This week, our Year 10 students departed for their Venture experience. We wish them well as they explore the D’Entrecasteaux and Walpole-Nornalup National Parks. Stay tuned to our social media pages for updates from their journey. Read more about Venture here
Earlier in the week, Preparatory School students were joined by their peers from Methodist Ladies’ College for a special visit from Australian author Craig Silvey. It was a pleasure to host Craig, whose books are among the most popular in the Preparatory School Library. Students were invited to engage with him, ask questions and discuss his work.
Yesterday morning, during the weekly Senior School staff briefing, staff visited the Design and Technology Exhibition to view student projects and share morning tea. This annual event is always a highlight, providing staff with the chance to connect, appreciate student creativity, and take a moment to unwind during a busy term.
Tomorrow, we will welcome several hundred parents and students to campus for Orientation Day. As part of the program, our new boarders will stay overnight for their first taste of life on campus. This important event helps families prepare for a smooth transition into the School and gives students the opportunity to meet their peers, explore the campus, and familiarise themselves with the environment where they will spend the coming years learning and growing.
A reminder that the locations of the Preparatory and Senior School Receptions have moved to the rear of the Preparatory School Reception building. Signage is in place to assist visitors in finding their way to the new Reception entrance.
Congratulations to all our talented D&T students across Years 7 to 12, who currently have masterpieces on display in the School’s Design and Technology Building, especially to those who were awarded for their hard work and efforts. The exhibition opened last Friday night and is a testament to the quality of the Design and Technology staff and their commitments along with the huge efforts of the students to complete their stunning projects. Read more here
It will be an exciting end to the week, with Orientation Day for the 2026 Year 7 students taking place tomorrow. We strive to give our new senior students a great start as they transition to Christ Church by introducing them to their Houses and their Head of House, as well as some of the senior student leaders. The aim is to familiarise the students with the school environment and give them plenty of opportunity to start building new friendships. It is always terrific to see the enthusiasm of our newcomers and how well our current students help to encourage them to feel comfortable. All Year 7 and new Year 8 to 11 students and parents will also have a more formal Orientation afternoon on Friday 23 January 2026, just before school starts.
Our new Year 7 boarders will also have their orientation sleep-over tomorrow night, where, with their parents they will experience a night in the boarding house. I am sure the Boarding Community are looking forward to welcoming all our new Boarders for 2026.
Apart from our Orientation Day and the normal noise associated with a busy school, the Senior School has felt relatively quiet this week. The Year 11 and 12 students are sitting their exams and our Year 10 students have been on Venture since Monday, leaving our Years 7 to 9 students to enjoy more space than usual.
During the week I have received positive reports from our Outdoor Education team and I am delighted to hear that the students and staff on Venture are all travelling very well and experiencing the full beauty of the Walpole wilderness.
Upcoming Senior School Events
Year 11 Exams conclude – Wednesday 26 November
Year 10 Venture returns – Thursday 27 November
PSA Sport vs Wesley – Friday 28 and Saturday 29 November
Year 10 Peer Support Leadership Training (nominated applicants) – Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 December
Year 7 to 11 Final Prize-giving Assembly – Thursday 4 December (11.00am to 12.15pm)
Mark Morrissy
Deputy Principal/Head of Senior School
As teachers prepare their Semester 2 reports, it is important to note the role of feedback in enhancing the learning experiences for our boys. Quality feedback provides the bridge between assessment and learning, with opportunities to improve student learning and reduce the gap between higher and lower achieving students. Both formative and summative assessment tasks provide teachers with valuable information for the learner about his performance and performance in relation to learning goals. Through the teaching and learning cycles in the classroom, teachers provide information to their boys about where they are going with their learning, how they are going, and what next steps are required to move forward with their learning. As the academic year approaches the end, your sons have received a great deal of feedback in preparation for assessments, to better understand themselves as learners and to assist in preparation for the academic year to come.
A reminder that Orientation Day is tomorrow, November 21. This is a great opportunity for boys to meet their teacher and classmates for the 2026 academic year. Teachers have planned a range of activities for boys to engage with that allows them to get to know each other, their new teacher and provides some insights into what next year will look like. Our Year 6 boys will be on their Senior School orientation, with Houses, Heads of Houses and one hundred new boys to acquaint themselves with. We wish all boys the best for a successful Orientation Day. If you are interested in learning about how to support your son with school transitions, please click here, to view the related SchoolTV content.
This Thursday we have a father or significant other and son summer sports fixture. This fixture will be a terrific opportunity for boys to play tennis, cricket, basketball, and water polo against their fathers or significant others. Good luck, boys!
Next week we celebrate several boys at our Prize-giving Assembly. This is an opportunity to acknowledge boys across Years 3 to 6 who have performed well academically, shown exceptional effort with their learning or displayed the values of the School in their daily pursuits. We will also be presenting our subject prizes to the highest performing Year 6 boys in a range of learning areas for the year. Families of boys being recognised have been invited to attend and we welcome you to this special assembly.
