The Traction bike build program has seen another six of our Wynnum SHS students through the program this term. The students learnt all about the different roles within a workshop and reflected on their own health and wellbeing through regular check-ins. The students this term worked with their mentors, Kent and Jesse, to learn all about the different roles in a practical workshop as well as the skills needed to disassemble and reassemble their bikes.
I got to visit the program on the week of painting and it was great to see how much time and thought they had put into their spray paint designs. We were also lucky enough to have a visit from a local indigenous artist who showed the students some of his skills and some local politicians who were keen to learn more about the program.
They completed the program last week and have been enjoying their brand new, customised bikes.
First Nations Update – NAIDOC WEEK
Term 3 has been a huge term for our First Nations Alliance with NAIDOC week celebrations taking place in Week 3. We started the week off with a special smoking ceremony to officially open our new yarning circle. The smoking ceremony was conducted by Quandamooka Man Matt Burns and was witnessed by our special guests Aunty Becky Thomson, Ayla Costello and all of our First Nations Alliance students as well as the school community. Ayla Costello, an ex Wynnum SHS student and First Nations artist, painted a lovely mural on the wall behind the yarning circle. It was a special ceremony which we were grateful to have experienced in our school.
The rest of NAIDOC week saw activities planned by the First Nations Alliance students under the guidance of Ms Prior. We shared traditional jams on damper and kangaroo sausages, played indigenous games, listened to live performances of songs written by first nations artists and the culminating event was our NAIDOC assembly which was an amazing whole school event.
Our NAIDOC week continues to grow year by year and I am already excited to see what 2025 brings us!
Enrolment mornings
We have now almost completed our in-catchment enrolment mornings. We are hard at work, preparing for our upcoming Year 6 into 7 transition events and getting ready to head to our local primary schools to meet the Year 6 teachers. We are holding one more enrolment session for those families who have not yet attended an enrolment morning. Please contact our Executive Assistant, Jackie O'Connor, in the office on jocon1@eq.edu.au if you wish to book in.
Josh Gaffel
Head of Department Junior Secondary