Edition 3 Term 2, Week 11
Message from our Principal
Kaya, Salut and Welcome.
Term 2 is always very busy with exams, ESTs, OLNA and reporting. Even with an 11-week term, there is not much time for a whole lot else. Regardless, you will see that our Facebook page is jam-pack full of wonderful student experiences and achievements.
“The grass always appears greener on the other side of the fence.”
What an appropriate saying for our Year 10 students who are making important decisions about the completion of their high school years. While weighing up the information as to where to complete their schooling the opportunity of something shiny and new can trick them into believing something will be better than what they already have.
There is almost nothing, that any school does in the Bunbury region, that rivals the opportunities, student experience, and ultimately, the academic success of Bunbury Senior High School. Despite what is said at other schools’ information sessions, they spruik all kinds of promises, but students will find all, and much more, of even higher quality at Bunbury Senior High School.
The quality of our teaching staff, their relationships with your child, our location to city infrastructure and our external partnership are the reason that students join the long historic list of successful people graduating from Bunbury Senior High School. I’m reminded of a quote from one of our senior school students who I asked, “why did you stay at Bunbury Senior High School when your friend didn’t?”. Her reply has stuck with me to this day. She laughed at me, like I was silly for asking the question and simply said, “Because I belong here!”, Emma went on to be Head Girl, win a UWA Fogarty Scholarship and study law.
The 2023 annual report has been slimmed down and uploaded to our web page. This year we have included only the performance data. Please click the link and check out the fabulous year that was 2023.
For full highlights of the year that was check out our Facebook page.
Teaching our children self-regulation is one of the most important things we can do. It will help them manage their emotions, control impulses, and make better decisions. For two years now, we have acknowledged the importance of this by including a Social and Emotional Learning Program in Year 7 and Year 8. Together with the Safe on Socials program it is a great foundation for you to discuss this important topic with them. Term 3 will start with two weeks of activities for our “Big Days In” program of Social and Emotional Learning for the Year 7 and Year 8 students.
Please encourage and support your young adults to practice self-regulation. Show them how to take deep breaths, count to ten or take a break when overwhelmed. Praise them when they use these skills.
Operational Matters
- 2025 Year 7 enrolments close soon. Please submit your enrolment application before the deadline to be sure of your place. Out of boundary enrolment applications will be considered but will not be processed until all Local Area Intake applications have been received.
- Our 10-year building plan developments for this year are concentrated around two major projects. Retaining walls for our school, high on a sand dune, is of the highest priority. We have completed some retaining by the bus bay stairs. There will be landscaping to follow. Of greater priority is the retaining to support the main historic school building. Planning has started on this with a large budget to follow to undertake this large capital works program required. The second project is the upgrade of STEM space and equipment. This upgrade will enhance our robotics and engineering focus and support the region-leading role we now have in coordinating the robotics challenges for the South West. The STEM upgrade will also see audio-visual equipment installed in our theatre to support creative technologies programs that are developing. It will begin in next term.
As we head off to winter break, please enjoy, stay safe and we look forward to seeing everyone back, full of energy, ready for the second half of the school year.
En Avant
Mike Sinagra
ECU Partnerships
With the visual arts portfolio workshop program established, we are working with ECU to scale this into other learning areas. This year the program will include support from the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) to provide a series of music performance and audition workshops.
Bunbury SHS - Alumni
The Bunbury Senior High School Graduates Society was formally established in 2020. The Graduates Society has a Facebook page, Website, and constitution and has already held one formal event. Technology advances have seen us upgrade how memberships are processed and we urge all Alumni who have previously registered to register again through our new member login on the website. This will allow each member to maintain their own details to ensure they receive communication from the school about Alumni happenings and upcoming events.
Our previous Graduates Society Council has been dissolved and we are on the lookout to appoint a new council. If you are interested in serving on the council, please look at the website. The Council consists of a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Executive Officer and up to 6 other members.
If being part of The Council sounds like a big job, you may be interested in helping out on one of the committees.
- Communications and Social Media Committee
- Historical and Museum Committee
- Functions Committee
To find out more information or to volunteer for a role please contact me directly at: michael.sinagra2@education.wa.edu.au Feel free to pass this information on to any Alumni that you may know.
General Enrolments Now Open
Applications for General Enrolments are now open.
To apply, visit the school website.
We are excited about commencing two Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs next term at Bunbury Senior High School. Explicit teaching of SEL facilitates development of the personal and social capabilities that young people need to build resilience and manage their emotions, behaviour and relationships with others.
Our Year 7 cohort will participate in AUSSIE Optimism - Optimistic Thinking Skills:
Aussie Optimism develops and promotes positive mental health in children, adolescents, and school communities.
The program aims to prevent the onset of anxiety and depression in young people by teaching students the practical skills and strategies that promote social and emotional wellbeing, problem-solving, and resilience.
Our Year 8 cohort will participate in Healthy Minds:
Healthy Minds is a psychological skills program aimed at preventing the onset of anxiety and depression while also reducing risk for eating disorders and body image problems. It teaches the specific skills associated with emotional wellness and resilience by addressing unhelpful perfectionism and promoting realistic thinking and self-compassion.
In addition to our SEL programs, our Year 10 cohort will participate in Teen Mental Health First Aid (TMHFS) training next term. This course equips secondary school students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to recognise, understand and respond to a friend or classmate experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis. The course also promotes self-awareness around mental health topics, to encourage self-care and help seeking. This is essential for the prevention and early intervention of mental health problems.
Many young people are reluctant to seek formal support for their mental health problems. Stigma, fear, and misconceptions can negatively impact help seeking, and prevent already vulnerable young people from getting the support they need. This makes Social Emotional Learning programs and peer-to-peer support an essential part in any school-based prevention and early intervention approach. For it to be effective, we need to educate young people and give them the tools to understand and manage their own wellbeing and to recognise and respond to mental health problems in the real world.
| School Holidays | 29 June -14 July |
| School Development Day - Students don't attend | Monday 15 July |
| First Day of Term 3 | Tuesday 16 July |
| Whole School Assembly (period 2) | Wednesday 17 July |
| Applications for Enrolment Close | Friday 19 July |
| Contemporary Band Camp | Mon 22 July - Wed 24 July |
| Year 7 Immunisation | Tues 23 July |
| Follow the Dream Careers Camp Yr 9-11 | Thursday 25 July |
| Year 10 BEST Camp | Sun 28 July - Sat 3 Aug |
| Interschool Cross Country | Tues 30 July |
| Senior Band Camp | Wed 31 July - Fri 2 Aug |
| Follow the Dream Koorliny On Country Yr 10-11 | Mon 5 Aug - Thurs 8 Aug |
| WA Schools Contemporary Band Festival | Tues 6 Aug |
| Talented Young Writers Program | Wed 7 - Thurs 8 Aug |
Follow the school calendar and our Facebook and Instagram accounts to keep up to date with all important information.
Academic Scholarship 2025
Through the generosity of the school community, Bunbury SHS offers academic scholarships for currently enrolled Year 10 students or those students who would appreciate the opportunity to study at Bunbury SHS. The two scholarships are for students entering senior school in 2025.
Senior School Scholarship
The following two scholarships are available to any currently enrolled Year 10 student (internal or external) who would appreciate the opportunity to study senior school at Bunbury SHS for 2025/2026.
Kingia Scholarship
One student completing a full ATAR program and one student completing a VET/Certificate program. A monetary scholarship ‘up to the value of $1000’ for each year during the period of senior schooling.
ATAR criteria for consideration:
- Minimum Cat 3 in all NAPLAN components Numeracy, Writing and Reading
- Academic standing in Year 10 Semester 1 report to meet an ATAR pathway
- Participation in extra curricula activities.
VET/Certificate criteria for consideration:
- Acceptance into nationally recognised Certificate III course
- Academic standing in Year 10 Semester 1 report
- Participation in extracurricular activities.
Funds cover compulsory school charges with residual monies allocated to other optional charges and/or personal items and other services in consultation with the student during the period of senior schooling.
Kaadadjiny Scholarship
Two ATAR pathway students and two VET pathway students awarded the Kaadadjiny scholarship are drawn from the Kingia scholarship applicants. The recipients of these scholarships will have their compulsory school charges ‘up to the value of $500’ covered for each year during the period of senior schooling.
VET/Certificate pathway students completing a Certificate II course may apply directly for a Kaadadjiny scholarship under the following criteria:
- Acceptance into nationally recognised Certificate II course
- Academic standing in Year 10 Semester 1 report
- Participation in extra curricula activities.
Application details and enrolment requirements will be pushed through Connect to all Year 10 students in Week 1, Term 3.
Theatre Arts Club
Last Saturday night at the South West Eisteddfod Gala evening the Bunbury Senior High Students were selected and present a great dramatic rendition of Snow White. It was a great achievement for our new drama teacher Mr Krynauw who has only been in the school for Term 2.
On the back of this achievement the Bunbury SHS P&C have once again sponsored a Theatre Arts Club. The club runs Thursdays after school from 3:15 until 5:15. There is plenty of opportunity to learn with the directors of the club and then perform later during the year. All students are welcome and I encourage all students with a passion for performing to contact the P&C to join the fun.
Bunbury Senior High School P&C bunburyshspandc@gmail.com
WINNERS! SEVEN YEARS IN A ROW
Congratulations to our Country Week team who have taken out FIRST PLACE in the Tier 1 division at the School Sport WA 2024 Country Week competition.
This is the seventh year in a row Bunbury Senior High School has been crowned champion school!
What an amazing result!
Some notable performances were in the Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls AFL and the Speech and Debating team.
The girls basketball team have been outstanding right from the start of competition. They finished on top and beat Basketball specialist school Denmark Senior High School in the final today to bring home the Champions shield.
The Girls soccer team that have been undefeated all week, but unfortunately, lost the grand final in a hard fought 1 – 0 loss to local rivals Australind Senior High School.
In the Girls AFL again we spent the week undefeated and brought home the champions shields.
Our Speech and Debating team always are significantly contributors to the overall score for champion school. This year they finished first overall with a special Gold Medal going to Isabella Chalker for her speech.
A huge thanks and well done to our staff and students who represented Bunbury Senior High School and organised this year's competition.
For photos and highlights from the week, check out the school's Facebook and Instagram pages.