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

During term 3, five schools from around the state (Wongutha, Emmanuel Catholic College, Rossmoyne Senior High School, Coolgardie CAPS and Goldfields Baptist College) were challenged at Morapoi Station.

Activities included snake handling, team building, archery, spear throwing, motor bike riding, canoeing, bush survival, honey ant eating, swimming at Niagara Dam, traditional cooking and food.

Speaking of food, the cooks did a great job. The diet on the camp consisted of steak, steak, chops, chops and some (if you had to) salad.

Sections scrambled for points to become the winner of the regional camp. Isaiah Rodger’s team, The Wolves won the overall competition by a massive 500 points.

Interaction between the students of the various school was immediate, good and in depth. Many students are still keeping in contact.

• Down at the workshop
• Trip over to Mundrabilla
• Up on Bluff Knoll
• Bushrangers south-west camp
• Country Week Basketball

On Friday 13th June 2008 Wongutha CAPS held a day of cultural activities with Esperance Primary School’s year 3s as a part of their NAIDOC celebrations¹.

The Wongutha students shared their skills by teaching the Esperance Primary students how they prepare and cook damper. They also shared dreamtime stories from their different regions of Australia.

A wonderful feed, which included kangaroo and emu, was cooked underground for all to enjoy. While it was prepared and served by Wongutha students and staff, everyone was entertained by the very talented school band.

The lovely lunch was followed by an afternoon of sports fun and activities, including face painting and socialising. A great day was had by all and everyone learned much.

Please check out our new Networking page and contact us though it.

(The short version is here: Leave a comment on the Networking page, send us a profile, give us a ring or see us on Facebook)

Friday November 30th saw 130 staff, students and special guests, gather at the Esperance Civic Centre for the annual Wongutha Prize Night and Graduation Ball.

For students, this a culmination of a years hard work.

Nearly 80 awards were presented with some students receiving more than one accolade.

Congratulations to the 10 year 12 students who graduated. We wish them well for their future.

The night unfolded with some excellent entertainment from local staff group, “Segue”, made up of Steve and Bec Briggs along with Brendon Franzone. Their classy style made for easy listening.

Later in the evening the Wongutha band entertained with a combination of original and covered songs.

Our wonderful school cook, Merl, organized a spectacular meal that was served by the fantastic team from Teen Challenge.

A wonderful night was had by all.

WONGUTHA CAPS

AWARDS NIGHT

2007

1. Rotary Award – Highest Achievement – Year 12

Talisha Graham

Presented by Graham Mackenzie

2. Esperance Shire Award –Best All Round Student

Johanen Nugget
Presented by Councillor Christine Smith

3. Citizen of the Year (Peter Florisson Memorial Perpetual Trophy)

Lauren Yeeda
Presented by Beryl Florisson

4. AHL Hostel Awards

Presented by Harry and Pauline Graham

Girls – Best Effort – Darrylynne Bumba

Girls- Runner Up – Amber McCarthy

Boys- Best Effort – Jesse Deegan

Boys- Runner Up - Bradley Tigan

5. Positive Image Award

Talisha Graham – Perpetual Trophy

Presented by Jenny Florisson

6. Go For Gold – 3 Gold medals:

(Graham Jacobs’) Awards

Presented by Graham Jacobs

Highest Achiever

Truan Cox

Runners Up

Bevan Laurel

Leith Stevens

7. Westscheme VET Awards –Medallion, certificate, portfolio and $100

presented by Bec Briggs and Andrew Waters

Amber McCarthy – Business and Administration

Bevan Laurel – Automotive Servicing

8. Australian Defence Force Long Tan Awards for Leadership and Teamwork

Presented by Harry Graham

Year 12 – Talisha Graham

Year 10 – Jesse Deegan

9. Bushrangers

Presented By Gary Paul

Best Effort Over All

Truan Cox

Best Effort (runner up) – Bevan Laurel, Lauren Yeeda

10. Belle of Ball

Bevan Laurel

11. Beau of Ball

Amber McCarthy

SUBJECT AWARDS

English EALD 2A-2B (year 12)

Completion of 2A-2B- Certificates – Talisha, Johanan

Most Consistent – Johanan Nuggett

Highest Achievement- Talisha Graham

English EALD 1C-1D (year 11)

Highest Achievement- Henry Skeen

Completion of 1C/1D certificates – Henry, Amber, Stacey

National Accelerated Literacy Program

Highest Achievement Best Effort/Most Improved

Class 1 Shane Meyer Truan Cox Hylton Laurel

Class 2 Bec/ Gaye Ada Stokes Nuala Evans

Class 3 Flora Robinson Bradley Tigan

Bible -Harry Graham – Best Achievement Year 11 – Jesse Deegan

Best Acievement Year 12 – Amber McCarthy

Maths – Year 12 – Mr Florisson – Johanan Nuggett

Year 11 – Mr Robinson’s Class Level 5- Marcus Ball

Gaye Graham’s Class Level 1- Quinston Costaine

Jay Gordon’s Class Level 4 – Samantha Donaldson

Tim Ross’s Class level 2 – Truan Cox

Bec Brigg’s Class Level 3 – Jenise Gunyan

Agriculture

Equine - Mr Ross Level 1 – Nuala Evans

Level 2 – Samantha Donaldson

Horticulture - Gary Robinson Level 1 – Darrylynne Bumba

- Gary Paul Level 2 – Isobelle O’Brien

Poultry – Harry Graham Level 1 – Patrick Laurel

- Jay Gordon Level 2 – Henry Skeen

Aquaculture Andrew Waters – Level 1 – Jenise Gunyan

Level 2 – Cecilia McCarthy

VET Subjects Achievement Effort

Automotive Servicing (A Waters) Leith Stevens Hylton Laurel

Automotive Panel (M Leary) Jesse Deegan Kimse Jack

Business( B. Briggs/ G. Graham) Breeanna Trott AmberMcCarthy

Building & Construction(T. Buckley) Talisha Graham Lauren Yeeda

C.A.L.M (G Paul, H Graham) Darrylynne Bumba Naomi Tumbler

Hospitality/ Kitchen Ops (T Ross) Cecilia McCarthy & certificates

Metals & Engineering (J Gordon) Henry Skeen

Plant Operating (V Mack) Marcus Ball Dallas Cox

Stock & Station (D Clark) Guy Evans Quinston Costaine

Structured Workplace Learning – Mentor Awards

Bec Briggs – Samantha Donaldson

Terry Buckley – Edwin Gunyan

Jay Gordon – Johanan Nuggett

Gary Paul – Jesse Deegan

Shane Meyer – Talisha Graham

Andrew Waters – Leith Stevens

Tim Ross – Stacey Evans

Naenon Sommerville – Darrylynne Bumba

Music Medallions – Steve Briggs

Henry Skeen Kelwin Laurel

Tristan Laurel Hylton Laurel

Truan Cox Bevan Laurel

Samuel Costaine

Congratulations to all winners.

The staff and year 12 students who recently travelled to Thailand have returned safely, with some wonderful memories and some great stories.

They visited an orphanage over there, as well some schools. They enjoyed learning about Thai culture and teaching the locals some Aboriginal culture.

Click on the photo above to see some more great shots. Watch this space for some more stories, perhaps from the students themselves.

We learned the names of different energies and how they are produced. They also taught us about the universe and what it is made up of, including planets and stars. We learned the names of different planets, what they look like and whether there are any living things on them. We really appreciated them visiting our school. It was a great day.

…by the business class

A game of skill, endurance, perseverance and youth.

on Monday 27th, the staff challenged the students to a friendly match. I did say friendly.

The staff spent the first 15 minutes warming up while the students shot some baskets.

Game on….

New arrivals Mr Rose and Jeremiah Bennett face off in the first tip off.

Referee, Mr Buckley and Bevan Laurel look on.

Fast and furious action followed with staff clearly out aged if not outclassed.

Mr Waters shows his stuff….?

Darren Kleehammer Tackles Mr Lundy

Uncle Harry lines up a shot.

Mr Gordon (5′6″) v Jeremiah (6′3″)

Darren Kleehammer does it easy.

Marcus Ball Gets up a sweat.

A fantastic time was had by all with the students taking the day by 10 points.

A re-match has been planned for a future date.

Marcus lays up

Edwin Gunyan

Uncle Harry

Marcus makes a statement.

Wongutha is in the grip of the building bug.

Several projects are on the go including renovations to the Tech Block, the boy’s and girl’s hostel and the construction of a new laundry.

The Tech Block has been added too with a new construction area and a complete refurbishment of the outside of the entire building. with a new state of the art classroom, this area will be a huge plus for our students.

Both the hostels are being upgraded with the boy’s getting an

internal refit and the girls getting an extention.

The school has outgrown the laundry and we have begun the process of building from new. We are at the internal fitout stage with the roof being finished this week.