Starting @ WHS

At WHS we have the well-established values of Excellence, Respect, Integrity & Compassion.

These values are the basis for the behaviour that we expect in all areas of our school, our community and in our society. We use these values to explicitly teach positive behaviours and expectedations. These values also reflect the type of world we hope our students can positively contribute to.

Excellence

To be excellent is to:

• _{Do your best at learning activities.}
• _{Bring the equipment you need to learn.}
• _{Complete your homework & assessment tasks on time, to the best of your ability.}
• _{Be persistent in the face of challenges and difficulties.}

Respect

To show respect is to:

• _{Allow others the environment to learn.}
• _{Use language that is appropriate for school.}
• _{Take care of the school's environment, facilities and equipment.}
• _{Wear our uniform with pride, everyday.}

Integrity

To have integrity is to:

• _{Be accountable for your choices and their consequences.}
• _{Be on time for lessons.}
• _{Your mobile phone is off and away, all day.}
• _{Act in a safe way.}

Compassion

To be compassionate is to:

• _{Treat others with care and kindness.}
• _{Use inclusive language and to challenge discriminatory behaviour.}
• _{Give people their personal space.}
• _{Act with others in mind.}

Contact with the School 

• The school is as close as a telephone. Please ring or email if you have any enquiries or worries. Do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance. We welcome your interest and concern. 
• Please contact the school office before coming to the school so that you can be sure the teacher is free from class and the information you require is readily available. 
• In the first instance, when seeking information, advice or an interview, please ask for the following members of staff 
  • Contacting the Year Advisor: Each year group has a dedicated Year Advisor. Their position is to bridge the school-home divide and support families by either answering their questions or connecting them with the right member of the school to help.
  • Contacting KLA Head Teachers: Each subject is looked after by a Head Teacher. If you are concerned about courses of study or the progress of your child you should discuss these issues with the relevant Head Teachers.  
  • Contacting School Senior Executive: Parents with problems that are considered serious but of a more general or confidential nature should seek an appointment with a member of the senior executive. 

To make contact please ring the office for an appointment. 

You can find a list of our staff here.

You can find a list of our Year Advisors here.

Information regarding Bell Times can be found here.

WHS is a proud uniform wearing school.

Our school’s uniform and standards of dress are in accordance with the Department of Education School Uniform policy and is supported by the whole school community – students (represented by Student Representative Council), parents and families (represented by the P&C), and staff.

An outline of recommended equipment can be found here.

Early in Term 1 parents/guardians will receive information regarding school financial contributions. School contributions help provide additional educational resources for the benefit of students. 

Information regarding financial contributions to the school, and the assistance that is offered to students and families can be found here.

WHS uses the Student Assistance Scheme to support students and families with the costs of essential educational equipment and experiences. This assistance is applied on a needs-basis. Parents & guardians can apply for student assistance through the SchoolBytes parent portal. Access can also be found here.

WHS has extensive structures in place to support student wellbeing. 

Visit our Wellbeing @ WHS page for more information.

At WHS we strive for all our learners to be active and eager participants in the classroom. 

We know that for this to happen our students need to feel supported and valued by our staff and their peers. To achieve this goal we have implemented our Success Strategy. This plan outlines whole school initiatives, programs and activities that support students to experience success in/with education and to provide possibilities, options and support for students to engage authentically both academically and socially while at Warilla High School. 

The strategy outlines the measures taken to facilitate student achievement and success across three core pillars. These pillars are: academic achievement, school culture & opportunity and school-family-community partnerships. 

You can see the strategy in full, here.

We are also proud to be able to offer a large number of additional programs for students to seek support from their teachers, our spaces and resources. Information about our Academic Support Programs can be found here. 

The Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Program encourages students to bring a personal device to school for educational purposes. 

Technology is an ever increasing part of our everyday lives and technology is relied on consistently during class time.

Information regarding BYOD and recommended specifications can be found here.  

WHS is compliant with the NSW Department of Education's Student Use of Mobile Phones in Schools Policy, and therefore, students are not permitted to use their mobile phones at school, including during break times. 

Our Students Use of Mobile Phones in Schools Plan outlines our approach to the policy. 

Principals are responsible for managing requests from Parents/Guardians for exemption from the policy. This is done on a case-by-case basis and are generally only approved if they are for student health and wellbeing, or as part of reasonable adjustment to enable students with specific needs to participate in education on the same basis as other students. Application for Exemption from the Policy can be found here.

Relevant and detailed information on WHS' approaches to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education can be found on our Aboriginal Education page. 

See our Student Health & Safety page for more information.

WHS is proud to offer a large range of additional programs to support students academic growth. 

For information regarding our additional academic programs can be found here.

Our Core Skills program meets the needs of students who would benefit from a more structured, strength-focused class. Core Skills has access to one core teacher for a number of key learning areas, reduced classroom movement and a strong focus on learning how to learn. 

This program is run in Stage 4 (Year 7 & 8).

More information about the Core Skills Program can be found here.

CAP is part of the High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) program at Warilla High School. Our HPGE program is committed to high-quality educational outcomes for all high potential and gifted learners.

This program is run in Stage 4 (Year 7 & 8).

Go to CAP to find out more.

Our Library is the beating heart of our school.

Visit our Library page for more information.

Student Attendance is monitored through our School's student management system - Sentral.

To ensure attendance data is as accurate as possible we request that:

• If a student is absent from school parents/guardians amend the absence within 7 days of the absence the absence in SENTRAL Parent Portal or it will remain unexplained.

• Alternatively, parents/guardians can notify the school via a written note, phone call or email to explaining absences.

• If leave is longer than 10 school days, Principal's permission is required and must be sought well in advance of the leave. Form is available on SchoolBytes or find the form here

• If a student has a planned absence to please inform the school office and teachers as soon as possible. Students should liaise with their teachers as to the work that will be missed.

• No student may leave the school grounds without a written permission note from a parent or guardian.

• The note must have the date, reason and parent/carer signature along with a mobile phone number. This note is then to be taken to the library side window before roll call (8:00am-8:25am). The note will be sighted by the Head Teacher Attendance and a Permission to Leave (PTL) slip will be issued to the student. After 8:25am, students can seek permission to leave via the front office, but must first have their note signed by a Deputy Principal.

• See the relevant year Deputy during break times to get your note signed.

• When returning back to school (e.g. after an orthodontist appointment) make sure to return first to the office to collect a late/return slip to bring to your class teacher. 

• If parents are unable to provide a note for the student in the morning, parents can come to the school office or they can contact the school by phone to arrange a PTL. Staff will have to identify parent/carer before being approved. Please allow time for staff to access your child as we are unable to find students during break times.

Our school runs a large canteen that is open everyday. 

The most current canteen menu can be found here.

The WHS P&C Association meets on the second Tuesday of every month during the school term from 5:30pm.

Meetings are held in the WHS Library. Meeting reminders are often circulated via our social media platforms. 

Our curriculum is student driven and responsive to the needs and interests of each cohort.

The number of allocated periods is based on a fortnightly timetable cycle. Period allocation for specific year groups can be found here.

Visit Inclusive Learning Support to access resources and information for students with disability and/or additional learning and support needs.

Further information about our support classes can be found on our Foreshore Centre faculty page.

NSW Health works in partnership with schools to offer the vaccines recommended and funded for adolescents by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in a school-based vaccination program, including:

• diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa)
  
• human papillomavirus (HPV)
  
• meningococcal ACWY.

More information on the School Vaccination Program can be found on the NSW Health website.

Information regarding transportation options for families can be found here.

Subsidised school travel

Transport for NSW provides subsidies to assist school students.

• The School Student Transport Scheme provides eligible students with free or subsidised travel on public transport between home and school.
• The School Drive Subsidy may help towards the costs of driving children to school if you live in an area where there is no public transport.

Visit Term Dates for more information.

• All students begin Thursday 6th February 2025
• 2025 Department Calendar

There are many ways students can be leaders at WHS. 

This can be by taking part in our SRC or by more informal means. Visit Student Leadership for more information.

See our Careers page for more information.