Whyalla Secondary College recognises that valuable learning also occurs outside the classroom, as well as our rich and varied Body and Mind curriculum, we provide engaging and challenging opportunities for students to participate in a wide range of co-curricular sports, which cater for different student interests.

Successful teams are given the opportunity to represent Whyalla Secondary College through participation in carnivals and competitions around South Australia. Sports are open to all students.

We value the contribution co-curricular sport makes to the social, physical and emotional growth of our students. They are given the opportunity to play with and against peers and others. Through this, students gain benefits, such as teamwork and leadership skills, increased physical fitness and develop positive relationships with students.

Whyalla Secondary College is part of the Eyre and Western Region and we nominate in both regional and state-wide knockouts, providing students with multiple chances to participate in a range of sports, including:

• Cricket
• Basketball
• Soccer
• Netball
• Australian Rules Football

Students also have the opportunity to participate in the WAASAC (Western Area Secondary Schools Athletics Carnival)

Year 9 Adventure Camp – Port Lincoln

Term 1 

The year 9 adventure camp to a South Australian regional town provides students with opportunities to engage, have fun and take part in activities they may have never experienced before.

Year 9 students have the opportunity to attend a camp to a South Australian Regional town that allows students to engage in a range of extra-curricular activities. While promoting active and healthy lifestyles, camp activities aim to help broaden students’ choice in hobbies, careers and pursuits beyond their home town and major cities. The stay away from home provides new experiences through which students develop self-esteem and self-management skills. The offered activities promote the development of strong positive relationships between students and staff and strengthen student understanding of the school values of Inclusion, Innovation and Integrity.

Activities may include:

Aquatics, bushwalking, outdoor challenges, a movie night and other extra-curricular activities in relation to the town and area (e.g. seafood tours, golf, animal parks, interaction with sea animals).

Year 10 RAA Street Smart High Camp – Adelaide

Term 1

The Year 10 RAA Street Smart High Camp is an overnight stay in Adelaide to attend the RAA Street Smart High presentation. This endeavours to educate students about road safety. The event is specifically designed for high school students, who are looking to get their driving licences. The event hosts a range of engaging guest speakers, who speak about personal experiences. It is a powerful presentation, which encourages students to consider the repercussions of unsafe behaviour on the roads. On the day, students will:

• witness a simulated crash scene, including pre-and-post-crash analysis;
• hear from young people whose lives have been affected by road trauma; and,
• learn road safety skills and knowledge.

RAA Street Smart High facilitates development in many of the general capabilities, such as Critical and Creative Thinking and Personal and Social Understanding. 

Year 10 Career Expo Camp – Adelaide

Term 2

The year 10 career expo camp ignites students’ interest in their future directions, and introduces them to the wide variety of tertiary learning options available.

The Year 10 camp provides students with the valuable opportunity to explore and investigate future tertiary pathways. They will visit a range of tertiary education organisations including Flinders University and Tonsley TAFE. Students will gain knowledge on topics including course entry requirements, career progression pathways, flexible learning options and desired skills and attributes by participating in a range of activities and interacting with university staff and students.

They will also attend SA’s largest Careers & Employment event. The expo will host over 80 organisations and employers with career opportunities for all ages.

The expo is packed with free advice, students can…

• Talk with over 80 training organisations & employers
• Gain free career advice from employment options
• Learn how to write a winning resume at free workshops
• Experience the daily career seminars
• Enjoy the interactive displays

The camp is beneficial to all students who are completing their Personal Learning Plan. The tours of tertiary organisations promote conversations regarding career pathways and opportunities.

STEM Innovation Experience

(info from Uni SA website https://study.unisa.edu.au/unisa-connect/STEMIE/)

About the program

The STEM Innovation Experience (STEMIE) is designed to increase Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) engagement in schools and enhance awareness of STEM in the wider community. This is achieved through students participating in a series of STEM based tasks linked to curriculum and showcasing their learning.

Every year, new STEM challenges are developed around a central theme. They will engineer and prototype designs to complete a set action, justify their mathematical considerations, use arduino coding to create a device within set parameters for their technology component and complete scientific investigations and research around the central theme.

Representatives from each school present their learning at regional showcases, where they are judged against other schools from their regional cluster. Winning schools from each region progress to the STEMIE State Final to compete in unseen STEM challenges.

The program is supported by The University of South Australia with the teacher professional learning workshop and a student workshop early in the program, covering skills required to complete the tasks, and resources and ongoing support through the UniSA STEMIE Moodle.

Instrumental Music

Instrumental Music (IM) is a free government service for students, which further develops student’s understandings and techniques in an instrument from the brass, woodwind or rhythm section.

Instrumental music tuition complements the classroom music program by providing knowledge and skills in practical music making on an instrument.

Whyalla Secondary College can offer weekly face to face lessons in Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Drum-kit, Guitar and Bass. Lessons run onsite during school hours for approximately 30 minutes with an IM teacher.

Students are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular ensembles that perform across the community and are often provided these opportunities through their Instrumental Music journey.