News

At Wenona there are always interesting and exciting stories to tell and achievements to celebrate - involving our students, our staff, our school and our community.

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Wenona boarder featured in The Land

Year 12 boarder Emily Ferris from Mudgee Emily has been featured in The Land Magazine for her HSC Design and Technology Project, “All Dried Up”.

Her work expresses the devastation of drought in three contrasting dresses. The first dress, green and colourful, represents years of good rainfall and the second shows the produce of the land. The third is in deadly grey with a trim of dried bones.

“Being on the land, drought has effected us,” Emily said. “There is not so much of a problem right now in Mudgee, but in some parts of Australia it is still a threat.”

Emily said Design and Technology was her favourite subject at Wenona, where she enjoyed good friendships and support. The family selected Wenona as her grandmother and both aunts had also attended as boarders.

Jungle quest for old girls

A number of Wenonians are heading to Ecuador in the New Year to help build a water pipeline for a village and upgrade its primary school.

The old girls, who graduated from Wenona last year, are volunteering for two weeks in Pucaurcu with Volunteer Eco Students Abroad (VESA).

“It will be completely life-changing,” said Emma Fulton, pictured right, now studying nursing at UTS. “To make a difference, even in a small community, is personally rewarding.”

Other Wenonians heading for the Amazon jungle in January with Emma include University of Sydney liberal studies student Camilla Hanson (left), Toni Adolfson, University of Sydney health sciences student Hannah Coffey and Sarah Dennis. Telephone (0403) 966 539 to help sponsor their trip.

Ella Geddes, who also graduated from Wenona last year and is now studying science at the University of Sydney, will take part in a similar VESA quest in Ecuador a few weeks later.

Photo: Paul Melville, North Shore Times

Insight and friendships in Vanuatu

Amelia and Amy, pictured below, were among 14 Year 8 and Year 9 Wenona students to make friends with students of Wenona’s sister school in Vanuatu during a recent service learning trip to Vanuatu.

The Wenona students planned and delivered art, science and PDHPE lessons to students from Year 1 to Year 8 at their sister school, Erakor Bilingual School, overcoming language and cultural barriers through music, sport and sign language.

“The kids were shy and quiet at first but by the end of the week they became more confident with us,” said Laura of Year 9. “When we gave them the pencil cases we’d put together for them all last term, they treasured them. One even held on to it while playing soccer! It was cool that we could experience the way they live.”

“It was a life-changing experience,” said Wenona’s Acting Head of Messiter House Mr Steve Kapsalis.

Wenona infants' teacher Ms Jane Edgecombe was impressed with the Wenona girls’ responses to unfamiliar situations and challenges.

“I was impressed by their humour, resilience and support of each other,” Ms Edgecombe said. “The trip has given all of us an insight into the value of the opportunities we have here at Wenona.”

The Wenona students noticed the contrasts between the resorts and the local communities, remarking on the warmth, generosity and happiness of the people despite their lack of material wealth.

Many ni-Vanuatu students asked about friends they had made when other Wenona students visited their school last year, and many plan to keep in touch with their new friends as pen pals.

Melodic medalists

Wenona’s Orchestra and Wind Symphony both achieved Gold Awards at the recent Yamaha Music Festival held at UTS Ku-ring-gai campus in Lindfield.

“From the new Year 7s through to girls who have been in these ensembles for six years, everyone gave their best effort,” said Wenona Director of Music and Performance Ms Melinda Sawers.

“Congratulations also to the Camerata girls who played with great precision and achieved a Silver Award and to the Junior School Concert Band who received a Bronze Award.”

Cherene Ma of Year 11, pictured, played in both the Orchestra and Camerata.