Term 3 2022 Newsletter

External support options for students, families and community members

As we commence term 4, we want to remind our community members of Mental Health support options available to our region. Please see the following contact numbers which are free, and you can call in emergencies, when you, or someone you know, requires Mental Health support, or if you have questions about support options. The below numbers are for adults and children, unless otherwise specified.

Urgent mental health assistance

• If someone is at immediate risk of harm or in need of urgent medical help, call triple zero (000).
• Mental Health Emergency Response Line (MHERL)
  • For anyone involved in a mental health emergency in the community – both members of the public and health professionals.
  • 1300 555 788 (Metro)
  •  1800 676 822 (Peel)
  • 1800 552 002 (Country/Rurallink)
  • http://mhc.wa.gov.au/mherl

Support helplines

• Beyond Blue
  • Free online and telephone support for anyone feeling anxious or depressed.
  • 1300 224 636 (operates 24/7)
  • beyondblue.org.au (offers online live chat service operating 24hrs, 7 days a week)
• Lifeline Support
  • For anyone requiring mental health support.
  • 13 11 14 (operates 24/7)
  • lifelinewa.org.au​ (offers online live chat service operating 24hrs, 7 days a week)
• Alcohol and Drug Support Line
  • Confidential telephone support for anyone concerned about their own or another person’s alcohol or drug use.
  • 9442 5000 (Metro) or 1800 198 024 (Country) (operates 24/7)
  • mhc.wa.gov.au/adss (offers online live chat service operates Monday – Friday 7.30am – 9pm, Saturday  9am – 7pm and Sundays 11am – 6pm WAST)
• Mensline Australia
  • Free support for men and boys dealing with family and relationship concerns, and mental health difficulties.
  • 1300 789 978 (operates 24/7)
  • mensline.org.au (offers online live chat service operating 24hrs, 7 days a week
• Family Counselling and Information Service (Family Helpline)
  • Free confidential telephone counselling and information service for families with relationship difficulties.
  • 1800 643 000 (operates 24/7)
• 1800RESPECT
  • National sexual assault, domestic family violence counselling service
  • 1800 737 732 (operates 24/7)
  • 1800respect.org.au

Support for young people, specifically

• Headspace Support
  • For young people aged 12 to 25, and their families. Telephone and web chat available, as well as local headspace centres.
  • 1800 650 890 (7 days: 9am – 12:30am AEST)
  • headspace.org.au (offers online chatroom support 24/7)
• Kids Helpline
  • Free qualified counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.
  • 1800 551 800 (operates 24/7)
  • kidshelpline.com.au (offers online chatroom support 24/7)

Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, specifically

• 13Yarn
  • Free phone support for all ages, can discuss yourself or someone you’re worried about, to talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter.
  • 139276 (operates 24/7)
  • 13yarn.org.au
• All services listed above are all available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, however 13Yarn is specifically for First Nations People.

Additionally, always remember you can speak to your General Practitioner (GP – Doctor) for help in managing yours, or your children’s mental health.

This year our Pinjarra Football Academy Draft day was held on 22nd August.

A massive 178 male and female students tried out for the PFA on the day, and the talent of the students was exceptional.

Congratulations to those students who have been selected for the PFA in 2023. It is a fantastic opportunity and privilege to represent PSHS and yourselves in the community. We can’t wait to see what 2023 has in store!

NAIDOC week is always a special celebration in our school community and this year certainly provided our students, staff, parents and caregivers and special guests a wonderful opportunity to come together to recognise and appreciate the unique culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year, Pinjarra Senior High School embraced the NAIDOC 2022 theme, ‘Get Up, Show Up, Stand Up’ by sharing in many cultural experiences designed to showcase the invaluable contributions of First Nations people.

Throughout the week, students participated in many different activities, including boomerang throwing, face painting, lessons about Aboriginal history and culture and an Art competition, wherein they represented the NAIDOC theme in their original works. Our Science teachers worked with different groups of students to use fire, kangaroo poo, grass tree resin and charcoal to make ‘roo poo glue’, which they then used to make traditional tools, and Ms Anderson led her team of helpers to make kangaroo stew and damper, which was enjoyed by everyone who tried it.

The highlight of the NAIDOC week celebrations was no doubt the NAIDOC Assembly, where we were privileged to enjoy presentations from several special guests. Ms Anderson, our school AIEO spoke about the purpose of NAIDOC and what the theme, ‘Get Up, Show Up, Stand Up’ means to her as an Aboriginal person. Tahlia Wensley, Chase Thomas, James Hill and Hayden Griffiths then presented speeches, sharing their thoughts about the NAIDOC theme and reflecting on the motivational message for Aboriginal students. Special guest former School Captain Cole Agnew attended and spoke about his journey from year 7 to year 12 at Pinjarra Senior High School and how his decisions to ‘Get Up, Show Up and Stand Up’ as a young Aboriginal person had enabled him to step confidently into his career path as a cadet police officer. We were also fortunate to have former AFL player Harley Bennell as a special guest speaker at the assembly. Harley spoke of his experiences as an elite sportsman and shared the story of winning the Polly Farmer Medal. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed these presentations.

We were also treated to some fantastic performances during the assembly, including a song from the Pinjarra Senior High School ‘Sapphires’ –  Indianna McLennan, Katie Trew and Zana-Eve Hutchinson. This was followed by an amazing dance performance from Matthew Bennell, accompanied by year 12 student Anthony Hansen, who played the digeridoo during the dancing. Matthew gave an incredibly energetic and entertaining performance, inspiring a group of proud and talented Aboriginal students to jump out of the crowd to join in. The NAIDOC assembly was a fitting celebration of the unity, sharing and respect that characterises our school community.

The NAIDOC week assembly also recognised outstanding achievement among our Aboriginal students, with awards being presented in several different categories. A list of these is included below. My personal congratulations to all students who received awards as part of the NAIDOC celebrations.

2022 NAIDOC AWARDS

Help Wanted!
Please help us to keep your child safe during school hours.
Please remind them to stay at school for the whole day, including recess and lunch times,  unless you have given permission for them to leave.  The local shops and stores are definitely off school grounds.
Department of Education regulations require every absence from school to be covered by an explanation.  If a child needs permission to go offsite a written signed note should be provided or you can contact Student Services by phone (9531 700), SMS (0407 448 244). Students are then required to sign out at the Student Services building and an ‘Official Government Leave Pass,’ will be provided.

In supporting you to follow up on these concerns, if we aware they have left school grounds without permission you will be informed by text message.  If they return to the school with food purchased offsite and without permission to leave, it will be confiscated, until the end of the school day.

Thank you for your support!

Tricia Miels
Student Services Manager

Our new build is going full speed ahead! The steel frames have gone up and the bricks are now being laid. We expect the build to be finished in approximately February 2023, and can’t wait to be able to utilise the wonderful space!

VANDALISM OF THE NEW BUILD

There have unfortunately been some incidents where people have accessed the new building site out of hours and caused damage. The construction company have now installed CCTV cameras, and trespassers to the building site will be dealt with by the authorities.

Year 10 Alcoa Prospects students, Charlize Brookman, Bella Chalwell, Madison Hemopo, Kyah McShane and Amy-lee Moody accompanied Mrs Gray to Optus Stadium for the 2022 CME Inspiring Girls Careers Forum. The forum is an annual, unique event designed to showcase the resources industry to female secondary school students. Pinjarra SHS has for many years been funded through Alcoa. The students represented themselves with excellence and were inspired by the role models at their tables, through the presentations and during the speed careering session. The students had the opportunity to meet and talk informally with company representatives and learn more about many different career opportunities in the resources sector in the Expo area. The students worked as a team to problem solve a simulated mining activity. Although not the most successful mining lease they did find gold! The students were impressed and would recommend it for next year… in fact, wanted to attend again next year! Mrs Gray, Career Practitioner.

Year 10 Alcoa Prospects Program – The next incursion held by Alcoa for the Prospects Program was personal branding and work expectations including resume review and interview techniques. The students in the program were fortunate to be walked through Alcoa’s employment process and expectations. They were given hints for success and practiced interview techniques with Alcoa employees. Students who presented their resumes at the incursion will have them reviewed through Human Resources and feedback for improvement offered. Once again, the incursion finished through recess with Crispy Cream Donuts and chocolates.

Mrs Gray, Career Practitioner.

The Mandurah based Jobs and Skills Centre has been working with the Year 11 and Year 12 students over the last five weeks. After an initial presentation outlining what they could offer to the students, the students, via an expression of interest were involved in counselling sessions one-on-one with a career’s counsellor. 48 of our Senior School students took the opportunity to discuss their future pathways. PSHS would like to acknowledge the Mandurah Jobs and Skills staff for travelling to PSHS to work with our students.

Mrs Gray, Career Practitioner.

The resource sector offers well paid jobs with great career progression and travel opportunities. The 35 students from Year 9, 10 and 11 that were selected to attend Get Into Resources were involved in:

• Learning more about resources careers from people who actually do it every day
• Finding out about a range of technical, professional and trade roles available
• Interacting with people who love what they do in the resources industry
• Networking and making quality contacts for the future.

Along with all this, students were involved in a range of hands-on activities providing immersive and fun, practical experiences.
The staff that accompanied the students, Mrs Boardman and Ms Djukic were thrilled at how eager and engaged the students were. Congratulations to all those that attended with such enthusiasm.

Mrs Gray, Career Practitioner.

Pinjarra SHS would like to acknowledge Chevron Australia and Australian Earth Science Education who enable students to attend the amazing PCiE LNG Exploration Day at no cost. Pinjarra SHS has been involved since the first camp and this year the Keynote address was presented by Riley Anderson (ex-Pinjarra SHS Head Boy and inaugural PCiE class member). It was wonderful to hear Pinjarra SHS singled out as having made a difference in shaping Riley’s successful career choices. The LNG Day is filled with hands on activities that reinforce concepts that the students have been studying at school. It is a full day starting in Perth at 8 am and concluding in Perth at 5 pm. RAC Arena was filled with students networking and enjoying the activities. I was extremely proud of the impeccable behaviour of the Year 11 group who demonstrated a mature approach, showed a willingness to meet and work with participants from other schools, were enthusiastically engaged in the activities and was involved all day. Congratulations to Saffire Cook and Brent Estrella who received a Chevron Way Award on the day.

Mrs Gray, Career Practitioner.

Mrs Gray and Mr Pittman trekked with an enthusiastic group of 29 Year 9 students to the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre to discover opportunities… The expo was jam packed full of advice where you can…

• Talk with over 130 Training Organisations & employers
• Gain free career advice
• Discover jobs of the future
• Learn how to write a winning resume
• Talk with key organisations at the CTF Construction Hub
• Enjoy the worldskills Try a Skill zones
• Find your ideal role at the Australian Defence Force display

Just to mention a few….
The students were respectful, asked questions and were involved in uncovering information on a huge range of careers. After such a positive response, the school looks forward to taking more students next year. Year 8s stay tuned for your chance in 2023!

Mrs Gray, Career Practitioner.

I was chosen as one of ten representatives from WA to attend a two day trip to Canberra with the Defence  Forces. I would like to acknowledge Defence Force Recruiting who created this amazing opportunity to see firsthand exactly what the Forces offer and how they coordinate the opportunities within the Forces and Corporal Thomas who escorted us over the two days. Day One saw us tour The Royal Military College – Duntroon (Army officer training) with presentations about who they are, their learning culture and what they are looking for in candidates. The average age of candidates is 24 years and 15% are Women. We lunched in the mess which is very like Hogwarts – six flags, six in competition against each other with a winner each year. Some interesting legends were discussed – ask me about the skeletons. The following day was spent at the ADFA Open Day with every piece of equipment that you can think of from Tanks, Helicopters, Drones and Robots along with plane flyovers, marching and a range of demonstrations. So many interesting opportunities e.g. Certificate III Heavy Diesel Mechanics, in training, get to work on Matilda (the mean green machine I was sitting in). Please make sure you see me – Mrs Gray, Career Practitioner, if you have any questions around the Defence Forces.

On Thursday 30^th June, Mrs Durup, Ms Klingsporn, Ms Napier and Ms Greene set off with the entire female contingent of the Years 8, 9 and 10 AEP classes to participate in Murdoch University’s Wise Women in STEM event. After excitedly meeting for an early lunch and briefing, at 1pm we set off in a very spacious bus for our adventure.  Upon arriving at Murdoch at around 2pm, the girls waited eagerly to get their room keys to their apartments at Murdoch University Village. The apartments were extremely spacious and well equipped, making it an authentic university experience.

We didn’t have much time to lounge about because we then had to head off to the University Campus for our first event.  However, before we got there the girls had an insane need to visit the campus IGA for snacks. Anyone would think that they had never seen a mini-IGA before! Once we had finally dragged the girls away from the lolly aisle we set off to various workshops on campus.

The first activity my group were involved with was coding. After a short lesson in how to code, we learnt how to program LED lights to come on and off and to change colour.  It was quite the psychedelic experience and not too difficult. This experience made me think I am in the wrong job, having recently spent a substantial sum having the LED lights in my house reprogrammed. If I’d known it was that simple, I would have done it myself!

After our lighting experience we headed off to the rocket challenge where we learnt how to make rockets and then had a competition to see who could launch them the highest.  It was great fun but left quite a mess!  After our first day of workshops, we headed to the furthest end of the university campus to a scrumptious BBQ followed by a quiz.  We then headed back to the student village, where the girls spent their time relaxing and talking on the balconies and snacking on food and lollies until the early hours, with one of the girls going full Mum mode on her roommates!

On Friday morning we were up bright and early for a breakfast of pancakes, and cereal. One of the Year 10 rooms missed breakfast altogether as they were up pretty late! After breakfast we headed off for the University to meet up with all the other delegates participating in the Wise Women in STEM event.  After the keynote address, which a lot of women spoke about their journeys to success, we divided into separate groups for more workshops. The first one was the School of Nursing where we took part in an escape box challenge, where we had to triage patients’ needs according to given scenarios.  We had to decipher hospital notes, examine x-rays and apply what knowledge we were given to gain the combination to locks which unlocked several boxes. It was definitely an ‘out of the box’ thinking activity. This activity was originally designed for Year 12s who wanted to study nursing or medicine, so the fact that one of our Year 10 groups almost completed the whole challenge was a wonderful achievement.  We then participated in a ‘Whodunnit?’ activity, where we had to figure out who had committed a crime based on the information we were given. By far, this was my favourite activity.

We then had a subway lunch on Bush Court, while all the girls raided the vending machines. The piano was a popular spot to stop at, to showcase their wonderful musical talents. After lunch we then headed back to our dorms to pack up and head back to Pinjarra. It was a relatively quiet ride back, with everyone passing out with exhaustion. I am pleased that our female students had the opportunity to experience and hope that some will themselves be ‘Wise Women in STEM’ in the future.

Ms Durup

We would like to acknowledge the sad loss of our Winston or Winnie, our lamb.

Rural Operations student Kristyn took on the emergency care of Winston, who was the fourth lamb born to one ewe, sadly abandoned by his Mum in May this year.  Mr Spargo – with slight worry lines and “What have we done?” written all over his face –  sent Kristyn off with milk powder, instructions, and a bottle that Friday after visiting the farm and finding him abandoned. If he had been left, he would have been prey for crows, so we’re grateful to Mr Spargo for giving Kristyn the job of adopting Winston.

Over the next few months Kristyn more than stepped up to the diligent care of Winnie, meeting his every need right down to nappies and a plush bed, with the regular farm visit to remind him he was a lamb. Winnie went everywhere, all about the school and to sport days too! He loved life to the full going places any dog would and made many people smile at his cheeky personality.

Sadly, he was gone so quickly. Winston left a big hole in everyone’s lives: especially devastated was his ‘Mum’, Kristyn. He will always be remembered by us all -even down to running with toilet paper around the house or watching his fellow lambs being tagged, which he bravely followed.

A small presentation to Kristyn as a thankyou for all her hard work and early mornings looking after Winnie was made by Ms Fiona Davidson at the FLEECE compound. May the happy memories be treasured by Kristyn and us all and a big thanks to Kristyn for making Winnie’s life  short but truly amazing and filled with love.

The PSHS Agriculture program had its shearing school on the 15^th and 16^th September. Shearers are in short supply and the school was fortunate enough to find an ex- student professional shearer available and in the district. Mitch Hancock attended the FLEEC programme in 2014 and 2015. On graduating from the program he started a job as a trainee butcher. His father and grandfather had shorn sheep and he was drawn toward the shearing industry. He has worked in New Zealand and in teams around the Brookton agricultural districts. Mitch has also had a stint in the mining sector.
The sheep were yarded up on the Wednesday afternoon and 40 “shedded” as showers were predicted for Thursday morning. Students had to be at school by 6.30am on the two days. Shearing began at 7.00am and students were back at school by 3.00pm. In the two days students were trained by Paul Lyons (TAFE teacher and registered wool classer). They were upskilled in penning up sheep, catching sheep for the shearer, wool -classing and general rouseabout duties. 112 sheep were shorn in the two days. They were then back-lined and put out to pasture with their 124 lambs. Sue Ferguson (FLEEC EA) baked a cake on the final day and we presented a Certificate of Thanks, to Mitch.
The 24year old, handsome young man with the strong physique, long blonde locks, big smile and easy going manner had an instant bond with the students. Mitch talked to the Year 12 students about the prospects of work in the farming sector, the importance of a work-life balance and gave his insight to life after school.
Most students in the class will not become shearers. However, all will be able to relate to the general work competency skills utilized at the shearing school. One of these skills is being fit enough to handle the rigours of physical work. Hauling 100 odd 70 kg sheep out of the catching pens is hard work.  Most students were asleep in the bus on the way home after two hectic days of work.

Darryl Spargo

Back in Week 5, some of our Outdoor Education students went on a 3 day hike from Redgate Beach to Hamelin Bay.