Year 12

What a terrific kick off to the term we've had in our celebrations and send-off for our wonderful Year 12 cohort. While restrictions have meant our usual end of year events have had to look a little different this year I'd like to commend Year 12 on the way they have sought out the positives and made the most of the time they have had together.

I'd like to extend my gratitude to HSC students and their families for your resilience during a challenging few terms. It certainly will be a year to remember. I'd also like to recognise the unwavering efforts of HSC teachers and especially, Miss Amy Blakemore, Year 12 Advisor. Miss Blakemore has pulled out all the stops to make these final weeks as memorable as possible for students. By working in partnership, we've been able to get to this stage, where our students are just days away from their final schooling moments.

Year 12 – we are very proud of you and wish you all the very best in your coming exams. You've worked hard and you are ready for this final phase. We look forward to celebrating with you soon.

Community Voice

Last term we asked parents and carers to participate in a number of surveys to assist us in our strategic planning for 2021-2024. Thank you for your contributions. We received more responses than we've ever had before and this will ensure that your valuable feedback is incorporated into future initiatives to continue taking WWHS forward.

COVID-19 Safe Guidelines

As you would be aware, we continue to operate within a COVID-19 environment and must adhere to current health guidelines to ensure we can continue to operate in the safest way possible.

As was the process in Term 3, continue to keep students at home if they are unwell. If they display even mild flu-like symptoms please arrange for testing to take place. A copy of a negative COVID-19 test must be provided, and students must be symptom free, before being permitted to return to school. The same expectation is in place for staff to ensure a safe and healthy site.

Year 12 students have been provided with specific information in relation to COVID-19 Safe Procedures for their HSC examination period.

Updated advice for families can be found at this link: https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families

Digital Reports

In semester one, we trialled digital student reports. The response we had to this move from parents/carers has been overwhelmingly positive and based on this we will move to providing only digital copies of reports from semester two onwards.

Please ensure your email details are up to date to ensure you receive your child's report. Hard copies may be provided, for this semester, if you make a specific request by contacting the school.

Wishing you all a terrific Term 4.

Krystal Bevin, Principal (rel.)

Investiture of 2021 school leaders

As Year 12 students celebrated their final week of high school, our 2021 school leaders pledged their service during an intimate outdoor ceremony. Outgoing captain, Maddison Reichert shared advice and well wishes. Deputy Principal, Mr Chandler spoke about the opportunities and the responsibilities that come with their new roles as school leaders at West Wallsend High School. We wish them every success as they work alongside Year Adviser Mr Watts and the school's senior executive team during the next twelve months.

Year 12 Graduation

A celebration of thirteen years of schooling and despite the challenges of 2020, Year 12 were still smiling - an incredible group of young people.

Principal's Address – Mrs Bevin

I am so very honoured to address you today – to speak on behalf of the staff and students of West Wallsend High School. They all wish they could be here to celebrate this special milestone with you.

To those of you watching this from home, please know that right now this room is filled with all of your warm wishes and your love and support for these terrific young people. Thank you for your understanding of our need to do things a little differently. And thank you for allowing us to help shape the wonderful young minds and future pathways of these students sitting here today.

Year 12 - you are a year group forever etched in history. 2020. The “pandemic year”… the year the world glitched. And because of this, the lessons you have learned are so far beyond what you have studied with your teachers. Resilience. Patience. Flexibility. Understanding. Tenacity. Kindness. These have been your lessons. These are the characteristics that now come to mind when we think of you.

You’ve had to learn to pivot when faced with unanticipated change… To adapt to unexpected challenges. You’ve set up makeshift bedroom classrooms. Become experts at Moodle and Zoom. Picked up extra hours at work. Juggled babysitting your siblings. Overslept. Underslept. Choreographed dozens of complex Tic Toks…… AND somewhere amongst all that – you stayed on track. Even when it felt like you didn’t. Because you’re here, today. And you’ve achieved your HSC.

While these uncertain times have brought obstacles, they have also brought gifts. Our very fast paced high speed lives were forced to pause. We have had the opportunity to create space – literally – 1.5m to be exact -- to reflect on what is important in our lives. And you, the class of 2020 will now always be that “chosen class” part of the pinnacle of change in the world around us. A change which has shown us … to be grateful, to support others, to collaborate and work together.

So, although this year has taken things from you, it has also given you the opportunity to highlight what truly is important. Family, Friendships. Health. Your community. A sense of belonging. Your school. And believe me when I say you will always belong here at West Wallsend High School.

As is tradition… if I could share with you a few pieces of advice that I wish my 17 year old self had been told…

Acknowledge, respect and celebrate our differences. Take the opportunity to find out more about what you have in common with someone instead of focusing on what separates you.

Find your voice and learn to use it. Let yourself be heard but also take the time to listen and hear what others are saying - to understand another person's point of view, especially when it's different from yours.

Don’t be too proud to apologise.

Don’t underestimate the power of kindness.

Find your joy. It might come through study or work or sport or performing. But it may also come through surrounding yourself with good people. And through the experiences you allow yourself to try.

And lastly… read good books. Actual physical books. The English teacher in me can’t not put that out there. A love of reading will enrich your life beyond measure. ----

Year 12, 2020 -- you will forever be “that graduating class”. Before you know it you will begin to have conversations and hear yourself say things like “Oh yea- those things happened before COVID” and “No that was pre-pandemic”… I certainly know what I will be saying when other year groups begin to complain or say things like “this is too hard” or “we can’t do that… I will say - Well let me tell you about the class of 2020 – Because they were a group that was resilient, tenacious, persistent and resourceful. A group that could handle anything that was thrown their way, even a pandemic.

So be proud. And take all of the lessons that you learned during your time at West Wallsend High School, not just in the past few months, but your entire school journey, and let them guide you, inspire you and remind you that you can do anything. You’ve already proven it.

Congratulations, Year 12. We are very proud of you. We will miss you. We can’t wait to see what comes next for each and every one of you.