College Reflections - 2009

Ms Rebecca Movley Coach - ACC Hawaii Tour

April 2009

During the April school holidays I was fortunate enough to fly to Hawaii as coach of the U/15 ACC Netball Team. The ACC is the sporting body responsible for representing schools within the Catholic and Independent sector. They annually conduct a netball tour abroad, this year, being Hawaii.  Last year I was selected to coach the U/15 Squad.  Selection trials were conducted in November last year, of which I selected a team of 10 girls from 150. Training commenced in January and from then it was all systems go with organising the tour, as well as training the girls to the best level I could.

The whole process has been a really rewarding experience for me, and Hawaii itself was an amazing destination to be working. But it wasn’t all holiday and relaxing by the beach. The girls played 5 games of netball each day, battling with the heat, terrible conditions, ie long grass courts , and jet lag.  But what a beautiful place to be playing netball – by Waikiki Beach! The competition was varied11`, with teams representing various parts of Australia. My girls played all teams in the competition and managed to win the overall Grand Final for their age division, which coincidentally was against another Western Australian team, Bunbury Cathedral Grammar.

The rest of the tour was spent shopping, surfing and sight seeing. It was particularly amazing to see places such as North Shore, Pearl Harbour, the Polynesian Cultural Centre and snorkelling the famous Hanauma Bay.  Although, by the end of it, and particularly after the 24 hour trip home, it was nice to have a rest!

I was really blessed to be working with girls of such high talent and athleticism. They truly were a credit to the State and conducted themselves beautifully while on tour. The relationships formed with them and the travel and coaching experiences I experienced with them was by far one of the most rewarding parts of my job. I truly feel blessed to have been given this opportunity. The hard work and level of commitment required to pull this sort of thing off was definitely worth it.

Mr Willie Van Dyk - 'Assistant Coach State Rugby Schoolboys'

April 2009

Willie Van Dyk was recently appointed Assistant Coach for the State Schoolboys Rugby team. This team will be competing in the Division II Schoolboy Championship in Geelong.

The carnival is set to take place in the last week of Term 2. Boys playing in this carnival get the opportunity to be selected in the A Division II Schoolboys side which competes in the Division I competition two weeks after this events, so the stakes and endeavour are high.

Willie has been an outstanding ambassador for Rugby Union at Kolbe College over many years. One of his previous roles was as coach of the Premier Grade Team at the Rockingham Rugby Club. His exploit with schoolboy rugby sees him as one of the most if the not the No I dedicated and strategic leaders of young men in Western Australia. The sides led by Willie to South Africa in previous years and again to happen soon are prepared to the absolute moment. Previously, Willie was the Head Coach for the State u/19 side and also the Senior Perth Gold Rugby side. He coached two club u/17 sides in 2003 and 2004 and one u/16 side in 2007 to State Championships and the Colts side in 2005 to Minor Premiers. Willie was voted WA Coach of the year in 2004. This recognition at the state level for Willie is another feather in his cap in what has between an outstanding contribution to the sport for over Eleven years

The College acknowledges and salutes this outstanding achievement.

Willie has been an outstanding ambassador for Rugby Union at Kolbe College over many years. One of his previous roles was as coach of the Premier Grade Team at the Rockingham Rugby Club. His exploit with schoolboy rugby sees him as one of the most if the not the No I dedicated and strategic leaders of young men in Western Australia. The sides led by Willie to South Africa in previous years and again to happen soon are prepared to the absolute moment. Previously, Willie was the Head Coach for the State u/19 side and also the Senior Perth Gold Rugby side. He coached two club u/17 sides in 2003 and 2004 and one u/16 side in 2007 to State Championships and the Colts side in 2005 to Minor Premiers. Willie was voted WA Coach of the year in 2004. This recognition at the state level for Willie is another feather in his cap in what has between an outstanding contribution to the sport for over Eleven years

The College acknowledges and salutes this outstanding achievement.

Mrs Caroline Payne - '30 Years Service to Catholic Education'

April 2009

As I reflect on teaching for 30 years in the Catholic system, I recall being appointed to a school that was the first in Australia to have a computer, Bunbury Catholic College, in 1979. The ‘mainframe’, which was affectionately named ‘Frieda’, was housed in a special air-conditioned room, the only one in the school, and probably had less than the capacity of a scientific calculator, today. As a graduate, in a world without calculators, computers or photocopiers, I had been taught to use a spirit duplicator and Gestetner machine in order to copy test papers or letters to parents, wrote on plastic sheets and used an overhead projector, which was considered ‘new technology’. ‘Slide rulers’ and Tables Books were used to make complex calculations in the senior mathematics classes. Mobile phones had not been invented, and when they were in use in the early 80s, the battery was a size of a small shoe-box with a hand piece attached to the top. Blackboards were the norm, and we generally used white chalk, coloured chalk being considered too expensive. Typing machines had just become electric allowing for quicker speeds, and we used small white pieces of paper held against keys in order to correct errors – an era without an automatic spell check, how did we cope?

Over 30 years, I have taught with some amazing professionals, including Catholic schools that were primarily staffed by the religious orders – Marist Brothers and Mercy sisters at Bunbury Catholic College. I have worked in many different environments – country and city, foundation schools and schools with more than 100 years of tradition. However, schools are still about developing good relationships with the students we teach, about challenging young people to use their talents for the betterment of society, and partnering with parents and parishes to contribute to the maturation and holistic growth of young adolescents. Providing high quality educational experiences using all the tools at our disposal to engage students to want to learn for their entire life – that is still our purpose as teachers, today.

Mr John Beattie - 'Australian School Sports Award for 15 Years Service to Cricket and Baseball'

The following article recently appeared in the publication for School Sports Western Australia.

RECORDS TUMBLE AT SCHOOLBOYS CRICKET CARNIVAL

The Australian School Sports Cricket carnival has been comprehensively won by Western Australia, due largely to a record opening batting stand in the grand final against Victoria. The cricket carnival, held in March in the twin towns of Cobram and Berruga, along the banks of the Murray River saw WA with easy wins, early, against Tasmania and the ACT until a narrow loss to Victoria meant they needed a win over NSW to make the grand final.
Victoria scored 190 in their 50 overs. WA made the runs without losing a single wicket. The opening batsmen, Stephen Coniglio, scored 106 no (a WA, record) and Will Bosisto scored 80no. This partnership, 194, was a tournament record for any wicket and the only 10 wicket victory in the carnival's history.
This is the second time. Western Australia has won the carnival-but the only time it has been won interstate.

Will Bosisto was awarded the School Sport medal for the best player for WA. He and three other players-Stephen Coniglio, Calum How and Adam Carter were selected in the all Australian team to tour India in September.

The side was expertly coached by Sam Davis (John Forrest Cricket Academy) and Rob Kennedy (WACA). Ian Bycroft (Lynwood SHS) was the tour leader and John Beattie (Kolbe Catholic College) was the team manger.

Next years carnival is planned for Sydney, NSW and WA will be eagerly awaiting the chance to defend their title.

John Beattie (Manager)

The article went on to acknowledge one of Kolbe College's very gifted part-time teacher's, Mr John Beattie who was awarded an Australain School Sport Award for 15 years Service to Cricket and Baseball in the interstate/national carnivals.

The Kolbe Catholic College community acknowledges John's exploits.

Mr Leith Daniel - 'Presenter at The Australian Association for the Teaching of English National Conference'

April 2009

Leith Daniel has been selected to present a seminar at this year's Australian Association for the Teaching of English National Conference in Hobart. The seminar is about an alternative way to teach films, using films usually considered non-standard for the English classroom.

Leith is an innovative English teacher who likes to challenge methods of teaching English, as witnessed in his articles written for the English Teachers Association of WA’s professional journal. In his film classes, the students at Kolbe College are exposed to lessons involving modern technology, such as the use of mobile phone cameras and interactive white boards, yet classic texts such as Casablanca and The Apartment play a prominent role.

Mr Rob Armitage, the Head English at Kolbe Catholic College, commented on Leith's imaginative and vivid presentation of the subject English. Creative, talented and challenging, he is a fantastic asset for our students.