Edition 2 Term 1, Week 10
Message from our Principal
Kaya and Bonjour à tous.
What a term. The education system has thrown off the shackles of COVID and switched into hyperdrive. It is important for us to not let this distract us from our whole school philosophy. That is - Student wellbeing is the foundation of student success. When we have this right a safe and orderly environment is created for our teachers to focus on Quality Teaching. Then our students are able to take advantage of the myriad of opportunities and pathways for them to succeed.
Many things that were off the calendar last year are now reappearing. Our new Year 7s have settled into high school life. They have made new friends, experienced NAPLAN and their first whole school athletics carnival. The Carnival was a great day enhanced by the inclusion of our 20 Japanese exchange visitors. Thank you to the many parents, families and students who looked after our visitors I know that they had a great time and were very sad to leave.
This term we have also held the whole school ball and our students looked amazing. It was a fantastic night. A testament to the student behaviour was a lovely letter from one of our parents about the students who attended an after party at her house.
“ … I was blown away by the courtesy and respect from all who attended”
Among the events that have occurred this term we have also welcomed a number of special guests. The previous Premier of WA and Australian Ambassador to Japan the Honourable Richard Court AC, The City of Bunbury Mayor Mr Jaysen Di San Miguel and the new Education Minister the Honourable Dr Tony Buti.
Schools are busy places and it is easy to list events and student achievements. We try to do this as often as we can on our Facebook and Instagram pages. I highly recommend regularly watching out there to see the amazing achievements of our staff and students. But there are many things that go on in a great school like ours that you don’t see on our socials.
Recently we have been working on implementing a positive behaviour matrix in our school. This is an explicit way to teach pro-social behaviours. When a student is not exhibiting the positive behaviours that we have all agreed on, we are able to refer to our matrix (and posters in every classroom) and teach the positive behaviours. The students and staff will be able to monitor student development against a standard in our Good Standing procedures. In this manner, we can support students’ development pro-social positive behaviours or provide intervention support when needed.
Classroom Positive Behaviour Matrix
The other invisible work unsung work in a school is that of the student services team who work with students who experience difficulty. Since COVID the number of students with anxiety, families in crisis and general students' poor wellbeing has been on the rise. We work closely with outside agencies, within their policies of access, to support individual students with Risk Management Plans and Individual Education Plans. Student wellbeing can sometimes be a very complex issue for an educational institution.
Whether you are celebrating, Easter, Passover, Vaisakhi or Ramadan, I would like to wish our whole school community a happy and safe time. I hope that it is filled with family, friends, and fun times to recharge your mind, body and spirit.
En Avant
Mr Mike Singra2024 Senior School Flexibilities
Soon Year 10 students will be preparing for the selection of their Senior School course. It is a critical time for these young adults and quite a daunting, complex field for parents to navigate with them.
Recently you will have seen many articles in the newspapers and on the ABC discussing the relevance of an ATAR score. This is not degrading ATAR courses but the process of creating a score from four or more ATAR courses. Traditionally the creation of an ATAR score has locked students into either an ATAR pathway or a VET pathway. At Bunbury SHS we believe that this can limit some students from achieving their best.
In 2024, we are planning to provide much greater flexibility for student choice. There will still be the traditional full ATAR pathway and full VET pathway but the road is paved for us to offer more flexibility for students in between that want to keep all their options open. Students should always choose the most challenging courses they can based on their Year 10 performance.
Students will be able to choose 1, 2 or 3 ATAR courses and mix them with general courses, and/or a one-day certificate course. We also have great endorsed programs like the BEST program or the Independent Research Project that students can mix and match with other courses. As the student moves into Year 12 we also have the opportunity to change directions and access a University Preparation course that provides a minimum entry to ECU and counts as part of a portfolio entry to other universities.
Please keep an eye out for the parent information evening to come and get the full information about the Senior School opportunities at Bunbury Senior High School. Always the best education in Bunbury.
The P&C has gotten off to a great start for the year. The Uniform shop and Cafeteria businesses are turning over nicely. We said farewell to Louise Bruce-McGinn who has worked for us in the Cafeteria for the last 6 years and we also welcomed Brodie Skoda to our cafeteria team.
We held our AGM back in March where we farewelled Vice President Rebecca Reid and thanked her for her Accounting expertise and general support of the P&C. By the end of the meeting all previous Executive Committee members had agreed to stay on for another year and we welcomed Bridget Archer to the Executive Committee. The committee comprises of myself as President, Athena Sofilas as Treasurer, Kathy Quinn as Secretary, and Executive Members Jason Cleasby, Sara Bleys & Bridget Archer, and our School Principal Mike Sinagra as Ex-Officio Executive Member. We do have a vacancy for Vice President so if you would like to join the P&C please email Secretary Kathy Quinn at bunburyshspandc@gmail.com . We hold meetings on Tuesdays at 6pm on weeks 3 & 7 of each term in the school library. At our last meeting we shared wine and cheese together.
At the AGM our financial report indicated that we had raised approximately $30,000 in 2022. This came from Parent Voluntary Contributions, Uniform Shop and Cafeteria profits as well as funds raised by catering for school events such as the Music Showcase.
We are looking at supporting the school by funding a number of small projects this year including installing lighting in the Amphitheatre. We would love to hear from any Electricians in the school community that could assist us with this project. Other projects include a school grounds gardening project and new equipment for the newly created students' weight training room.
At the end of Terms 1 & 2 we are holding $50 gift card raffles for those parents that have paid their P&C Contributions so please make sure you are paid up to be included in the draw.
We wish you all the best for the Easter and school holiday break and look forward to seeing you next term.
Geoff Ogden
President
Bunbury SHS P&C Association Inc.
Triple P – Positive Parenting Program
FEAR -LESS SEMINAR
Appropriate for parents of children and teenagers aged 6-14 years
As we approach the end of Term One, we would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the importance of looking after ourselves as we take a break from regular routines.
As parents and carers you know your children best. You are in a good position to monitor your children’s wellbeing and to recognise early signs that they may be experiencing difficulties. These signs can include changes in behaviour, mood or health, or your child may communicate (directly or indirectly) how they are feeling and thinking.
If you are concerned about your child over the holiday period, we encourage you to seek further advice and assistance. There are a range of external services available for young people and families while schools are closed. For some examples, please see the below links which includes services that provide assessment, intervention, phone and web based support. Your family GP may also be able to provide information/referrals to other services.
Headspace:
Students:
Tips for a healthy headspace | headspace
How to help a friend going through a tough time
Parents/families:
Self-care for family and friends
Mental Health Commission:
Department of Education:
Emergency and consultation contacts for parent/carer/student support (attached; from the School response and planning guidelines for students with suicidal behaviour and NSSI)
Support for children and young people
We wish all of our students and families an enjoyable break.
Good Standing Policy
Our approach to ‘Good Standing’ has been shaped by the Department of Education’s Student Behaviour policy requirements and Safety is our Priority initiative to keep workplaces safe for every one of the school community. As such, Good Standing at Bunbury SHS is an educative behaviour improvement strategy that recognises the positive contribution students make to our school.
At Bunbury SHS, our Good Standing Policy supports our values of Learning, Collaboration, Diversity, Courage, and Wellbeing by acknowledging and rewarding exemplary behaviour, attitude and work ethic, attendance, and standards of uniform. We believe learning is enhanced in an inclusive, orderly, and caring environment. The wellbeing of students is the base we work from to provide them with academic success during their learning journey at school. The Good Standing Policy focuses on the importance of students taking responsibility for the choices they make which impacts socially and academically on themselves and others. The Good Standing Policy works in conjunction with the Positive Behaviour Matrix and aims to provide acknowledgement for many students who consistently emulate our values and identifies areas of support for those students striving to develop their Good Standing.
Our Good Standing Policy provides the opportunity for students to monitor their progress to achieve the standard expected of them. Students who reach that standard are recognised at times throughout the year both formally and informally. And for students that achieve beyond the standard are recognised further, with potentially increased privileges being offered. The strongest element of our approach is the support for students who have yet to reach the standard.
Senior School
As I reflect on another busy term, I must congratulate the vast majority of students who have commenced the year with clear commitment to achieving personal success and in being great citizens of the school.
Initial Highlights:
- Year 12 Ball
- University Tour presentation
- Elevate Study Skills workshops
- Wellbeing workshops
- Examination preparation workshops
- Australian Defence Force visits
Semester 1 examinations commence in Week 5 of Term 2. ATAR and ECU UniPrep students are encouraged to access resources that have and will be provided by the Senior School Team (via Connect) and teaching staff.
All students and parents are again reminded to check Connect on a regular basis to access key information and support resources.
As Term 2 commences, my initial focus will be about the review of student achievement and I will be having many conversations with students to celebrate achievements and to support required improvements!
The Good Standing policy has now been finalised and will be implemented from the beginning of Term 2. Information about this policy is noted earlier in this newsletter.
Students Maintaining Good Standing requires:
- Regular attendance and punctuality
- Satisfactory academic performance
- Positive behaviour (in accordance with the Positive Behaviour Matrix)
I will be identifying students at risk of losing Good Standing early in Term 2. These students will be notified of areas for improvement and the support and intervention plan to improve their Good Standing.
Finally, as we develop a more adult ethos for our Senior School students, the Year 12 students will be able to apply for additional privileges for having Good Standing or Advanced Good Standing status. Details of this initiative have been released to the Year 12 students via email and they are requested to submit the application form to Student Services. Students and parents will be notified of the outcome including the conditions associated with these privileges.
Have a wonderful holiday and we (Senior School Team) look forward to a successful Term 2!
Year 10 Course Counselling
The Senior School experience at Bunbury SHS is a unique and exciting journey. Our approach is based on treating our students as young adults and providing them with comprehensive support to develop the skills and attributes required to successfully transition into future work, training and educational pathways.
All parents, guardians and students are reminded that there is a Year 10 Transition into 2024 Connect group. Key information relating to the counselling journey is posted on a regular basis. Information will also be provided on the school’s website and Facebook site.
Key Events:
- Senior School Handbook will be released by the commencement of Term 2
- Students will be provided ongoing information and guidance during the first four weeks of Term 2
- Parent Information Sessions
- Thursday 4 May (5-6pm)
- Thursday 4 May (6.30-7.30pm)
- Friday 5 May (5.30-6.30pm)
- Course counselling appointments commence Monday 22 May (Week 5) and conclude Thursday 8 June (Week 7)
- VET certificate qualification counselling appointments commence late Term 2 (details to be advised)
Please contact me at any time if further information is required.
Tim Fry
Manager Senior School
Welcome to our new AIEO - Shannon Collard
We would like to welcome our new Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer Shannon Collard. Shannon has been working at the school over the last few weeks doing relief work in the AIEO position or as an Education Assistant. She then won a permanent AIEO position in our school. Shannon officially commenced this week as our Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer.
Shannon will be based at the Hub over at the Library. Shannon will also be an important part of our Student Services team. Here is a short introduction from about Shannon:
Before commencing work at Bunbury SHS I was a Woolhandler in the Shearing sheds. I lived and worked in small town called Wickepin where we were up before the sun travelling to different sheds every day to shear sheep.
I graduated Year 12 in 2013 from Manea Senior College where I studied ATAR. My favourite subjects were mathematics and integrated science. Before that, I attended Kambalda District High School near Kalgoorlie completing Years 4 to 10.
Outside of school, I like to go camping and fishing with my family, we often travel to places far away to explore new places and learn about the local areas.
My favourite thing about working at BSHS is working with all the students and being able to help them achieve their education goals and reach their full potential. I look forward to working with everyone and to making a positive impact here at Bunbury SHS.
Our School Development Days are an integral part of school processes each year. They provide the opportunity to do some staff training in areas that are important to our school.
We started the year with two full school development days dedicated to this training. We covered the following topics:
- Reviewing Student Achievement in 2022
- Learning about intergenerational trauma as a result of the Stolen Generation and the impact on our current students
- Staff Wellbeing – exploring data, setting up a committee, developing an action plan
- Launch of the Business Plan 2023 – 2025
- Data-informed planning – using system tools
- Compass training – our new system for storing student information
- High Quality Teaching – what does this look like at BSHS?
- Education Assistants only – Zones of Regulation training, ASD support strategies
Our next School Development Day, on the 24 April, will touch on the following topics:
- Teaching for Impact – the new strategy from the Department of Education
- Learning Support – tips to support students with learning difficulties
- Numeracy workshop
- Good Standing policy and Positive Behaviour matrix
- More Compass training
- Healthy Minds – getting familiar with a social emotional learning program to be delivered to students
- First Aid training for select staff
- Education Assistants only – Classroom Management Strategies for EAs
BEST & VASP Applications Now Open
Applications for our Bunbury Elite Sports Training program and the Visual Arts Specialist Program are now open.
To apply, visit the school website.
Western Australia will experience a solar eclipse on 20 April. Please visit the WA Department of Health's website on safety around the solar eclipse.
| Good Friday Public Holiday | Friday 7 April 2023 |
| School Holidays | 7-24 April 2023 |
| School Development Day - Students don't attend | 24 April 2023 |
| ANZAC Day Public Holiday | 25 April 2023 |
| First Day of Term 2 | Wednesday 26 April 2023 |
| ANZAC Day Assembly - Pd 2 Amphitheatre | Wed 26 April 2023 (9.44am-10.48am) |
| ONLA Yr 10/11/12 | 1-8 May 2023 |
| Science & Engineering Challenge Yr 10 | Tues 2 May 2023 |
| Interschool Athletics | Wed 3 May 2023 |
| Debating Yr 7-12 | Thurs 4 May 2023 |
| P&C Meeting | Tues 9 May 2023 |
Follow the school calendar and our Facebook and Instagram accounts to keep up to date with all important information.