Reach - Extension at WCCS

It has been such a pleasure to join Wyong Christian Community School as the High Potential and Enrichment Teacher for K-12. I can see that this is a school which works hard to extend and enrich students in a wide range of domains. In my first weeks here, 40 clever students from Years 5-9 navigated the challenges of the da Vinci Decathlon, whilst students from Years 7-11 participated enthusiastically in the National History and Geography Competitions. There has been great interest in Virtual Debating and the Lewis Shield Debating Competition, with 6 teams of students from Years 5-10 now training regularly for next term’s competitions. A team of engaged HSIE students helped to run our Anzac Day Service and are now busy planning activities for NAIDOC Week, with support from the SRC. Three excited teams of Years 9 & 10 historians were poised ready to participate in this year’s local Model United Nations Assembly, until it was cancelled due to Covid restrictions. Each fortnight, Years 9 & 10 students are challenged in their Merge Writing Extension classes and next term, many students will be further extended as they choose to sit the ICAS tests.

I have observed teachers going out of their way in supporting our students to excel. Two Year 10 students have been mentored through applying for the Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship, two Year 11 students have been guided through their applications for the Club NSW Premier’s WWII Memorial Tour Scholarship and several Year 9 students are being supported to develop their essay writing skills in preparation for the History Teacher’s Association Simpson Essay Competition. The scholarship winners have not yet been announced and we wish these students all the best!

I have enjoyed spending time in a variety of classes, from Kindergarten through to Year 12. It has been a delight to see the extensive vocabulary of Year 1 students in their creative writing and hear Year 3 mathematicians speaking the language of ‘math’ so articulately. I observed our motivated Year 5s thinking outside the box with their Genius Hour projects and I loved chatting with some very motivated Year 12 mathematicians, who displayed a clear sense of ownership of their learning. I have been pleasantly surprised to see how many opportunities abound for those wishing to extend themselves in the Senior years, with our current Year 12 students participating in Extension 1 and 2 English, Extension 1 and 2 Maths, Extension History and Extension Science.

I am looking forward to supporting the already wonderful work being done here at Wyong Christian Community School, as we seek to extend, enrich and equip our students to use their God-given gifts for His glory.

Mrs Anne Livette-Vial | High Potential & Enrichment Teacher