Walk of Honour: Celebrating Tradition and Community

Last week, our School community came together for the cherished Year 12 Walk of Honour, celebrating our graduating students and marking the conclusion of their Wilderness journey.

A highlight of the event was the many thoughtful gestures shared by students across year levels. True to the spirit of the occasion, gifts reflected the values of connection, gratitude and community that underpin this longstanding Wilderness tradition. Handmade tokens, heartfelt notes and simple acts of kindness served as meaningful reminders that thoughtfulness and personal connection are far more significant than material value.

Our Year 7 students once again played an important role by presenting their handmade bags and a single rose supplied by the School. These gifts symbolised the care and respect that younger students hold for their Year 12 peers and added to the warmth and significance of the celebration.

The Walk of Honour was a memorable occasion, providing an opportunity for the School community to acknowledge the contributions of our graduating students and celebrate the relationships that make Wilderness such a special place. Thank you to all students and families who helped honour this tradition and make the event such a meaningful farewell for the Class of 2026.

Wait Mate Program

This week, an information session was held for the local community by Wait Mate, an initiative that helps families work together to delay smartphone ownership and promote healthy childhood development. Wait Mate is based on the idea that childhood should be shaped by real-world experiences, relationships and connection before smartphones become part of everyday life.

Parents who join the program choose how long they would like to wait before providing their child with a smartphone and can connect with other families in the same year level who are making a similar commitment. By building a supportive community, Wait Mate helps reduce the pressure often felt by parents and young people when it comes to smartphone ownership.

Importantly, Wait Mate is not anti-technology. Instead, it encourages families to consider the timing of smartphone access and empowers communities to make informed decisions together. The program recognises that every family is different while providing a network of support for those choosing to wait.

For more information about the movement and resources available to families, visit www.waitmate.org.au.

Success at the CLTASA Awards Ceremony

We are delighted to congratulate a number of our Middle School Chinese language students who were recognised at the Chinese Language Teachers Association of South Australia (CLTASA) Annual Awards Ceremony.

Students received first, second and third place awards in the CLTASA Video Competition across a range of language learning categories. We are particularly proud of our Year 8 students, with awards presented to Farhina Sheza, Skyler Luong, Avalene Tran, Ying Yu, Cecilia Di and Laura Xiao. In addition, Skyler Luong received the Outstanding Chinese Learner Award for the Middle Years, recognising her dedication and achievement in Chinese language studies.

“On Friday 11 September, the Chinese Language Teachers Association of South Australia (CLTASA) Competition was held at Seymour College. It was a wonderful evening filled with fun, excitement and cultural celebration.

Guests enjoyed a variety of delicious food and refreshments, which added to the warm and welcoming atmosphere. Each attendee was given a named seat, and one of the highlights of the evening was the lucky raffle, giving everyone the chance to win a prize.

During the event, we were treated to a special performance by young students from Westminster School, who sang and danced for the audience, delighting everyone in attendance. Throughout the evening, we enjoyed spending time with friends, meeting other students and celebrating our shared interest in Chinese language and culture.

A particularly memorable moment was receiving our award, which was personally presented to us on stage. We also had the honour of shaking hands with the event's sponsors, and we were sincerely thankful for their generous support in making the competition possible.

我们非常感谢所有为这次比赛付出努力的人。
(Wǒ men fēi cháng gǎn xiè suǒ yǒu wèi zhè cì bǐ sài fù chū nǔ lì de rén — We are very grateful to everyone who worked hard to make this competition possible.)

这真是一次难忘的经历！
(Zhè zhēn shì yī cì nán wàng de jīng lì! — It was truly an unforgettable experience!)

We would also like to sincerely thank the teachers, fellow competitors, organisers, Seymour College and everyone who helped prepare the food, activities and competition.

Overall, the CLTASA Chinese Competition was a fun and meaningful occasion that we will remember for a long time and that will spur us on in our Chinese studies.”

By Avalene, Ying, Farhina and Cecilia

Governor's Civics Awards Recognition

We are proud to announce that Olivia Ertugrul and Avni Katdare have been recognised as recipients of the 2026 Governor's Civics Awards for Schools.

The awards acknowledge students who demonstrate an outstanding understanding of civics, citizenship and community participation. Following consideration by the Governor's Civics Awards judging panel, Olivia and Avni were selected as award recipients and will be formally presented with their medallions and certificates at Government House in early 2027.

This recognition reflects both students' thoughtful engagement with civic issues and their commitment to making a positive contribution to their community.

Congratulations to Olivia and Avni on this significant achievement. We look forward to celebrating with them at the official presentation ceremony next year.

Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) Results

Congratulations to our Middle School students who participated in the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) and achieved outstanding results across Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9.

High Distinction

• Claudia Collum (Year 7)
• Hannah Fang (Year 8)
• Alina Teng (Year 8)
• Kaitlyn Tran (Year 8)
• Ying Yu (Year 8)

Distinction

• Skye Aung (Year 7)
• Anushka Jaiveer (Year 7)
• Giordanna Russo (Year 7)
• Elizabeth Sinclair (Year 7)
• Floria Wang (Year 7)
• Olivia Zhong (Year 7)
• Mia Zhou (Year 7)
• Lila Nassery (Year 8)
• Issie Morgan (Year 9)

Credit

• Evana Arora (Year 7)
• Alexandrina Cao (Year 7)
• Olivia Ertugrul (Year 7)
• Jiarui Fan (Year 7)
• Mitakshi Gupta (Year 7)
• Van Huynh (Year 7)
• Elizabeth Jamieson (Year 7)
• Kyra Shah (Year 7)
• Iris Tiong (Year 7)
• Katherine Xue (Year 7)
• Nithyasri Yazhini Dhachina (Year 8)
• Matilda Doolan (Year 8)
• Noor Jilaihawi (Year 8)
• Sharanya Reddy (Year 8)
• Maryam Cedra Sawad (Year 8)
• Addy Wilson (Year 8)
• Laura Xiao (Year 8)
• Zara Davuluru (Year 9)
• Hiteejot Grewal (Year 9)
• Genevieve Lim (Year 9)
• Hazel Newman (Year 9)
• Annabel Ryder (Year 9)
• Ella Wu (Year 9)

Congratulations to all students on their dedication, perseverance and achievement in this year's competition. Their results reflect both strong mathematical thinking and a willingness to challenge themselves through participation in one of Australia's most respected mathematics competitions.

Jessica Ryder Sets New Archery Records

Year 8 student Jessica Ryder has achieved remarkable success at the 2026 Archery Australia National Indoor Championships, held in August.

Competing in the Under 14 Female Longbow division, Jessica was crowned both State and National Champion. Even more impressively, she set a new Australian Under 14 Female Indoor Record, which also established new State records in the Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 categories.

Jessica's performance was exceptional, with scores surpassing those of all male longbow competitors in the Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 divisions. Her achievement is a testament to her commitment, skill and countless hours of training.

We congratulate Jessica on this outstanding accomplishment and wish her continued success in her archery journey.

Young Virtuoso Award Selection

Congratulations also to Jessica Mah, who has been selected to compete in the 2026 5MBS Young Virtuoso Award South Australia.

The prestigious event showcases some of South Australia's most talented young musicians across piano, voice and violin. Jessica's selection reflects her dedication to musical excellence and highlights the breadth of talent within our Middle School community.