Wongutha CAPS

2008 is almost over and it has been an interesting year with lots of good things happening. Probably the most exciting development is the building of two new hostel buildings (girls’ and boys’) which will start in the next few weeks. There is a boys dormitory and a girls dormitory. The buildings have been designed to take full advantage of the winter sun and each room will have a reverse cycle air conditioner. Each hostel will have twenty double rooms (two students in each room), two toilet and shower areas, a gymnasium area, TV area, games room and eating area (for suppers etc). The dormitories will have new furniture and fittings throughout. The Commonwealth Government has provided just over $2 million for this project.

When the new hostels have been completed and students have moved in, the old boys hostel area will become a part of the school and will be upgraded and renovated with meeting rooms, teachers offices, small classrooms and a fully fitted out Hospitality area. It is likely that the existing old large classroom will be fitted out as a chapel. The girls hostel will become a visitors centre for parents, other schools, Board members, and other visitors. Wongutha will be quite different at the end of all of these changes.

Wongutha has also received notice that our submission for a “Healthy Active Australia” grant has been successful and our “Living Black and Strong” project will provide for gym equipment and more sports choices as well as promoting more healthy choices and activities. During the year Wongutha staff members have been busy working on the sports stadium building a new entrance, lining the area with timber walls and fitting equipment. Staff also constructed a new plant operators shed during the year and renovated the new addition to the girls’ dormitory. Lots of other improvements have occurred as well and the amazing staff team at Wongutha have been busy all year to make the school, the curriculum, the grounds, and the hostel, better for the students. Thankyou very much Wongutha staff!

This year a group of graduating year 12 Wongutha students has again gone to Thailand with three staff members, to work in an orphanage and speak at schools. This will be a life changing experience for these students as they share their faith, share Indigenous art and customs, and help out in different ways. Viewing another culture and helping those less fortunate is a worthwhile and important end to year 12 for these students.

Many of the students at Wongutha have worked very hard this year, achieving very pleasing results in their chosen subjects. Students have gone off to different workplaces in the Esperance community and have gained a reputation for being reliable consistent workers. This is often hard for students as they are out on their own with people they have never met before, in an environment very different to what they are familiar with. Students who have a good record working at these work placements should have no trouble in finding work and training opportunities wherever they go. Thank you very much to these hard working students and to the wonderful caring employers that provide work placements.

As in any year there have been a few incidents of disappointing behaviour and it is my hope that students have learned from these experiences also, and that these occurrences will help us grow into better people.

The CAPS Board have supported and worked with me and the Wongutha staff, putting a lot of their own time into managing educational opportunities for Indigenous students and I thank the Board members from all of us.

We are looking forward to 2009 with some excitement and there are some interesting and positive changes at Wongutha. We thank God for his hand of guidance and protection over Wongutha in 2008,

Steve Florisson