The world I see:
A frozen, empty, barren wasteland it would be
Without the work my head and heart and hands can do
To heal its pain.

All things must die and then be born anew.
To help in this great task, that life be not in vain,
The world needs me.

by Michael Hedley Burton / verse no. 33

Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to engage with and learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements. It is an opportunity for everyone to reflect on how we can each contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

This past Tuesday, our school marked Reconciliation Week with a heartfelt event. Responding to a call from Reconciliation Australia, students from Class 9 took on the challenge of learning and performing the powerful anthem "Blackfella/Whitefella."

Every student in Class 9 chose to take part in the performance, showcasing their commitment to reconciliation and the unity it represents. Their dedication was evident as they sang together, embodying the spirit of coming together and celebrating our diverse heritage.

The performance was a poignant reminder of the importance of reconciliation and the role each of us plays in fostering understanding and respect within our community.

Ngoolyark News

We have entered the Renaissance Main Lesson, and what a wonderful period it was. As a teacher it was the Middle Ages and the Renaissance I really wanted to experience, and teaching both has been a dream come true. As is the dilemma with every Main Lesson, how do you squeeze a whole period of history into just three weeks! I have accrued enough teaching material to accomplish a degree on the subject, how to impart it all!

Enter ‘The Project’. I simply love a project, maybe it stems back from my own childhood. The opportunity to really ‘sink your teeth’ into a subject and find out all sorts of fascinating and interesting facts about it, is absolutely exhilarating. Surely you remember? Doing a project brings with it a sense of freedom, sure you need to work on a specific topic and meet certain criteria, but beyond that it’s all yours. Delving, discovering and delivering – the project lends itself to all sorts of wondrous activities: researching, reading, summarising, writing, diagrams, models, illustrations, presentations.

There is just so much learning jam-packed into the humble project. There is a certain level of contact you make when undertaking a project, because when you enter a project, you enter a sacred pact between yourself, person, place and time. Joining worlds, understanding ‘back then’ and how it impresses upon ‘right now’ is a very special kind of alchemy.

Here two worlds get to connect, the one you are exploring, and the one you live in. It is in this meeting of worlds a precious exchange happens. Our humanity is shared. It is here that we are united and forged into an existence, which appreciates and honours that what went before us has sculpted and shaped who we have now become.

Last week, the Class Seven children were very busy working on their own project, as they explore in depth the life and work of a significant Renaissance Person. Exploring architects, scientist, inventors and artists who life’s work impacted the world in some way, leaving a wondrous legacy in our world centuries later. There is a particular type of ‘hum’ that occurs in a classroom when each student is fully engaged and fulfilled with their learning, and I can tell you as a Class Teacher I live for that hum. It is in the hum that the weaving of the profound, the mysterious and the ordinary meet. It is a very humbling moment.

As I go to sign off, I want you to know it has been an incredible honour to be part of this joyous school community. The students are delightful bundles of mystery and intrigue held by staff who are brilliant beacons of light capable of any navigating anything. This growing school is a precious gift. A little seed was planted and here it is growing big and strong. I have been so blessed to be part of this sacred passage. Thank you.

With much Love
Anne-Marie

During our darkest hour of geometric torment, a Class 8 student cried out in exasperation: “Why are we doing this? We will never use this in our lives!!!”  Even though we "slayed" the dodecahedron net and developed precise drawing skills, what was the point of tormenting the Class 8 students with Platonic Solids geometries? 

We teach Platonic Solids, their description, design and construction to help our exuberant young people to navigate various aspects of life with a deeper understanding and sense of purpose.  How?  Well…….

The Tetrahedron symbolizes “Fire”, and we use it to prompt the young person to embrace their passions and be open to transformations.

The Cube symbolizes “Earth”, and we use it to prompt the young person to build strong foundations.

The Octahedron symbolizes “Air”, and we use it to prompt the young person to seek balance and clarity in their lives.

The Icosahedron symbolizes “Water”, and we use it to prompt the young person to develop flexibility and Emotional Intelligence.

The Dodecahedron symbolizes “Cosmos”, and we use it to prompt the young person to embrace the bigger picture.

Perhaps this main lesson can be the source of inspiration to be open to transformation, to cultivate the best parts of themselves, to help others, to engage in meaningful communication and to see the world as a vast opportunity to soar. 

Recently the Class 8’s from both campuses joined together for a bush walk, starting at the Parkerville Campus and finishing at the falls in John Forrest National Park. It was the perfect autumn day to make new connections surrounded by the beauty of the Perth Hills. How privileged we are to live and work in this place!

First Semester of Music at PSC has been peppered with new concepts, instruments and a flurry of Drama.

Class 7 has been focused on transitioning music skills they have acquired throughout Primary School into a High School setting. Band classes have focused on simple pieces so the students can easily develop awareness of aural, practical and communication skills needed in an ensemble rehearsal. Theory class has focused on establishing new music terminology and symbols, the basic musical components to create small sung rounds and recently, inventing a new instrument and designing information posters (not yet received in time for this article). Class 7 has begun preparing repertoire and soundscapes to compliment their upcoming Drama Production and I look forward to supporting them through the journey from rehearsals to performance day. 

Class 8 began this year with a trifecta of new ideas. Drums and Bass Guitar became an option for Instrument lessons, creating new dynamics for Band rehearsals. Students have started Formal Theory where the basic components of music are translated into written notation. The Class Drama provided an opportunity for students to experiment with new and quirky instruments from my personal collection. Students embraced the idea of creating a soundtrack for scenes through out the play and it was a joy to see them actively design the ambient ‘Soundscapes”.

Class 9 this year is following a theme of ‘Music as an Influence’. In Term One, students have attempted their first taste of 1930s “Swing-ish” and throughout this term, focused on music that is aimed at challenging the concepts of conflict, division and war. Theory class became more actively interwoven with Band as the semester progressed, to compliment and support this class in their growing creativity and performance opportunities. This was beautifully demonstrated in the weeks leading up to the Class 9 Drama production, culminating with students smoothly stepping in to capably lead music in between the onstage appearances of their character roles.

Katina Bay
Music Teacher

Running Club

Well done to everyone who has participated in Run club, we have a small but dedicated group of runners, who as a group have run/walked a massive 31.5km, thats equivalent to walking to Ellenbrook from the school, amazing!

We have our first student to reach the 10km Club! Well done to Cody in Class 8.

Congratulations to Aiden in Class 8 who has joined the 5km Club.

A reminder, Running Club is all about having a go and moving our bodies, enjoying the company of friends and being proud of your own efforts. We welcome students, staff, siblings, and parents to walk, run or jog with us. Meet us on the oval and be sure to bring your drink bottle.

Running Club is on a Friday morning between 8am – 8:25am.

If you would like more information or would like to register your interest, please email Siobhan on sjones@pws.wa.edu.au

Interschool Sport

On Thursday the 23^rd of May, 13 of our wonderful class 8 and class 9 boys attended a Netball Carnival down at Fremantle Netball Association. Our team was playing up a division and came up against some huge Year 10 boys, but throughout the day the boys kept their heads high and celebrated every goal like it was a win!

Our highlight of the day was the game against our friends at Perth Waldorf School, it was great to see the boys building relationships and supporting each other. It was a day filled with fun, laughter, and perfect weather, and there was talk of the boys wanting to return and play again in 2025.

Well, done to all our players and thank you to parents for supporting us in the early drop off and late pick up.

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Community Sport Opportunities

See below for some great opportunities to get involved in and try some fantastic community sports and activities.

Running:

https://www.parkrun.com.au/register/

Parkrun is a free, community event where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer, or spectate. Parkrun is 5km and takes place every Saturday morning. Parkrun is positive, welcoming, and inclusive, there is no time limit, and no one finishes last. Everyone is welcome to come along.

Our local Parkrun:

• Mount Helena
• 8am Saturday Mornings

If you would like any further information on any of the activities listed above, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Siobhan Jones
Physical Education Coordinator

Class 12 BioChemistry Main Lesson

The Class 12's have this week started looking into the exciting world of biochemistry; the application of chemistry to the study of biological processes at the cellular or molecular level. This study of living matter is applied in scientific and medical discovery and used in many fields including pharmaceuticals, forensics and nutrition.

After recapping their years of chemistry Main Lessons, the Class 12 students have taken a deeper look into the formation and use of fossil fuels, human metabolism and some of the ways that the liver detoxifies harmful substances in the body.

In one experiment, a lambs liver was used to show how hydrogen peroxide (a naturally occurring toxic by-product of metabolism in the body) is quickly broken down into it’s non-harmful parts; water and oxygen.

Suzie Moore
High School Science Teacher
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Class 12 Projects

Amelia Jordan

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago (as in 4 years ago) I competed in a Khanacross, my first motorsport event. A Khanacross involves driving a car round a gravel track, one at a time, competing for the fastest time.

From this point I was hooked and as a result dad and I went out and bought a Ford Laser to race and a trailer to tow it.   My involvement grew to competing as a co-driver in state gravel rallies and then tarmac events. I hope to one day be driving in the state gravel rallies, however I first need to win the lotto a few times.

From the time I started competing I wanted rallying to be the topic of my year 12 Project. Finding a suitable focal point that grabbed me was challenging. Initially I wanted it to stem from the practical of converting my 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer into a rally car, however due to time constraints, and finding out that building my own rollcage would not be possible, I had to change my ideas. It was through my interest in the origins and history of rallying, particularly with Group B rally cars, that I came up with my question:

“What is the history of the evolution of rally cars, and what is required to ensure the long-term continuation and relevance of the sport?”

Through my research I have learnt that the first ‘rally’ was held in 1894, as a horseless carriage race from Paris to Rouen. Though this race was not specifically called a rally, it included many features that we recognise in rallies today. However, instead of being judged on the fastest time, the event was won by the vehicle that was deemed to be the safest, easiest to handle, and most economical. Since then, cars have evolved dramatically, to be faster but also safer. The current top competing cars in the World Rally Championship (WRC) are hybrid cars. These cars cost ~1,600,000 AUD to make. Due to these unaffordable prices only three manufacturers currently compete in the WRC, Toyota, Hyundai, and M Sport (Ford). To try and attract more manufacturers to compete, hybrid cars will be abandoned as the top competing cars in the WRC in 2026, replaced by a new set of regulations, with the intention of a separate electric category to be introduced at the earliest opportunity.

My practical is still evolving, but my aim is to create an awareness of rallying and what it involves and show that it is easier to get involved in the sport than some people may first suspect.

I hope to be able to use it as an opportunity to share the thrill, fun and accessibility of rally car driving with others.