Welcome to Wenona
Starting a new school can be daunting, but we are delighted to see that the majority of our new day students, boarders and staff are adjusting well to life at Wenona.
Woodstock has been bubbling with excitement this week as our new Kindergarteners engaged with lots of fun, hands-on activities, including construction blocks, puzzles, picture books and drawing.
When Kindergarten Teacher, Miss Richardson, asked the students what they liked most about Wenona so far, Evie said, “My favourite part of school has been learning the number 2 and making it look like a flamingo.” And Samantha said, “I like drawing pictures of myself at school.”
Changing schools can be both an exciting as well as a challenging time for students and their families. We welcomed 30 new students into Year 5, including Amelie. She said her first day had been nerve-wracking but fun. “The best thing about Wenona is meeting new people, and also how welcoming the teachers and students are.”
Moving up to Year 7 is a big step, but Madeleine in Year 7 has not only had to make the transition to high school, she has also recently relocated from London to Sydney. Despite all the changes, Madeleine was all smiles at the Year 7 welcome barbeque in the Undercroft, complete with its new synthetic grass. “I’ve loved all the new experiences, particularly making new friends,” she said.
There have also been six new boarders starting in Year 7. They have travelled from as far afield as Nimmitabel, Coonamble, Gulargambone, the Philippines and China, and as near as Neutral Bay. They were joined in the Wenona Boarding House by new students in other Year groups, including students from Hong Kong and Singapore.
Head of Boarding, Mrs Ayling said, “The House once again came to life on Sunday afternoon when we welcomed 42 boarders and their families to Wenona Boarding. We had a wonderful start with a welcome barbeque, which was a great opportunity for the girls to catch up with their friends, as well as make new ones, and also for the parents to reacquaint themselves with their boarding family friends.”
“The new girls have settled into the rhythm of boarding beautifully, with only a few tears,” said Mrs Ayling. “All girls are negotiating all the newness of this life with great joy and skill.”
It’s not just the students that are adjusting to the rhythms and routines of life at Wenona. Many new teachers and staff members have joined our community, including Mr Hughes, our new Director of Co-Curricular Programs and Head of Cadets, who joins us from Shore where he was the Commanding Officer of the Shore Cadet Unit.
“Having worked closely with the outstanding young women in Cadets last year, I am excited to join the team at Wenona. The school community has been very welcoming and I am encouraged by the focus on innovation, deeper learning and character development. I have been struck by the way the students have thrown themselves back into school life with so much energy and a lot of laughter.”
Possibly the most popular addition to School House is Noodle the Shoodle. According to her Instagram account, Noodle is focused on “making humans smile one snuggle at a time” and she has certainly brought lots of smiles to Wenonian faces. When asked about her first impressions of Wenona, Noodle said, "Woof!" When Noodle comes to School, she can normally be found quietly curled up in the office of our Deputy Principal (Student Wellbeing), Mrs Oakley.
Welcome to Wenona everyone!