NEWSLETTERMAY 2016

Wirreanda Secondary School

Certif icates of Effort and Sport Awards

Business and Finance Report

Attendance and the DAYMAP Portal

Leanne Bell Achievement

Student Leadership

Year 8 Big Idea

IDAHOT Day

Thai Teacher Visit

Morphett Vale East Primary School

The Unit Family Day

Year 10 'What's behind your screen?'

SA Public Education Awards

Hilton Hotel Work Program

Sport and Outdoor Education

After School in the Learning Hub

Smith Family Homework Club

Games Club

IN THIS ISSUE

Dear Parents, Families and Students,

Wirreanda Secondary School and ?who we are? is a result of what we, staff , students and families, do every day.

At our whole school assembly at the end of Term 1 we were able to come together as a

school and recognise and celebrate effort awards for students 8-12. Congratulations to all of those students. At the assembly I discussed that effort and achievement are very closely connected and that we all have the capacity to achieve, in the end it?s the effort we put in that makes the dif ference. I encouraged students to consider that the greatest satisfaction is when you do something challenging and succeed and that is how we build confidence and satisfaction- from working through things that are hard. I look forward to seeing the effort that all students contribute this term to their studies and across the school community.

Congratulations to our Athletics Team that were champions at the Interschool Athletics at Santos Stadium at the end of Term 1. Mr Gale talked at assembly about the ?students being will ing to work together, help each other, f il l in when needed, compete in events or age groups outside of their comfort zone and investing genuine mental and physical effort in the face of adversity?. What a fantastic result for these students and Wirreanda Secondary School.

Welcome to new teaching staf f

Welcome to Luke Brzezniak who is currently replacing Adrian Tamlin and Lydia Sulda who is replacing Dorothy Pretsell. We welcome them both to our community in contract positions whilst Adrian and Dorothy are on leave.

Welcome to Megan Taylor Business Manager

Welcome to Megan Taylor who has commenced with us from the start of Term 2 in a permanent ongoing position as the new Business

Manager at Wirreanda Secondary School. Megan brings a range of experiences and skills with her and we welcome her to the community. We thank Gaye Walker for her time and contribution to the school over the last two years in this position.

Term 2 2016

Term 2 will continue to be a busy term with numerous key dates occurring. The start of the term has already been very busy with Year 9 Naplan testing in Week 2. Naplan isn?t the only indicator of success, but it does provide us with some information around growth for each individual student and we have encouraged all students to challenge themselves when attempting Naplan across the three days.

We look forward to recognising and celebrating Reconciliation Week which will commence with a whole school assembly in Week 5. Each year Reconciliation Week celebrates and builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians. At Wirreanda Secondary School we pride ourselves on creating a community that is strengthened by respectful relationships between all, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples.

At the end of Week 8 of this term students will move into Semester 2. For some students this will involve new classes and changes in their t imetable. The start of a new semester is a great opportunity for all students to review and set goals around their individual growth. I encourage you to discuss this at home and use as much information as possible to set learning goals for Semester 2.

On Friday June 3rd we will have a student free day. This will allow all staff across the Local Partnership to attend a shared Staff Conference where all preschool, primary and secondary staff

will participate in professional development together. We are very fortunate to be a part of a Local Partnership that works closely together and I look forward to sharing some more details with you in the future about this day.

School Values

During Term 2 we will continue to work on further developing our understanding and modelling of our school values of respect,

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PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

HONESTY

MONDAY 30 MAY - FRIDAY 3 JUNEReconciliat ion Week

FRIDAY 3 JUNEStaff Conference - Local Partnership

Student Free Day

WEDNESDAY 8 JUNEMusic Night 7pm

MONDAY 13 JUNEQueen's Birthday Public Holiday

TUESDAY 14 - FRIDAY 17 JUNEYear 11 and 12 Exams

MONDAY 20 - FRIDAY 24 JUNEYear 10 Exams

Year 11 Work Experience

FRIDAY 24 JUNELast day for Semester 1 subjects

MONDAY 27 JUNEFirst day for Semester 2 subjects

UPCOMING EVENTS

NEWSLETTER | 3

responsibil ity, honesty and achievement. Our values are now proudly displayed around the school in various areas. Positive behaviours is an area that we will continue to develop this term. Staff and students will begin to review and develop whole school positive behaviour agreements and expectations at Wirreanda Secondary School. As I discussed in my most recent letter sent home, our values can be modelled daily by students exhibit ing positive behaviours that enhance their own learning and that of their peers around them. Our focus on quality teaching and learning will also be further supported by appropriate and positive behaviours from all students.

We have commenced consulting with staff , students and community around the development and launch of our Behaviour Revolution 2016 at Wirreanda Secondary School. The start of Term 2 will see very clear expectations, processes and consequences for behaviour across our community. We believe we can play a positive and key role in the development and modelling of positive behaviours across our school. Ultimately, it is key that families have high expectations of behaviour and that they are supporting the school with this.

Facil i t ies Update New Senior Space

The tender process for our new specialised Senior Space is compete and building work will commence soon on the Upstairs B block area which will allow us to open this new space for the commencement of Term 3, only accessible by Year 11 and Year 12 students. This brand new space will further ref ine our focus on SACE improvement and signif icant support for our Stage 1 and Stage 2 students. Stay tuned to our social media to see ongoing updates about this major work occurring. Term 1 was a very busy but very rewarding term and we look forward to building on our success in Term 2. I look forward to working together in Term 2.

Kind Regards

Caroline Fishpool

Principal

EFFORT AWARDS TERM 1

Year 8

Holly L Gypsy S

Thomas P Madilyn C

Morgan W Cheyenne B

Kimberleigh J Daeshana J-P

Zander M Jye L

Lil ly O Max J

Taylah F Nikita B

Sally J Sara W

Mitchell S Georgia U

Clodagh F Avril B

Tyler W Aurora C

Year 9

Ophir Y

Brianna D

Tayla D

Vincent A

Josh F

Myah P

Matt M

Michael J

Hannah F

Charlotte M

Year 10

Zoe M

Jazmin D

Alex H

Mathew B

Mohit K

Bradley W

Nichole Z

Emma M

Tayah M

Cornelius V

Year 11

Hannah F

Abby I

Amy K

Macey M

Sarah M

Kristy P

Shayne P

Cloe P

Claudia W

Year 12

Joshua S

Amber W

Isbah S

Bailey G

Meraneah M

Cameron W

Carlos A

Jessie E

Congratulations to the following students who received Effort Awards at our school assembly in Week 11. To receive this award students had to achieve a minimum number of 5 High Efforts on their Term 1 report.

ACHIE

VEME

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SPORT AWARDS TERM 1

Year 9

Dane P SSC Award, Knockout Sport Athletics

Nathan Z Knockout Sport Touch Football

Year 8

Aurora C SSC Award

Spiro H SSC Award

Year 10

Costa H Knockout Sport Rugby League

Caleb W SSC Award

Year 11

Connor L Knockout Sport Cricket

Leah P Knockout Sport Touch Football

Congratulations to the following students who received Sport Awards for both Knockout Sport and Specialist Sport Course.

NEWSLETTER | 5

RESPONSIBILITYThank you to staff , students and parents who have given me such a warm welcome. I have already had the opportunity to meet our Governing Council and Finance Committee and it is great to see such a diverse group of parents who are passionate about being involved in their children?s education.

We are currently working on changing our uniform supplier for 2017, and the Year 8?s are looking at uniform design as part of their Big Ideas Project. We are hoping to incorporate some of their ideas in our new uniform. Additionally we are working on getting the long jump and triple jump repaired ready for the athletic season in Term Four.

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LEANNE BELL Congratulation to Wirreanda Secondary School teacher Leanne Bell who has received a SLASA (School Library Association of South Australia) Life Membership Award.

FROM THE BUSINESS MANAGER'S OFFICE

Please make sure you have completed your School Card from if you think you are eligible for School Card in 2016. This form needs to be completed every year. Please get in touch with our Finance Off ice for a Direct Debit by Instalment Form if you would like to pay your school fees on a payment plan and have them automatically deducted from your account. We are happy to work with you to set up an affordable payment plan to help take the stress out of household budgeting for school fees. I look forward to staying in touch to let you know what other exciting developments are coming up here at Wirreanda Secondary School.

Megan Taylor

Business Manager

FROM THE FINANCE OFFICE

Attendance Informat ion

Good school attendance is achieved when there is a solid partnership between school and home. It begins with strong encouragement for students to attend, for absences to be the absolute exception to the rule and for students to be absent only when there is a very good reason.

Effective communication is also vital, so that we all know what is going on and can support each other. Through the Parent Portal, which can be accessed via the school website: wirreandasecondary.sa.edu.au, you can view your child?s attendance to Home Group and to lessons. Please refer to the step-by-step instructions on how to access the Parent Portal.

Should you have concerns with your child?s school attendance, please contact Wirreanda Secondary School and make a time with your child?s Home Group teacher (in the f irst instance), Year Level Leader or Student Counsellor to see how we can possibly help you or l ink with support services that can assist.

NEWSLETTER | 7

ACCESSING THE DAYMAP PORTAL

STUDENT LEADERSHIP DAY

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An extended group of student leaders met on Monday 9 May to discuss how to drive a range of positive changes at Wirreanda Secondary School.

Students are a powerful force for change that are sometimes ignored when considering high-level decisions. We have been working to integrate student voices into inf luential positions. Our leaders contributed to the development of our Site Improvement Plan and have been active on school committees such as Governing Council and Executive.

Our Action Groups, driven by the extended leadership group, extend student voices into diverse areas of the school. Our Wellbeing Action Group worked toward celebrating IDAHOT Day, while our Teaching Quality group are intent on surveying students to determine their concerns. The Clubs & Activit ies group already have a shortlist of new club ideas and the Student Confidence group are investigating ways to help students ?stand up? in a variety of ways.

In all, eight Action Groups have been empowered to create positive change. It is exciting to see the kinds of projects they are interested in promoting, and the other students they will engage to build on their ideas.

"I'VE LEARNT THAT ANYONE CAN BE A

LEADERYOU CAN"

BELIEVEIF YOU COUR

TNEY

MCD

OUGA

LL-W

ALLE

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Would you like to develop valuable leadership skil ls whilst having enormous fun during the July school holidays?

Students in Yr 10-12 are invited to participate in a national leadership camp being held in Sydney, hosted by the GRIP Leadership team. Teenagers from around Australia will be gathering for this 4-day camp from July 3-6. GRIP Leadership is well known for organising Australia's largest student leadership events and helping students reach their potential as a leader.

Full details available at gripleadership.com.au/camp

YEAR 8 BIG IDEAGRIP NATIONAL LEADERSHIP CAMP

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In term 2, a large team consisting of homegroup teachers, year level leaders, SSOs, student teachers and student leaders, are working very closely with year 8 students during Pastoral Care each Tuesday morning.

In 2016, the Big Idea is a project based learning opportunity for students to investigate an area of passion within the school and work with their peers to develop a solution. Projects focus on a range of topics:

1. Designer Edge2. Dodging Deli Dramas3. Trash or Treasure4. Slip, slope, shade5. MakerHQ6. Drab or Designer

So far students have submitted a proposal in groups, begun the planning, investigation and consultation process.

In week 4, students discussed design options, how they would gather feedback from staff , students and the community. It has been a wonderful experience so far for all involved. I am proud of how students have approached this learning experience. Through sharing their ideas, students have made it clear that they feel passionate about their ability to have an impact in helping to shape Wirreanda Secondary School to be even better.

Soon, Year 8 families and caregivers will receive an invitation to attend a Big Idea showcase where students will share their grand plans! We hope to see as many parents, families and caregivers support and engage

in discussion with students about their learning.

Melissa Mulholland

Coordinator of Teaching and Learning

EMMA JONES, 8E"I LIKE IT BECAUSE ITS

DIFFERENT. IT IS NOT THE USUAL KIND OF LEARNING. WE GET TO WORK WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND HAVE A SAY

IN WHAT OUR SCHOOL COULD BE LIKE FOR

OUR NEXT 5 YEARS.

BRIANNA HARTWELL, 8E

"I LIKE BIG IDEA BECAUSE I CAN WORK IN A TEAM AND HAVE A SAY IN WHAT OUR

UNIFORM COULD LOOK LIKE"

Last week we celebrated IDAHOT day at Wirreanda (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia). The day celebrates pride, diversity, acceptance and acts as a message of support to all students in our school community.

Wirreanda staff and students have a long history of actively celebrating and supporting diversity within our community, a factor we take great pride in.

Back in 2012, students at Wirreanda (along with ex-Wirreanda teacher Ms Metzl) init ially pledged to stop using the term 'gay' as an insult. As this idea gained momentum, we were lucky enough to be able to take part in making a short f ilm about our work at school. The Foundation for Young Australians sent us a f ilm crew and helped us to make a video to spread our message further.

As a result of this video, our students were awarded a grant to put towards additional student-led init iatives and activit ies. Our student leaders met and decided to spend our grant money on a badge maker and supplies. Every student wellbeing day that we run at school benefits from this purchase as students are able to design and make their own messages on badges to share with their peers at school. We also made a deliberate choice to write a constant reminder to our students about our school value of 'respect'. Students chose the link stairs as the location for their message of: Love, peace, no sexism, no racism, no violence, no homophobia.

As part of our celebrations today, students shared messages of support for sexually diverse and gender diverse people through: our photo-board, making pledges to not use derogatory language, shared information about IDAHOT day and positively celebrated our diverse school community.

Walking around the yard during our lunchtime celebration of IDAHOT day today both reinforced and highlighted the incredible compassion, kindness and respect that our students share for one another (and staff too!)

I would like to make a special mention of thanks to the students involved in the Gay/Straight Alliance for helping to prepare for the day and for being driven to make their school a safer place. You constantly make me proud to be a Wirreanda teacher.

Emily Parker

IDAHOT DAY 17 MAY 2016

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"YOU CONSTANTLY

MAKE ME PROUD TO

BE A WIRREANDA

TEACHER"

RESPECT

Wirreanda Secondary School recently had the pleasure of hosting a teacher from our OBEC Partner School in northern Thailand for two weeks. Suthamma Sanyathanormrat (Noi) is an English teacher from Kanthalakwittaya School and was part of a group of teachers from this region who spent t ime in South Australian schools experiencing and learning about our education system. Noi also had the opportunity to explore Adelaide and visit a number of our popular tourist destinations. Sol Naidu will reciprocate this visit and spend time at Kanthalakwittaya School in July.

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On Thursday 12 May, during lessons 6 and 7, a group of students and a teacher from Morphett Vale Primary School visited Wirreanda Secondary School to util ise our technology facilit ies. 

The students designed and then used the laser cutter to produce lanyard tags which they will use at their primary school to indicate when a student has permission to be out of class. Thank you to Geoff Evans for volunteering his time to provide the students with this hands on experience. 

THAILAND TEACHER VISIT

MORPHETT VALE EAST PRIMARY SCHOOL VISIT

As part of their Humanities and Social Sciences and Health Curriculum, students develop their understanding of developing and fostering positive relationships. In conjunction with the International Day of Families, the Unit hosted an event which welcomed family members to the Unit. The event gave students the opportunity to formally tour their guests through the school and facilitate a classroom activity.

As school plays such a signif icant part in each student's l ife, the opportunity to welcome and share their school experiences with a loved one was very exciting. Students demonstrated maturity and professionalism when touring guests and used a range of developing skills to ensure their guests felt comfortable and welcomed. We look forward to welcoming members of our Unit community into our school again soon!

Wirreanda Unit

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WHAT'S BEHIND THE SCREEN OF YOUR DEVICE?Year 10 have been given the opportunity to get real hands on experience with the hardware in digital devices during Digital Technologies classes. Starting with taking old laptops to pieces, we have looked at the main components and then gone on to iPads, e-readers and mobile phones. This has allowed students to get a real understanding of developments in digital technology from a hardware perspective, particularly around the size of components and how they are assembled in the confined spaces of contemporary technology. Seeing inside devices provides a higher level of understanding of the language used in relation to digital technology.

UNIT FAMILY DAY - INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FAMILIES

Congratulations to the following Wirreanda Secondary School staff who have been nominated for the 2016 SA Excellence in Public Education Awards.

SA EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AWARDS

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Rhoni McFarlane: Rhoni is a key and inf luential leader in our school. It is exciting times at Wirreanda and she inspires students and staff to be

the best that they can be.

Meridee McClean: Meridee has provided continued support for many members of staff over several years. Her knowledge, skil l set

and enthusiasm are impeccable.

Emily Parker: Emily has done amazing work with supporting students and celebrating gender diversity by creating the Wirreanda

GSA alliance . Emily has worked closely with the Safe School Coalit ion and has represented educators at public forums for the FEAST festival. She works passionately with the students and the community around gender diversity , tolerance and creating an

inclusive environment and community .

Christ ine Jenkinson: Chris is an exceptional educator who has a huge amount of experience and is widely respected.

Students respect the approaches that Chris takes and are often adamant she is the only teacher they want. Chris has a unique ability to inspire and teach students in an area that students

often fear excelling in.

Azra Rochester: Azra continues to foster passion and innovation within the school community. She coordinates support and connects with families of Indigenous and non Indigenous

backgrounds. She works professionally as part of a team to improve literacy, numeracy and pathways for ATSI students.

Teresa Bruno: Teresa demonstrates authentic professional relationships with staff , students and the community. She has

implemented innovation by creating partnerships with Flinders University Medical students, a GP on site and two Psychology

services. Her core business is always the wellbeing and educational outcomes of students.

Natasha Finnigan: Natasha is an exceptional support staff member. She is approachable, knowledgeable, professional and

very driven to ensure that whatever task she undertakes is completed to a high level. Her strong organisation and

communication skil ls are f irst class and this results in a large number of people complimenting her work ethic.

Kadri Auvaart : She is an excellent teacher who believes in public education and is a strong supporter of music in schools. She puts a lot

of t ime and support into her students. She maximises learning opportunities for her students by understanding their backgrounds

and individual characteristics and the impact of those factors on their learning. She provides colleagues, including pre-service teachers,

with support and strategies to create positive and productive learning environments. She leads processes to improve student performance by evaluating and revising programs, analysing student assessment data and taking account of feedback from parents and carers. This is combined with a synthesis of current research on effective teaching and learning.  Commitment to every student she encounters, making students learning and wellbeing central to all she does. Advocating

for all students and making their wellbeing a priority.

NEWSLETTER | 15

Recently our VET Hospitality Students had the opportunity to participate in the Hilton Work Inspiration Program for 3 days at The Hilton Hotel in Adelaide from 10 May to 12 May.

The aim of the program is to give students an insight into the Hospitality industry and the various types of employment available.

During the 3 days the students participated in a range of activit ies including:

- a tour of the hotel from top to bottom - met with a range of employees who work in all facets of the business - made pizzas for lunch with the Executive Chef - experienced the journey of a guest from check-in to check-out including short presentations of

what each department does - participated in speed career chats where they were able to interview a variety of Department

Leaders regarding their roles - met the General Manager, Peer Norsell - had lunch in the executive Boardroom/Pool Deck - learnt about the

requirements to work at The Hilton and how to apply for an apprenticeship.

The students represented the school and the VET program proudly. Words used by the staff at The Hilton included ?enthusiastic?, ?interested?, ?well-mannered and polite?, ?engaged and asking questions? and ?best group of students they have had.

Anne McKinlay

VET Coordinator

HILTON WORK INSPIRATION PROGRAM

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SPECIALIST SPORT COURSE (SSC) FACEBOOK PAGE

The SSC Facebook page is up and running! Request to join the group at 'Wirreanda

Secondary School: SSC' . This page is a great way for families and students to remain

up to date with events, training and opportunities for SSC students.

Year 11 Outdoor Education students recently spent 4 days hiking in Deep Creek Conservation Park. Beautiful weather and a fabulous four days!

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YEAR 11 OUTDOOR EDUCATION CAMP

As staff and coaches we see the impact that one student can have every day. The person who sticks their hand up to say, ?yep, I can help? or ?I?ll give it a go?, or the student that keeps trying, regardless of winning or losing, fatigue or pain, inf luences everyone around them to be involved or to perform better - the impact these students have is quite often more far-reaching than they will ever know. It is that student that directly inf luences their peers and that student that affects culture.

During Interschool Athletics at Santos Stadium we saw this culture. We saw groups of students will ing to work together, help each other, f il l in when we needed, compete in events or age groups outside of their comfort zone and invest genuine mental and physical effort in the face of adversity.

On behalf of the Interschool athletics Staff and of course the rest of Wirreanda Secondary School, thank you and congratulations for all you did at SANTOS.

Amongst all of the stand out performances on Friday we had two students that received the Wirreanda Most Valuable Player for Athletics. These two athletes shone on a day when so many in our team did special things.

Congratulations to Ryelie McMullan and Dane Proepster.

Mr Gale

HPE/SSC Coordinator

NEWSLETTER | 19

SANTOS INTER SCHOOL ATHLETICS DAY

A CULTURE OFRESPECT TEAMWORK &ACHIEVEMENT

BOARD & CARD GAMES CLUB Last year a Board & Card Games Club started for students at Wirreanda Secondary School. Running at lunchtime in the Hub, the club has continued this year.

The club invites students to get involved in a range of dif ferent gaming activit ies, from traditional board games, to strategy and collaborative games in board and card gaming areas, as well as roleplaying games. There are a host of innovative game designs being played, from the bluff ing strategies of Coup and Resistance, to the collaborative race against t ime of Forbidden Island, to the strategic deck building of YuGiO and Magic: the Gathering.

While games are fun, they also promote a range of cognitive and social skil ls, as well as the ability to think f lexibly in varied situations.

The club would like to acknowledge the generosity of Games World at Westf ield Marion, who donated a range of games to the club this year to supplement those that staff and students currently lend. We are very lucky to have this kind of community support.

If you are interested in being involved, the club meets every Monday lunchtime in the Learning Hub with Mr. Whittaker. All students and staff are welcome.

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THE SMITH FAMILY HOMEWORK CLUB

Make homework light work by coming to the weekly Smith Family Homework Club, every Wednesday from 3:15 ? 4:30 in the

Learning Hub. Students can come and get help with any homework task or assignment. We also

have the volunteered services of IT Whiz Yvonne Owen, who can provide tutoring in

microsoft off ice, google drive or other software programs! Get the edge on your assignments!

Students must f il l out the Homework Registration Packs before attending. These are available from the Learner Wellbeing Centre. Return packs to Alison Buse, or

email any questions to alison.buse161@schools.sa.edu.au

LEARNING HUB AFTER SCHOOL

Throughout term 2, Jessica Norman is continuing to work with students after

school on Thursday and Friday each week. Students can access technology, work on

homework or assessments and seek support if needed. Any student wishing

to attend must have returned their permission slip to a member of

the Learning Hub team.

THE SMITH FAMILY HOMEWORK CLUB

Make homework light work by coming to the weekly Smith Family Homework Club, every Wednesday from 3:15 ? 4:30 in the

Learning Hub. Students can come and get help with any homework task or assignment. We also

have the volunteered services of IT Whiz Yvonne Owen, who can provide tutoring in

microsoft off ice, google drive or other software programs! Get the edge on your assignments!

Students must f il l out the Homework Registration Packs before attending. These are available from the Learner Wellbeing Centre. Return packs to Alison Buse, or

email any questions to alison.buse161@schools.sa.edu.au

WIRREA NDA SECONDA RY SCHOOL105 Richards Drive, Morphett Vale, 5163

wirreandasecondary.sa.edu.au

Phone: (08) 8329 7200

Absences: (08) 8329 7141

Text message: 0427 016 253