia Harding Symphonic Band Award – Awarded to an outstanding contributor to the Symphonic Band: Anika Robinson Solimo Award – Awarded to outstanding contributor/s to the small group program: Yin and Yang (Anthony Chisholm, Harry Goeby, Josh Robertson) McKean Award – Awarded for composing or arranging outstanding music in 2024: Anthony Chisholm 2023 Dux of Music: Ollie Chambers Music ‘All-rounder’ Award: Awarded to a student for their commitment, organisation ability, and overall contribution to the Wangaratta High School music program: Tara Wevers JMS Humphrey Award – Awarded to a Year 12 student for an outstanding contribution to the Music Program during their time at WHS: Ollie Chambers

Talent Quest Learning Area Leader Scott Solimo

A jam-packed auditorium of approximately 400 people witnessed our 43rd Annual Talent Quest on Wednesday March 27 at the school's Performing Arts Centre.

Congratulations to the following award winners: Alexis Cox of Year 8 was the star of the night. The solo vocalist stunned the crowd with a rendition of the uplifting "Rise Up" by Andra Day, singing pitch perfect over a backing track. The performance netted her two awards - ​Best Female Vocalist and the prestigious overall winner. An extraordinary effort for someone so young.

The extremely smooth and cool Anthony Chisholm of Year 11 was awarded ​Best Male Vocalist, featuring in an array of bands and solo acts, each time nailing his delivery of his favoured relaxed R&B and Soul style.

He was part of the vocal team on the night's opener, the cover of Sophie Ellis Bextor's "Murder On The Dancefloor", but it was his original song, "Wide Awake" which was a standout moment of the evening.

For any student to write & perform their own song is impressive, and this song is quite the piece of art.

Multiple-time overall winner-winning rock band ​The Dunners, featuring Year 12 boys Ollie Chambers, Eden Van Bergen, Xavier Zachariou and Year 11 Josh Robertson, hit the stage all in Cowboy Hats, and added to their swathe of awards over the years, this year picking up Best Duo/Small Group. Their track this year saw lead singer Ollie take more of a backseat, with keyboardist Xavier handling much of the vocals in a humorous track about himself, "Big Xav". Xavier was extremely entertaining, and got to show off some of the beautiful vocals he is capable of and which his family is renowned for. ​ est New Talent went to 9E classmates Rosie Bulmer B and Jacinta Snowdon, who performed the James Bond theme "No Time To Die". With Rosie on the grand piano and Jacinta on her flute, they handled the complex piece absolutely flawlessly.

Year 11 lad Harry Goeby won the Special Judges Award for his proficient and clean finger-work on the bass guitar in a number of bands, with judges acknowledging they loved the way he "bopped and grooved".

Legendary Year 12's Sienna Box-Corsini and Kalika Milankos-King won the gong for Best Variety Act. The great mates have performed a dance act every year since Year 7, and this year made a splash with a synchronised swimming act, bounding around the stage in bright pink leotards and swimming goggles.

They had stiff competition too, with many impressive dance acts including Year 10 Julian Cox (Alexis' brother) who tore the roof off the joint with a Russian dance over a pumping dance tune.

Best Year 12 Costume is always a bit of fun too, with ​ The Wiggles taking it out this year (Clove Boonzayer, Ryley-Harding-Collis, Tristan Scott, James Shaw, Reuben Smith, Darcy Stone and Cope Swinburne).

One of the strongest years seen for Year 12 outfits, many others were good enough to win it, especially The Spice Girls and the Toy Story characters.

A large highlight was the number of performers from our outstanding Year 7 cohort. I believe it's the most Year 7's we've seen perform at a Talent Quest, with 3 solo musicians and 4 dancers being brave enough to do what many wouldn't. Henry Lloyd deserves special praise. He lost his bandmate on the day due to injury, but still got up there solo, wailing on his electric guitar to the Metallica classic "Seek & Destroy", blowing away music staff with his skill.

At the other end of the age spectrum, our Year 12 emcees Sophie McPhan and Cope Swinburne were tremendous, handling with aplomb a very tough job.

Their positive energy was a key to the night's success.

The Staff Act was one of the longest in recent memory, with Carlia Van Hoorn, Alex Johnson, Morgan Clark, Richard Routley, Kylie Fountain, Kylie Wealands and Zelda Yeates all singing live covers of Robbie Williams, Blink 182, Rage Against The Machine, Vanilla Ice and AC/DC, Principal Dave Armstrong being lassoed during "Cotton Eyed Joe", and Jack Nolan getting some of the night's loudest screams with his razor-crisp dance moves as a

Talent Quest piggy-tailed Britney Spears to "Oops! I Did It Again."

The finale though was the highpoint, with Zelda announcing to the crowd it was Sandy "Newmo" Newman's final Talent Quest ever. Newmo, a lynchpin of Staff Acts for decades, entered from the back door of the room, high-fiving audience members on her way down the aisle to the stage dressed as Angus Young to "Thunderstruck", with the whole crowd on their feet giving one final standing ovation to one of the most loved teachers and figures in the school's history.

The Year 12 Dance was also wonderful, with Hannah Lockhart the key organiser, and classic throwback 90s tracks "What Is Love?" and "Backstreet's Back" making it a hard-hitting end to a great night.

Massive thank you to all performers, all audience members for supporting the night, all staff involved, to all of our great sound, stage & lighting people (Travas Hope, Ben & James Christie, Jacob Molinaro) and judges (Clancy Bassett & Sandi Keenan), all of whom are ex-students.

Looking forward to making it even bigger and better next year.

Visual Arts Learning Area Leader Shane Castricum

bringing the adventures of bikes, cars, and long, winding roads into the classroom. Thank you all for sharing your creative journeys and enriching your storytelling through these remarkable productions.

2024 The Visual Arts, what an amazing year of student success.

Congratulations to everyone — your VCE exhibition was outstanding. Now, onward to your next adventures!

Well done to the wonderful VCE Art Creative Practice class of 2024. What happens when an abstractionist, a surrealist and a street artist walk into an art room! They say Good Morning Ms Caddey and then absolute creative chaos! It's been wonderful to work with Hannah Stafford, Alicia Snowdon and Edan Van Bergen, who put so much passion and skill into their work and I am so proud of their growth and dedication to Art. They really are the ones to watch.

Media Units 1-2 students have embraced the discourses of Media, engaging in deeper discussions and exploring global issues that foster critical thinking and challenge perspectives. Well done! As their technical skills evolve, so do the depth and complexity of their stories. Our end-ofyear exhibition is a testament to their journey and growth. There’s much more to say, but you’ll have to wait until next year.

The Unit 3-4 Media classes showcased an impressive array of media productions across animation, photography, and short films. Cope Swinburne’s animation of a game trailer demonstrated dedication, and a skill set well beyond his years. The compelling storytelling in Caeleigh Cornhill and Siena Box-Corsini’s short films skilfully played with audience emotions.

Hannah’s fusion of camera work and choreography in her modern dance film was both authentic and captivating, engaging the audience. Kaylah’s haunting photography explored the past with a fresh perspective, connecting powerfully with viewers.

Jaxsun Williams’s perseverance in his suspense film heightened tension, bringing a sense of apprehension and pause to the audience. Tia Cox, your journey of international influence is truly remarkable. Taking on such a complex and largescale project is highly impressive. Creating a video clip that is not only highly stylized but also expertly tailored to a specific audience is a significant accomplishment. To Cody Lepoidevin and Paxton Kneebone, the class wouldn’t have been the same without you, cheers to putting in and sharing your ideas. Well done!

Wil Carmody, Clove Boonzayer, and Tristan Scott’s photography vividly captured their lives and stories,

The Year 7 to 10 semester exhibitions are a vital platform for students to not only showcase their artistic talents but to develop critical life skills such as collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. Our art program is designed to foster a creative environment where students feel empowered to explore, take risks, and express their unique artistic voices. A particular highlight is our end-of-semester exhibition, a celebration of student work from Year 7 to 10.

Thank you to our awesome media students that created animated films and complex suspense shorts. Year 10 Art and VCD students have been working large scale. You may have been into M building and seen the Iconic Clothing, Appropriation of Famous Artworks or the School Value Murals lining the wall. It has been big and vibrant and I am so proud of them for making things happen and making such a splash.

Year 9 Visual Communication students completed exceptional final pieces in Semester One, particularly their stencilled skateboards featuring motifs from the local region. Students showcased local flora and fauna, like Jade Todd’s amazing Murray Cod stencil, or historical symbols, such as Charlie Leslie’s depiction of Ned Kelly.

Visual Arts Year 8 students produced impressive intaglio oilpressed prints, focusing on local, federal, or global issues. Some prints were especially thoughtprovoking, like Emily Matthews’ piece on seismic blasting, Ruby Burns’ activist print, “Save the Otters,” and Matthew Leerson’s depiction of the “Uluru Crisis.” Paige Hanley and Leila Hyland also created stunning prints on beauty and vanity, with their collages and prints being framed for display in the M Block building.

Year 7 students created a fantastic array of colourful artworks, photographing themselves and transforming their images into cubist-inspired designs. They then traced these designs to produce vibrant, Picasso-inspired oil pastel pieces. Standout works include Kay Cepillo’s and Mason Skermer’s self-portraits, where symbols were used to represent their personalities, reflecting cubist influences.

Everyone’s work was outstanding, bringing brightness and joy to the M Block building.

As educators, we know that celebrating the arts is about more than displaying artwork; it’s about nurturing a spirit of innovation, expression, and collaboration that permeates our school community.

Our semester exhibitions are a testament to the transformative power of creativity, reflecting the incredible journey our students undertake as they explore and discover their artistic potential.

Visual Arts

Technology Learning Area Leader Gayle O’Keefe

2024 was yet another exciting year for the Technology learning area.

Students from all year levels had the opportunity to experience a vast range of specialist subjects from skilled and dedicated teachers. Technology learning areas covers diverse subjects from Digital Technology through to all the ‘hands on’ subjects such as Metal, Wood, Catering, Food Studies, Plastics, Textiles and Design and Print-Textiles.

From our numerous displays of student works throughout 2024 it was evident that there have been many amazing items designed and created by our students.

With an array of opportunities for extracurricular activities throughout 2024 the highlight for many of our students was the food technology excursion to Queen Victoria Market organised by Ms Glasglow and Cheryl Crimmins. The excursion showed the students a plethora of new and exciting foods to broaden their culinary skills. Excursions like this help to inspire our students.

Textiles Technology In the Textiles workroom our students were exposed to state-of-the-art equipment. The students have produced amazing products such as pincushions, shibori bags and character cushions and in our middle year classes projects completed included woven cushions, nightwear, children’s wear, casual wear and evening wear.

Throughout 2024 WHS textile students were successful at numerous local and regional textile events. October saw many of our students entered the Wangaratta Agricultural Show and received several prizes for their outstanding work. Both events presented an excellent opportunity for the WHS textile students, across all year levels, to show case their talents through exhibiting over 50+ items.

With high quality products and design folios produced in textiles this year, our current Year 12 Product Design and Technology Textile students have been invited to exhibit their work in the Benalla Gallery arts space early in 2025.

The recipient of the ‘Centre Quilters’ scholarship for 2024 was Alison Jones. Alison received a generous $500 scholarship to assist in the production design folio and product and aided in the costs involved in producing a range of garments. The assistance from this local organisation is highly valued by both students and staff.

Design and Print-Textiles Design and print textiles course continues to be elective students strongly pursued by our middle school students. The course focuses on textile embellishment techniques such as screen printing, sublimation, dyeing, digital transfers and stencilling the students have completed outstanding products with sublimated hoodies being a popular choice.

An excellent range of these were displayed at end of Semester 1 at the middle school arts and technology exhibition.

Technology Food Technology Food Technology was a journey through the world of food! It began with an introduction to healthy eating, basic cooking and organisational skills in Year 7, and progressed through to Year 9 expanding their knowledge of the variety of foods available and preventing food waste. Year 10’s continued the journey by adapting food to meet the nutritional and lifestyle needs of others and the environment, and Year 11’s looked to the origins of food and the influence of food industries on food choices. And what a journey it was!

Each week Year 7 students eagerly awaited the opportunity to learn and apply new skills and expand their existing knowledge. For some, it was the first time they used a chef’s knife, stove top and unfamiliar equipment, whereas for others it was a chance to hone their organisational skills, food hygiene and safety in creating healthy and enjoyable meals and snacks.

Students showcased their newly-acquired skills and knowledge through designing a healthy burger for a family meal, and using scone dough base and raising it to new heights.

Food waste has significant economic and environmental impacts. One third of the world's food is wasted. One in five shopping bags end up in the bin. The top five most wasted foods in Australia are vegetables, bread, fruit, bagged salad, and leftovers.

Through making use of these most wasted foods, plus seasonal and local foods, Year 9 students came to understand the importance and ways of preventing food waste. The World on Our Plate, and Sustainability – Preventing Food Waste.

The World on Our Plate was explored in Year 9 through the regions of the Mediterranean, with many dishes being familiar and popular with students.

Year 10 Food Technology students expanded upon the prevention of food waste by examining wise shopping choices such as sustainably sourced fish,

Technology ethically raised animals and environmentally friendly farming/industry practices. They then explored cooking techniques/recipes and lifestyle choices eg Meat-free Mondays that supported these. They looked at the World on Our Plate by focusing on our closest neighbours in Asia, with a wide range of food stuffs and cooking techniques/practices.

In Semester 2, Year 10 Catering explored how the food industry catered to the many needs of the population, from fancy breakfasts, nutritious lunches, morning and afternoon teas, to how the feast of Christmas was celebrated in various countries. A small but dedicated group of students, they planned, prepared and presented a staff morning tea as a successful fundraiser for Frocktober cancer research.

VCE Units 1 & 2 (year 11) Food Studies focused on Food Origins with food from around the world as well as in Australia, and Food Makers, both in food industries and in the home.

A Year 11 Food Studies excursion to Melbourne saw the students overwhelmed at the variety of foods available at the Queen Victoria Markets and the many eating establishments in the city. They purchased unfamiliar foods to prepare and taste back at school.

Many factors influence the foods chosen by consumers. Year 11 students were required to design or adapt meals to meet the needs of families, including lifespan stages, allergies/intolerances, lifestyles, time and resources available, and budgets. In addition, the practical activities enabled students to observe food science in action through the chemical and physical changes to the properties of food.

One challenging task involved planning, writing, ordering, and packaging a Meal – Kit (think Hello Fresh) to feed an adult couple. The Meal Kits were then randomly assigned, and students followed the instructions to make the meal, then evaluate both the meal and the recipe instructions. Students agreed it was a fun way to gain a greater appreciation of food systems.

Technology Metal, Plastics, and Wood Technology The inclusion of plastics into the metal and plastics classroom has seen student models take on a new level of creativeness and personalisation.

Our Year 7 students have undertaken as variety of projects in both plastics and metal with the Year 8 students undertaking some exciting wood projects.

The successes within this learning space reinforced by the smiles on the faces of students as they collect their finished models, ready to show their families the new skills they have developed.

Our Year 9 and 10 students have undertaken furniture construction learning complex joinery processes.

Year 11 students have developed a folio to enhance the research and design aspects of their individual projects.

Digital Technology In Digital Technology, Year 7 students have developed capacity to become innovative and confident users of a range of technologies.

The ‘Digi Tech’ program covered numerous topics from coding and robotics through to cyber safety headed by Ms Leah Tindill.

The diverse range digital technology covered in this course has ensured the studentswere engaged and set them up to be well equipped for the digital requirements in the school setting and beyond and provided personalised learning all of which are integrated across their curriculum.

Outdoor Education

Learning Area Leader Morgan Clark

It’s been a massive year of Outdoor Education with four classes running across two semesters. It was great to once again have a Year 12 Outdoor & Environmental Studies (OES) class run at the school, with a fantastic bunch of students undertaking the program for their final year of schooling.

The Year 12's took a surfing and camping trip down to the Anglesea area in Term One, followed up by a day of mountain bike riding at Beechworth in Term Two. This semester, they cycled to and from the Winton Wetlands, camping the night at Green’s Hill.

All these trips serve as a mode of getting active and trying new activities and learning about the changing relationships with outdoor environments through Australia’s history.

The Year 11 class took an overnight bushwalk up Victoria’s highest peak, Mount Bogong in Term One, followed by a lovely day canoeing and exploring Lake Nillahcootie in Term Two. This semester, the students challenged themselves by Telemark skiing with full packs and camping the night at Mount Stirling in the snow – a unique experience! The Year 11 course is focussed on learning the practical skills associated with outdoor travel, before moving into aspects of sustainability and Australian ecology.

The Year 10 class runs for a semester at a time, with units on navigation, ecology, sustainability, practical skills and first aid. Students have undertaken activities such as orienteering and ecology sessions at the Barr Reserve and Mullinmurr Billabongs, along with an overnight bushwalk to the Bogong High Plains.

Sport Learning Area Leader Jud Mullins

Our 2024 statistics remind us how huge of a year it has been in School Sport. 17 Sports entered. 44 total Sport days. 76 Teams. 233 players. 825 Total Experiences. The Year 7s (54 students) and Year 8s (52) led the charge.

Kaity Ford competed in the most Sports with 13 totalling 15 days, followed by Clarence Lampa, Paige-Lee Dummett, Inanay Gilson and Ruby O’Kane all on 12. Lampa totalled a staggering 18 Sport days, due to regularly making it to further stages of competition. He had the most, with Dummett and Gilson next on 17, and Ford and O’Kane with 15 each. Seven others accumulated more than 10 days as well.

We won the Cross Country Upper Hume Championship for the 1st time in 10 years, fielding a team of 43 at Dederang Racecourse. Merlin Tzaros won 1st place. 16 raced at Hume Region Cross Country in Benalla, with our Senior Girls team winning 1st (Phoebe Bosley, Clare Collins and Isabelle Hooper), and Tzaros winning individual Silver and 4 finishing Top 10 (Bella Boulton 7th, Collins 9th, Jed Murray 10th).

For the 1st time in many years we had whole school carnivals for both athletics and swimming. King house (410) clinched the swimming in a thriller from Merriwa (408) by 2 points, while Merriwa (1418) dominated the athletics with King (1254) in 2nd .

41 swimmers competed at Upper Hume picking up 2 Gold medals (Merlin Tzaros and the 15 Girls Relay Team (Lucy Armstrong, Lillian Hooper, Jada Ryan and Casey Sheppard), and 12 swam at Hume Region. In the Athletics, 59 competed at Upper Hume, clinching a whopping 60 medals (17 Gold, 18 Silver and 25 Bronze), with 20 at Hume Region

picking up 22 medals (5 Gold, 11 Silver, 6 Bronze) 8 more than 2023. Five athletes competed at the State Track & Field Championships, with Merlin Tzaros (3000m Silver) and James Chisholm (Discus Bronze) the medalists.

Record breakers included Merlin Tzaros (Upper Hume 1500m and 3000m, Hume Region 3000m, W.H.S 1500m) and Bella Boulton (W.H.S 100m, 200m and 400m).

Two Sporting teams made it to State Finals. They were the Year 8 Boys Badminton team (Jeremy Bagley, Lachlan Downing, Clarence Lampa, Hugh Spring and Zach Wills) who finished 5th and were the #1 Country school. They blitzed the Hume Region comp in Shepparton, winning 17-1 sets across the day. The other was the Junior Boys Lawn Bowls squad (Jeremy Bagley, Clarence Lampa and Zach Wills) who finished 5th at Sunbury. Lampa competed at more State Championships than anyone - 3 in total.

The other team to compete at Hume Region stage were the Junior Girls Football team. The Year 8 Girls Soccer team almost made it - losing in a penalty shoot out in the final at Upper Hume in Wodonga. Others to go Upper Hume Runner-Up included the 8 Boys Super 8 Cricket and Volleyball teams, the 7 and 10 Girls Super 8 Cricket teams, both the 7 Girls and Boys Badminton teams, both the 7 and Inter Girls Table Tennis teams, and both 7 Girls and Boys 4x50m Relay Swimming teams.

We had several make Victorian State teams. Year 10 Merlin Tzaros competed for Victoria in both Triathlon and Cross Country. At National Championships, he placed Top 10 in Australia in both Triathlon (Western Australia) and Cross Country (Tasmania), and won a National Silver Medal as part of the Victorian Cross Country team.

Year 12 Reuben Smith raced for Victoria and won 3 silver medals at the National Cycling Championships in Brisbane, including 2 individual events (time trial and sprint). In the sprint, only the Junior World Champion was faster. Smith also raced in an Australian Under 19 team at the Oceania Track Cycling Championships in

Sport New Zealand, winning Silver in the team, plus an individual bronze (Keiren event).

Year 9 Milly O’Kane at the time of print is in the Top 25 Victorian Netball quad. If picked this summer in the final team, she will be our 1st state netballer in 29 years (since Kim Welch in 1995).

Other impressive State and National results include Year 8 Lacy Solimo (9th in Australia, Equestrian), Year 8 Ruby Burns (9th in Australia, Mountain Biking), Year 8 Inanay Gilson (State Champion, Enduro Mountain Biking), Year 9 Ruby Stevens (State Champion, Kayaking), Skelly Manning (3rd in a Victorian Cross Country Skiing title).

Big thank you to all players, helpers, coaches, admin team, bus drivers and families for all being vital part of the program. An extensive outline with hundreds of photos can be seen in the Our Year in Sport 2024 magazine.

Swimming Carnival Learning Area Leader Jud Mullins

King House has etched itself into the history books, pulling off one of the most remarkable come-frombehind victories ever seen at the 2024 Swimming Carnival.

Languishing in 4th place for most of the morning, suffering from a clearly visible lack of numbers during the novelty events, and overall numbers at the venue, they stormed back into contention on the back of 6 standout individuals who would collect 6 of the 12 Age Group Champion medals.

Late in proceedings, the leader board fluctuated race by race, with the top 3 houses all at various stages in 1st position, and Ovens well within striking distance too.

In the end, it was King who saluted by a mere 2 points from last year's champions Merriwa, with Wareena just 13 points back.

Apart from the once-in-a-century draw between Wareena & King in 2021, Newmo said it was the closest finish she could recall in her 26 years of running the event.

In a wonderful scene, King's two senior house captains Clove Boonzaayer and Zoe Baguley lifted the iconic Shield, flanked by the other 10 King House Captains, in front of a packed auditorium during the presentation ceremony at the PAC. Final Scores: 1st - KING - 410 2nd - MERRIWA - 408 3rd - WAREENA - 397 4th - OVENS - 354 Interestingly, King finished last in 2023, a whopping 126 points behind the winner Merriwa. It goes to show that any house can win, any year.

Individually, there were 12 age group champion medals awarded during the presentations. Again, these champions become part of W.H.S history forever, some winning for the 1st time and others now multiple winners.

Age Group Champions: 13 Girls - Aroha Waddell - KING 13 Boys - Hanesh Govinda Samy - WAREENA and Angus Fraser - WAREENA 14 Girls - Ruby O'Kane - MERRIWA 14 Boys - Oskar McGahan - OVENS 15 Girls - Lillian Hooper - KING 15 Boys - Sam Morey - MERRIWA 16 Girls - Milly O'Kane - KING 16 Boys - Merlin Tzaros - WAREENA 17 Girls - Tara Genn - KING 17 Boys - Jye Laxton - KING 20 Girls - Zoe Baguley - KING 20 Boys - Tristan Scott - OVENS Lillian Hooper scored the most individual points, with 34 from her 5 events, while Merlin Tzaros was the other to pull more than 30, with his 32 from 4 events.

Strong effort by Merlin, backing up from winning the Barwon Heads Triathlon on Sunday. Also of note, is that when we arrived to set up at 7:30am the morning of the event, Merlin was just getting out of the water having just swum 4km with his father Chris. That's 80 laps.

Jye Laxton though, may be the most important name on that list. Jye was sadly going to miss the original Swimming Carnival as he was on a family holiday. However, the rescheduled date saw him suddenly available on the new date. This stroke of fortune was likely a key reason for King's victory.

Another key point is the super participation of our Year 7's. For all 4 houses, it was the Year 7s who collected the most points - especially Wareena's Year 7's (7E class) who gathered 189 points themselves. An outstanding sign for future carnivals.

Big thank you to all students who participated today or came along to support the day. Likewise to the

Swimming Carnival many parents who popped in to support their children. It was a monumental triumph in terms of school spirit.

Huge thank you to all staff in attendance, all of whom undertook various roles to make the day run smoothly.

Special thank you to our prefect team, who ran the BBQ, our 9D class who ran their own food stall, to year 12 student Cody Lepoidevin who was our DJ controlling the music, and our 48 house captains.

Thank you also to current parent and former teacher Kev McGennan for volunteering his considerable photography expertise.

Finally, thank you to Sandy "Newmo" Newman.

Newmo has been the W.H.S Sport Coordinator since 1999, and today she was running her 26th Swimming Carnival. As she is retiring at the end of this year, today was her final carnival. We thank her for being there today. It's staggering to think of how many students for whom she's provided special days and moments like today, over those years. It would likely amount to tens of thousands of young people. An all time legend of our school.

Swimming Carnival

Athletics Carnival Learning Area Leader Jud Mullins

Merriwa house were triumphant at the 2024 Athletics Carnival, winning the Bruce Revell Shield and making it back-to-back wins for the 1st time since 1995, 29 years ago. It's their 4th win in the last 40 years.

Merriwa won by by 165 points from King, Wareena and Ovens at the Bill Eaton Athletics Complex in Appin Street, where a total of 263 students competed.

Final Scores: 1st - MERRIWA - 1,419 2nd - KING - 1,254 3rd - WAREENA - 1,203 4th - OVENS - 1,027 Senior House Captains Cope Swinburne and Sienna Box-Corsini, flanked by their younger captains, were presented the prestigious shield by Principal Dave Armstrong at the track. They were carried to victory on the backs of their prodigious Year 8's, who scored 614 points themselves, making them by far the most productive cohort. Next best were the Wareena’s Year 7s (394), Ovens’ Year 11s (361) and King’s Year 7's (294).

Three records were broken, and another equalled, at this historic Carnival. The 1st fell in the very 1st race of the day. That was Year 7 Bella Boulton, who ran the 100m in 13.52, shattering the 25-year old record set by Melissa Ashton in 1999, by .43 of a second. A huge time fraction in such a short race.

Boulton then shortly afterward broke the 200m record which had stood for 32 years, since Bree Spasojevic set it in 1992. Newmo alerted Bree who was delighted for Bella and sent her congratulations. Spasojevic still holds 9 records- our most all time.

Staggeringly, Boulton then secured her 3rd track record for the day. In the 400m, her time of 1:08.30 equalled Nicole Turnbull's set in 1983, 41 years ago.

Bella confirms that she ran all 3 races with no idea of what the record times were, and could have pushed harder in both the 100m and 400m if she had have been gunning for records.

Boulton had the history book editors scrambling all day. We believe she is the 1st person to get the record in the 100-200-400 "Triple Crown" on the same day, in 36 years. That was Gayle Parrot, who did it in 1988 at Year 9. All 3 of those Parrot records still stand 36 years later. Shaun Dennis also did it 3 years prior in 1985 as a Year 12, and for good measure also broke the triple & high jump records that carnival.

Dennis' 200m and 400m records stood for 37 years until Jack Boulton (Bella's older brother) came along in 2022.

Later in the day, it was Merlin Tzaros who blasted into the history books. He took almost 3 seconds off the 1500m record of Jasper Danielson set in 2018. His time of 4:21.75 is the fastest 1500m on our books of any age group, meaning we will likely be writing Merlin's name into the books at least twice more over the next 2 years. The Team Vic Triathlon team member last year also broke the 1500m record at Upper Hume level in Albury, and also holds the 13

Athletics Carnival Boys Upper Hume 3000m cross country record too (plus one at Primary level for good measure).

Twelve age group champion medals were awarded, calculated from points from each athletes's Top 9 events.

Age Group Champions.

13 Girls - Bella Boulton - WAREENA 13 Boys - Leo Woodburne - MERRIWA 14 Girls - Inanay Gilson - MERRIWA 14 Boys - Clarence Lampa - MERRIWA 15 Girls - Jada Ryan - WAREENA 15 Boys - James Chisholm - WAREENA 16 Girls - Milly O'Kane - KING 16 Boys - Cooper Hardman - KING 17 Girls - Pieper Gottschling - KING 17 Boys - Tom Ford - OVENS 20 Girls - Clove Boonzayer - KING History was made everywhere we looked, and it continued during the age group champion award ceremony. Tom Ford completed a hat trick, making it 4 total. Ford becomes the 1st boy to win 3 in a row since Nathan Boyd in 2019 (who captured his 5th straight when in Year 11), and is one of just 5 boys to do it in the last 15 years. He also has 3 swimming age group awards, for a total of 7.

Leo Woodburne, Inanay Gilson, James Chisholm and Milly O'Kane claimed back-to-back wins and became multiple winners. Like Ford, Milly has won in the pool too (now boasting 2x athletics, 2x swimming), and she's only in Year 9. She was the only one this year to win the swimming-athletics age group double.

Milly also achieved what may be the greatest athletics carnival performance in our history, winning 8 individual events - something we're not sure has ever been achieved before. Due to missing Monday's Javelin and High Jump to illness, we submitted her scores from P.E class in March for those events. Her high jump was 9cm shy of winner Abbey Waide, meaning that was the only one of her 9 events she didn't win.

Leo Woodburne created history himself by becoming

the 1st to ever win back-to-back 13 Year Age Group Champion awards. Leo won it last year as a Year 7 despite being a further year younger than his fellow Year 7's, and then again this year as a Year 8 competing against the Year 7's.

Among the 6 first-time winners, Pieper Gottschling joined her older brother Tyler (who won back-to-back in 2016-17), and they become just our 23rd set of siblings to have won age group champ.

Some age group battles went down to the wire, and the number of events athletes entered was significant.

The closest was the 16 Boys, where Cooper Hardman won it by a solitary point from his mate Luke Macklan.

Hardman entering one more event than Macklan may have been the difference. One point is just one 8th place.

In the 20 Boys, Clove Boonzayer (62.5), who like Hardman, entered 1 more event than his runner up, held off Lachlan Barbour (61 points) by just one and a half points. That's just one 7th place. Ned O'Kane was also unlucky on 58.

The next closest was the 14 boys category, where Clarence Lampa secured his medal by a mere 3 points from Noah Williams. Again, Lampa had one more event under his belt. In the 15 Girls, Jada Ryan won by just 4 points from Lillian Hooper (9 events each), and in the 17 Boys, Tom Ford pipped Jye Laxton by 5, with Ford having one more event. The two gun Year 11 boys finished 1-2 in the Upper Hume Age Group last year in Albury.

The Carnival was a roaring success and will continue annually. Thank you to the 263 competitors, and every student who came and got involved.

Special thank you to the Wangaratta Little Athletics and to Sandy "Newmo" Newman. Our recently-retired Sport Coordinator of 25 years was the one who organised most of this day behind the scenes.

Athletics Carnival

Physical Education & Health Learning Area Leader Zelda Yeates

The Physical Education and Health Domains, aim to cultivate a lifelong love of being active, choosing healthy food options and participating in activities that enhance mental and emotional health and wellbeing.

Students have participated in a range of Physical Education units to enhance their understanding of their personal fitness and how to improve or maintain specific fitness components, body control and coordination, refining specialised movement skills in challenging movement situations, apply tactics and strategies (do you know the difference between these two?), transferring skills from one movement task to another and the ability to work in teams and respect the umpires decision.

Students have also benefited from specialised coaching via Sporting Schools Funding from the Australian Sports Commission.

Students have (and will continue to) benefit from funding from Active Schools Grants, providing equipment for students to use at break times and during specific PE or other class time.

2024 has seen many students being active at lunchtime in a variety of ways. Using the basketball and netball courts, soccer pitch, football oval, cricket pitch, outdoor table tennis tables, down ball courts and the gym.

Each term, representative sporting teams have been training hard prior to their interschool competition, during lunch and recess times. Thanks to the teachers that have selected and trained these teams during break times.

Please see the Sport Coordinator’s report for more information on WHS amazing achievements in school and interschool sport this year.

The upstairs Gym in the stadium had a floor upgrade at the end of Term 1, and a new leg press in Term 3.

This has benefited students in PE class time and during lunchtime training sessions.

Congratulations to the VCE Physical Education and Health and Human Development classes. It is great to see students electing these subjects to study during their VCE. A big thank-you to all students this year for their enthusiasm for PE and Health and thank-you to the PE Staff of 2024. Cindy Chalmers, Morgan Clark, Alex Johnson, Nathan Manning, Karen Mascas, Jud Mullins and Michelle Wilson.

Have a great summer break.

CLC Report Learning Area Leader Jud Mullins

For over 15 years our flagship C.L.C (Community Leadership Challenge) program has given our Year 9s priceless hands-on experiences and lifelong memories outside the classroom each Wednesday, and 2024 was no exception.

‘Excursion season’ again took in long-standing sojourns to Lake William Hovell, Bounce Trampolining in Wodonga, ten pin bowling, CBD scavenger hunt, and the Albury War Memorial, alongside newer ventures to the Albury Flying Fruit Fly Circus, Risky Kids Parkour, the Waldara Golf Club Driving Range, rewarding working bees at Carraragurmungee and Everton Primary Schools, and campus-based workshops including first aid training.

The trips are designed to gradually develop key life skills in the Year 9's, pushing them out of their comfort zone, and are heavily focused on empathy, kindness, resilience, trust, team work, communication and community.

Both semester cohorts this year had huge success during the most important stage of C.L.C – their Community Volunteering Projects where they give back to the community. Significant praise flooded in for both cohorts weekly, and the stories and photos shared in our “celebration circle” to close each week were powerful and meaningful.

The end-of-semester C.L.C presentation ceremonies, where each group presents their volunteering achievements to our junior school cohorts, community members, parents and staff, continues to provide some of the most powerful scenes of the school year. Who could forget Patti Stafford being presented on stage with a framed photo of herself and her grandson Brodie who volunteered with her at Inner Wheel.

A long list of community organisations generously hosted our students in 2024 - Anglicare Loaves & Fishes, Appin Park Primary School, Iloura Aged Care Home, Inner Wheel and Wangaratta Care Van, St. John’s Respect Aged Care Home, Zac’s Place and Wangaratta Night Shelter, Wangaratta West Primary School, Wangaratta Primary School, WDSS (Specialist School), and the Whitfield Community Childcare Centre. Some of these have been supporters of C.L.C for over a decade, others new in 2024. We couldn’t run the program without them, and we thank them deeply.

Many business’ donated to various fundraising efforts of our kids – Seed & Bloom, Spirited Party Shop, Where Is My Coffee, Butler’s Pantry Bakehouse, Olive Health Foods, the Good Wine Shop, Worklocker, Edgars Books & News, Stitches First Aid Supplies, and Woolworths, Big W and Coles. Again we thank these community members very much.

Thank you to C.L.C staff Sandy “Newmo” Newman, Dale Unwin and Michelle Wilson. Michelle, as she has been for over a decade, was the driving force behind the scenes - organising, planning, buying food weekly for the kids, and being the epitome of kindness.

Thanks of course to our Year 9s. We were immensely proud of you and thank you for your efforts.

For a full outline of the year with hundreds of photos, see our celebration of the Year in C.L.C 2024 magazine.

CLC Report

Junior Years Report Junior Years Leader Hannah Nott

We come to the end of what has been a fabulous year! Students, teachers, and the community have rallied together this year to make it a seamless return to school.

It has been a very busy year with students participating in a range of extracurricular activities.

Students have enjoyed being able to take up these opportunities to represent Wangaratta High School.

Some of these activities and excursions have included the maths competition, hands on learning, cross country and band camp. Participation in sport, excursions and camps has been high across the junior school.

The swimming carnival was again a standout for our students and staff. The WSAC pool facilities are excellent and a great resource for our students to use. Students dressed to impress in their house colours with plenty of bright hairspray featuring.

Earlier in the year, students were able to attend their school camps. The Year 7’s attended Howmans Gap and spent 2 nights at the discovery camp.

Students were given their rooms and placed into groups to start their first activity. The groups rotated through several activities including the big swing, abseiling, canoeing and archery. The standout for all students was the giant swing. The evening was celebrated by playing Trivia. Overall, it was pleasing to see students interacting with others and challenging themselves, whilst still having loads of fun.

The Year 8 camp was held at Alexandra Adventure Resort. The campers boarded the buses for a short but scenic trip to Alexandra. This camp has been booked by the High School for many years and is a standout for staff and students. The activities included the harness activity, ropes course and team building exercises. The evening activities were

also a hit with time around the fire, trivia, and karaoke.

As part of a Country University’s Partnership, Year 7 students have had the opportunity to participate in 4 one hour workshops. The sessions were focussed on pathways and job journeys. Students were exposed to university and TAFE offerings through a range of interactive games and activities. Students were actively engaged and enjoyed the prizes they received, taking away valuable information for their futures.

I would like to thank all our students and staff for a productive and successful year.

Junior Years

Middle Years Report Middle Years Leader Jack Nolan

This year has been an exciting journey of growth and discovery for our Year 9 and Year 10 students.

Both cohorts have taken part in meaningful activities and programs that have helped them develop new skills, explore potential career paths, and build lasting friendships.

Year 9 students have embraced a variety of experiences, from team-building to community engagement. Through the Community Leadership Challenge (CLC), they honed their teamwork abilities while working alongside primary school students and aged care residents, fostering a strong sense of community. Some Year 9s attended the Futures Camp, where they spent two immersive weeks crafting oars and rowing down the river. For others, the Student for Leadership Camp provided valuable insights into leadership and inspired them to make a positive impact in school and beyond.

This year also marked the start of elective subjects for Year 9s, as they began exploring their interests and forming future pathways.

Year 10 students have had an equally impactful year, gaining skills for their future careers and life beyond school. Work Experience was a significant highlight, offering students real-world exposure to potential careers. Through mock interviews in their Careers class, students practiced employability skills, with many excelling so much that they secured School-Based Apprenticeships. This year also introduced the TafeTasters program, allowing students a glimpse into vocational courses and hands-on learning. The Year 10s enjoyed memorable excursions, such as their camp at Phillip Island and a visit to the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, which helped deepen their understanding of history. As the year wraps up, they’re looking forward to their Year 10 Formal, celebrating their achievements and friendships.

Both Year 9 and Year 10 students have shown incredible growth, curiosity, and enthusiasm. It has been a rewarding year, and we are excited to see what the future holds for each of them!

Middle Years

Senior Years Report cough).

Senior Years Leader Meg Whatley

The year 2024 has been a very busy year for our senior students. As this article is being written, our final Year 12 exam – Foundation Maths - is underway, and our Year 11s are busily undertaking their own exam week, sitting exams for each of their Year 11 subjects to demonstrate just how much they’ve learned this year.

To the credit of all of our senior students undertaking exams for Unit 3/4 subjects, they have risen to the challenge of preparing for their exams and turned up to each one feeling prepared, if a little nervous. They have done the school proud in the way they have conducted themselves during this time.

The year started with our group of Year 11 students, mostly new to the VCE, and ready to begin their journey towards their final high school certificate.

Four homeroom groups, meeting every day in the Science space, learned that the workload for VCE was significantly greater than they were used to and that they would have to knuckle down to stay organised and on top of their coursework and assessments.

Our slightly more experienced Year 12 group were ready to start their final year of their school career – books, pens and calculators all in order, English texts read over the summer in preparation (*cough), diaries updated, and 18th birthday parties and Pplate tests all locked in.

Aside from their schoolwork, there was plenty of opportunity for our senior students to be involved in a multitude of activities to enhance their school experience.

There were plenty of school sporting teams to be part of, ensuring at least 10 calendar days off classes for our more sporting types (or those who just felt they should get involved and who were really sorry to be missing their classes (*cough

Involvement in music performances, music camps, careers excursions to Dookie, TAFE, North East Health, Albury/Wodonga, and the VCE Expo in Melbourne, Outdoor Ed camps, ski camp, food trip to Melbourne, and other numerous days out meant our students could distract themselves from the grind of the classroom for a little bit, or put some of their classroom learning into some context in the wider world.

In-house activities included Wang High Way assemblies, Elevate programs based around exam preparation, motivation and time management, financial literacy lessons for our Year 11's, how to navigate MyGov and Centrelink for Year 12's, as well as Looking After Our Mates, applying for rental accommodation and what sorts of insurance students may need to take out once they leave home and go to work.

Our Year 12's, once again, were part of the La Trobe Pathways Program which guided them through all manner of VCE-related issues from writing an 8-minute essay plan to applying for university to managing time and stress. Many of our Year 12 students applied for, and received, conditional and early-entry offers from various universities.

The first major event for the year was the Talent Quest – theme 1990s – for which our Year 12s put together one of the best finale performances seen in recent years, along with their individual small group skits. The swimming carnival is always a fun event for the Year 12's – the house coloured costumes and novelty races add to the feel of the day – and this year our senior students participated really well in the whole-school athletics carnival. Excellent athleticism was on display and there was some great role-modelling for our younger students.

The inaugural mid-year formal for Year 11's and 12's was a success. Students undertook the organisation (with some assistance from Ms Mascas) and by the time we all got to the Turf Club at the racecourse, everyone looked amazing and danced right through to the end of the night thanks to the tunes supplied by DJ Juddy.

Senior Years Report Attendance at the GAT in June was excellent and, as with our end of year exams, our students took it all very seriously and are to be commended on their approach. The supervisors have been impressed by how well you all applied yourselves in these highpressure assessments.

Students have shown leadership in many different ways this year, from the quiet achievers who demonstrate our school values regularly by just getting on with the job and role-modelling these values to our younger students, to our elected leaders such as our prefects and sporting and music captains. Special mention to our team of Active Schools student leaders working with Active Schools who worked successfully from start to finish to see the installation of our adventure playground for students to engage in physical activity during break times, as well as presenting their project to a large group of teachers at the ACHPER Teachers’ conference in Melbourne at the end of the year.

We welcomed several new students to our senior school during 2024, coming from England, Zimbabwe, Italy and Germany, as well as Melbourne. It can be a challenge to join into a group of students who know each other so well from over the years, however these internationals (and out-oftowners) have fitted in well and become valued members of the senior school.

As always, the end of year celebrations for our Year 12s were enthusiastically embraced. Dress up themes were ‘First initial of your Name’, ‘What you wanted to be When you Grew Up’, and then Minions (with teachers being relegated to the ‘evil’ minions all dressed in purple). And thanks to some careful planning and a lot of organisation, the senior school staffroom now has a tank full of fish, gifted to each of the Year 12 teachers of 2024.

Well done to all of our senior students this year.

Thankyou too, to each of your teachers, mentors and loved ones from this year and previous years for supporting you, guiding you and caring for you up to this point. All the best for 2025.

Senior Years

Senior Years

Staff - 2024

Dave Armstrong

John Paola

Sheri Parkhouse

Lawrence AdorniDickson

Leah Anderson

Andrea Belci

Leonardo Belci

Jodie Bell

Margaret Bennett

Sally Benson

Vincent Branigan

Peter Breukers

Tanya Butcher

Jessica Byrne

Samantha Caddey

Cassandra Campbell

Shane Castricum

Cindy Chalmers

Morgan Clark

Ashley Clayton

Jacqueline Coleman

Geoffrey Cox

Cheryl Crimmins

Laura De Lacy

Lesley Forman

Kylie Fountain

Gina Garland

Nicole Gatt

Carmel Glasgow

Peter Hanley

Louisa Hayes

Meryl Herman

Lynette Higgins

Emily Hogan

Catelyn Hoskins

Alex Johnson

Samantha Jones

Bronwyn Knox

Rheanna Lang

Suzette Lawson

Andrea Lucas

Natasha Magee

Nathan Manning

Matthew Martine

Karen Mascas

Keyna Masin

Andrea Matheson

Lauren Morris

Jud Mullins

Sandra Newman

Jack Nolan

Lisa Norris

Hannah Nott

Gayle O’Keefe

Michelle Pullin

Catherine Rees

Alice Reynolds

Hailey Ronald

Jaime Ryan

Ricki Ryan

Amanda Shaw

Katelyn Sheather

Scott Solimo

Cory Stewart

Katherine Sullivan

Leah Tindill

Taya Tracey

Dale Unwin

Lee Unwin

Carlia Van Hoorn

Amy Vuleta

Amy Waide

Margaret (Meg) Whatley

Elizabeth Walters

Kellie Williams

Christine Watson

Michelle Wilson

Kylie Wealands

Bronwyn Wyatt

Catherine West

Zelda Yeates

Absent: Akhila Fernando, Jessica Langdon, Damian Loiterton, Richard Routley, Glenn Stead, Emma-Lee Still, Monique Taylor, Shannon Treacy.

Staff Photos

Autographs

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- Nelson Mandela

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