LEEMING SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL vOLume 7, 6 November 2024

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TERM 4 DAtES TO REMEMBER 2024

Term 4 Japanese Specialist Workshop: Exploring the World of Japanese Spirits

This term, students are exploring the mystical world of kami (gods) and yokai (spirits), inspired by the animated film Spirited Away. Students learned about the roles of kami and yokai in Japanese folklore, including how different types represente nature, emotions, and the unknown.

We are discussing famous yokai and the values they reflect in Japanese culture. At the end of the workshops, students will bring their creativity to life by designing their own yokai, capturing aspects of their personalities, and creating a story of their own, as in Japanese mythology.

GOLD Inbound Japanese Exchange Program 2025

In February, we will be welcoming some visiting Japanese students for an 11-night cultural exchange, and we encourage all families to join.

The visit presents an exciting opportunity for your child to be a cultural ambassador for the school by hosting a student. Hosting is easy, simply include the student in your everyday routine and enjoy a unique cultural experience.

The benefits of hosting:

• Enrich your teenager’s worldview.
• Connect them with a new culture.
• Create new global friendships.

Students arrive on Thursday 20 February, 2025 and families who host will receive $550 to assist with expenses, along with 24/7 bilingual support throughout the program supported by our partner Gold Educational Tours.

Please register your interest via https://goldeducationaltours.com.au/schoolcommunity, or speak to the Gold Team today at homestay@goldil.com.au or 0482 076 423.

If you have any further questions, please email joanne.sgro@education.wa.edu.au.

Ms J. Sgro, Japanese Specialist Teacher

Believe in Yourself

In a suburb south of the river where BMX racing was king, Carl dreamed of becoming a champion. Every Saturday, he raced with his friends, but self-doubt haunted him. “Everyone’s faster,” he thought, even though his old school friend Tony urged him to believe in himself.

When a state championship arrived, Carl felt a mix of excitement and fear, what if you crash, what if you lose. He had trained hard but doubt still lingered. On race day, the air was buzzing with energy, and the sight of the 6-metre starting ramp made Carl’s heart race and become nervous.

He stood among the other competitors, each one a blur of determination and focus. He took a deep breath and grounded himself, remembering Tony’s words.

As the gate dropped, he snapped for the hole shot. Pumping the jumps and slick cornering in the berms, he repeated Tony’s words: “You can do this!” In the last straight, he found himself handlebar to handlebar with another rider. Ignoring the doubt, he gave it all, crossing the finish line with his heart pounding and the sound of cheers from the crowd.

When the results were announced, Carl couldn’t believe it. He had placed third! It wasn’t first, but it felt like victory. In that moment, he realised something important: he had conquered his fears and proven to himself that he was capable.

That season, Carl continued to race, each time remembering the lesson he had learned. He knew know that, in the words of Henry Ford:

Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.

And with that belief, he felt unstoppable.

Carl the Chaplain

Parents and students, welcome back to school for Term 4. I wish you all a great term and for the Year 12 doing their ATAR Exams all the very best wishes to you all.

Important Message students doing Exams

Skills such as time management, fitness, a healthy diet, a positive study environment and stress management help teenagers to achieve their full potential during their schooling. Healthy bodies make healthy minds.

An important part of study is staying physically active. Students who are fit, healthy and take part in physical activity perform better in the classroom. They are more goal-orientated and disciplined in their studies. A healthy, balanced and varied diet also helps improve concentration, learning and memory. Some snacks for study success include fruit smoothies, wholemeal crackers with peanut butter, pikelets made with mashed banana, rice cakes with tomato and cheese and fruit muffins

Unwell/Injured/Hospitalised Students

Parents and guardians, can I please request that you inform me and keep me updated if your child is unwell, has an injury and/or has been seen by a doctor/hospital and needs ongoing follow up and treatment.

Also if your child is in hospital for an ongoing medical condition please do keep me in the loop so that I am aware and can offer support especially on your child’s return to school.

When your child returns to school after an injury can I please remind you to provide your child with one dose of Panadol to bring to school in case your child is in pain and need pain relief, as I am not allowed to give medications to students.

Thanks for your support in this.

Head Lice

These critters seem to be popping up even in high school! Parents, please check your child’s hair frequently and treat! Head lice are tiny insect parasites that live on your head and feed on your scalp. Head lice are spread by head-to-head contact with another person who has head lice. This kind of contact includes doing group work, playing, and hugging.

• Head lice are insects that live in hair.

• The main symptom of head lice is an itchy head. You might also see white or black-brown eggs near the scalp.

• You can treat head lice at home with anti-lice products or wet-combing.

• Head lice are very common in children and spread easily.

• If your child had head lice, check your whole family and tell your child’s child care service or school

Tips for preventing head lice

• Check your child’s hair regularly for head lice and eggs (‘nits’). Use a metal fine tooth ‘nit’ comb and plenty of hair conditioner applied to the dry hair, to make the task easier and more effective. To help children sit still for this, offer distracting activities, e.g. play a favourite video, provide games, iPad apps, offer a head massage.

• Tie long hair back. Braid long hair and/or put it up if possible.

• Consider applying hair gel or mousse. These do not prevent or repel lice but may help to keep stray hair strands from contact with other heads.

• Avoid sharing combs or brushes.

• Remind your child to avoid head-to-head contact with other children, e.g. when working at the computer with others, or when playing, or hugging.

If your child has head lice please notify the school/ teacher.

For more information visit Healthy WA:

Medication at School

Springtime is here and with this great weather comes allergies. I have seen a few students this week with allergic symptoms: watery, itchy eyes, nose and throat, sneezing, etc. A reminder to students and parents/guardians, that I do not give medication e.g. antihistamines, eye drops, paracetamol etc.

Children who suffer allergies, hay fever should be seen by their doctor for the correct medication. If your child needs to take antihistamines for allergies, I strongly recommend that these be given to your child before school and also that they are provided with a tablet to bring to school in case they need it.

Vision and Eyes

Good vision is important for learning and quality of life. Watch for any of the following in your child;

• Covering/closing one eye when reading;

• Holding books very close;

• Complaining of eyestrain or headache;

• Complaining of double vision or blurred vision with reading or board viewing;

• Complaining of words moving on a page;

• Losing place when reading, or skipping words and lines;

• Inattention or short attention span when reading, or;

• Rubbing the eyes.

Please note: Medicare covers the cost of an eye examination. If you have a concern about your child’s vision please contact a doctor, optometrist.

How to Keep your Child Safe Online

Protecting your children from harm is just as important online as it is in the real world. As a parent or carer, you can play an important role in helping children have safe and positive experiences online.

The internet offers an exciting world of experiences for children and the whole family. It can be entertaining, educational and rewarding. However, using the internet also involves risks and challenges.

Children might be exposed to content that is sexually explicit, violent, prohibited or even illegal. They may also experience cyber bullying or be at risk from contact by strangers.

Children may - unknowingly or deliberately - share personal information without realising they may be subject to identity theft, or that they are leaving behind content that might not reflect well on them in the future.

Talk with your kids about the risks, and answer their questions or concerns about things they find on the Internet. For more information visit:

Mrs D. Kitak , School Nurse

Acknowledgement of Country

We respectfully acknowledge the past and present traditional custodians of this land on which Leeming Senior High School stands, the Whadjak/Noongar people.

It is a privilege to be standing on Noongar country. We acknowledge the contributions of Aboriginal Australians to the education of all children and people in this country we all live in and share together – Australia.