The Autumn Art Festival, usually abbreviated to Autumn ArtFest is an annual event which attracts art collectors and the viewing public from throughout the Blue Mountains and surrounding areas. The event takes place to raise money for the school and showcases the work of well-known artists from throughout the region, such as multi-award-winning artist John Wilson, a member of the Royal Art Society of New South Wales, who featured in the 15th annual Artfest in 2006. Crafts and other goods are also sold at the event with musical items by school students.
School curriculum, demographics and enrolment
There are approximately 875 students enrolled at Winmalee High School. Winmalee High subjects include drama, music, dance, business studies, legal studies, computing studies, technology and design, visual arts, photography, languages, food technology and physical education. There are also Higher School Certificate programs offered at rigorous levels of study such as 4 Unit Mathematics and 3 unit subjects such as English, Computing Studies, Physics and Chemistry. Reflective of its location, the majority of students are Anglo-Saxon in origin, and the student and staff body is largely culturally homogeneous. This has changed slightly in recent years, and new arrivals to the school have enriched the school's diversity. In addition to their studies, students at Winmalee High School have the option to take part in on the job training in such specialities as building and construction, metals and engineering, industrial technology and hospitality which are usually unavailable at similar public high schools. Students also have the opportunity to link into joint TAFE courses as part of their HSC. Students can also be involved in a sporting situation called mountain sports. This is a government funded organisation and allows children to be involved with sports directly through the school which is very helpful for the parents who work long hours. The organisation picks up children from the school and drops them off at sporting locations such as Summerhayes Park.
Architectural significance
Being designed fairly recently in 1985 Winmalee High School is of architectural significance; the building is an example of Modern Architecture. It is one of the only High Schools in the Blue Mountains with wheel-chair access into a large percentage of the school which was added recently. 2008 saw the opening of the Performing Arts Centre at the rear of the main hall. The Performing Arts Centre was designed to cater for drama and small performances as well as a rehearsal space and holding room for the large productions held every 2 years. The school has a wide range of rooms, including general 'learning spaces', science laboratories, 11 computer labs, specialty music rooms, art studios, large wood and metal technology rooms, textiles and food technology labs, one of which has recently been refitted with new restaurant quality commercial equipment. A new trade training centre has been built as part of the Applied Technology faculty adjoining the newly refurbished food technology lab. A new fitness centre has also recently been built for PDHPE lessons.
Sporting success
Winmalee High School has a strong sporting culture that has resulted in success in a number of sports. Typically dominant amongst local High Schools, Winmalee has been represented strongly at State CHS level in Athletics, Basketball, Cross Country, Netball and a number of other sports. In the late 1990s - mid 2000s Winmalee High School achieved remarkable success in both Men's Basketball and Netball. In 2002 and 2006 the Winmalee Worms Men's Netball team won the State Netball title. Winmalee High School has also enjoyed a great deal of success in boys' and girls' water polo over the years. This success continued in 2011 with the boy's open team winning the Sydney West Championship again at Open and U15 level. The school also provided 40% of the squad members of the Sydney West Representative side who competed in the State Open Championship in Alstonville in November 2011. In 2012 the school again won the Sydney West Championship at both U15 and Open level. The open team reached the quarter finals of the State Finals but had to withdraw from the U15's State Championship due to a clash with another school event. The school provided 2 of the starting line up for the Sydney West Representative side who competed in the State Open Championship in Albury in November 2012. Both of these players were subsequently selected for the Combined High Schools squad who will compete against the other States in early 2013.
