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​Last Friday our Year 7’s participated in their first Lightning Carnival for Dianella Secondary College. The students travel to different venues to compete in Soccer, Basketball and Netball against other schools in our region. Our Year 7 Boys Soccer Team were unbeatable, topping the group against Aveley Secondary College, Ballajura Community College, Morley Senior High School and Mt Lawley Senior High School. In the final the boys were up against Morley but three goals in three minutes set the tone for the game, with the final result a resounding 4-0 win. The boys are looking forward to continuing with the Soccer Specialist Program at Dianella to further enhance their soccer skills.

On Monday 22 October 2018, Dianella Secondary College Year 10 student, Jimalyn Waiya, won the District Final of the Rotary Four Way Speaking Competition.

The event took place at the WA Golf Club in Yokine.

She was sponsored by the Matilda Bay Rotary Club and was up against six other schools. She will go on to compete at the State Final in April 2019.

Jimalyn gave a six minute speech on the topic of body image in front of an audience of District Rotarian Clubs and representatives from their link schools.

She was up against some great competition from Perth Modern School, Mount Lawley Senior High School, Butler College, Churchlands Senior High School, Mercedes College and Hale School.

 The Fred Marsh perpetual trophy will be housed at the school and Jimalyn took home a medal and a $250 gift voucher. The Fred Marsh Club trophy goes to Matilda Bay Rotary Club.
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 The Rotary Four Way speaking competition aims to engage students in public speaking, confidence building and ethics consideration.
“This is a wonderful result, not only for Jimalyn and Dianella Secondary College, but to Aoife Macaodhain and our English department for supporting Jimalyn throughout the process. Well done to everyone who played a part in this special win!!” – Wayne Austin, Principal, Dianella Secondary College 

​Follow the Dream is a program to assist and support Indigenous students to reach their potential. Aiding them in continuing to excel and complete Year 12 in order to achieve a successful transition into university, training or meaningful post-school employment.

The program provides personalised after-school tuition, support and case management to assist these students to continue achieving positive outcomes at school. The program assists students to constantly strive for excellence, set challenging goals and take the necessary steps to achieve them.

Dianella Secondary College’s Follow the Dream program and TADWA (Technology for Ageing and Disability WA) join forces to help these students reach their potential and achieve their dreams, by providing technology to some of the families. We would like to thank TADWA for their support and look forward to working together in the future.

​The Year 12 Outdoor Ed. class had their last camp together as a group, a 4 day adventure in the Margaret River region. After arriving at school on the Sunday, it was time to make the long journey down to the camp site. The first night was a quiet night around the campfire, playing some brain teaser games, before calling it a night ready for a day’s paddling the next day.
 
Day 2 saw a paddle along a beautiful stretch of river between Punch Road and Rocky Island. It was a relatively easy day, heading downstream with plenty of flowing water to push us on. The day 2 fire was a massive improvement on the first night and we had dinner before rain called a halt to our planned games and we headed to our tents and beds early that night.
 
Day 3 was where the adventure really got tough, with the challenge of some grade 1 and 2 rapids thrown into the days paddling. An early capsize by the staff canoe was a good laugh for the students and luckily lifesavers James Luc and Moustafa Ali were on hand to rescue the staff in the river. After a shorter day of paddling it was off to Contos campground for our last night on camp together. Everyone was exhausted so it was a relatively quiet last night with rain again preventing games being played around the campfire.
 
The last morning saw us pack up and head toward Jewel cave where we had a tour of the cave, followed by lunch in Margaret River. Then it was time for the long bus ride back to school which would have to go down as the funniest bus ride ever due to the students taking control of the microphone (mainly Rauf Khan and Joel Jamieson) and annoying everyone for the drive back to school.
 
A great last camp, well done!!!

Today is RUOK? Day and dance students are embodying positive mental health through African Fusion dance! The class had guest teacher Rita Nita ,from Elan Dance Est., who is passionate about multicultural dance and mental health through creating a safe space for young people to express themselves. Don’t forget to ask RUOK? today! ​

In English, our Year 9.2 and 9.3 students have been studying the text “Rabbit Proof Fence” by Doris Pilkington Garimara.

To give students not only a better understanding but also a unique perspective of the Stolen Generation, The English department organised a guest speaker. On Tuesday Week 9 students attended a discussion and talk hosted by Neil Coyne from NITV’s Noongar Dandjoo and Noongar Radio.  Neil spoke in detail about his childhood, in particular how he was taken from his family in Nangarup and made to live on a mission and then through foster care. He spoke about his experiences and the challenges he faced living away from his family and in care. He then spoke about his experiences about being reunited with his family and reconnecting with his heritage after he felt his cultural identity was stolen from him from the age of six.
 
This presentation was an excellent opportunity for students to gain a firsthand account of some of the challenges and hardship that Aboriginal people have experiences throughout time, whilst also extending their knowledge of Aboriginal history and culture. Neil also let students in on the secrets of the Wrestling Entertainment World, which many students found exciting and interesting!

Dianella Secondary College works with the Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre to ensure students’ futures’.

Dianella Secondary College has partnered with the Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre (MMRC) to launch the Youth Connections Program.  MMRC is a not-for-profit organisation that facilitates settlement and participation for migrants, especially refugee and humanitarian entrants.

The Youth Connections Program is delivered through the Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre and proudly supported by the Australian Government Department of Social Services. 

The Program aims to increase knowledge of and access to post-school pathways for students from refugee/migrant backgrounds. 
The Program also aims to increase their families’ capacity to support their children’s schooling and post-schooling pathways.

This program aims to increase young people’s sense of belonging and provide hope for their futures. School retention followed by a successful transition from school into meaningful pathways to future employment and economic participation significantly enhances long-term inclusion and positive participation in society.


On Friday, 31 August 2018, Dianella Secondary College launched the Youth Connections Program at the school. 
The launch featured speeches from:
- Amanda Gillett, Manager Community and Organisational Development, Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre
- Wayne Austin, Principal, Dianella Secondary College
- Hon Michael Keenan MP, Minister for Human Services and Digital Transformation and Federal Member for Stirling
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Dance Group, Bana Kin, also performed a traditional Congolese dance. This group is made up of Dianella Secondary College students and alumni. 

“We are very fortunate to have MMRC helping to ensure our students from multicultural backgrounds have the ability to make informed decisions regarding their post-school pathway options” – Wayne Austin, Principal, Dianella Secondary College