Edition 4 Term 3., Week 10
Message from our Principal
Kaya, Salut and Welcome.
is great to talk to you about the educational matters impacting you and your child’s future.
Historical data in all school points to declining attendance and lowering student engagement as student move from Year 7 to Year 10. At Bunbury Senior High School, we actively seek solutions for students.
Currently each core subject, Mathematics, English, Science and Humanities (MESH) have 4 hours each a week. The reason why there are fours a week has a long history. It is mostly associated with the equitable distribution of time and the creation of a timetable. The Schools Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) recommend 3 hours per week.
With plenty of current Year 9 student input and teacher consultation the staff have been looking at infrastructure, school process and curriculum delivery methods to give our students greater choice. Students will be able to choose more of the things that they like and need and less of the things that they don’t.
There is still plenty of work to do before we implement this in 2026. They will be parent information nights in Term 2 next year. The staff and school board are very excited about the possibilities for our students.
You may have seen the new developments in our Senior School courses in the Social Media pages. As a great addition to the flexibilities, we offer in mixing and matching courses; ATAR, TAFE, Workplace Learning, endorsed programs; we have the new Medical and Engineering Pathways. It just makes sense that we add this value to our students who are achieving the highest median ATAR in the district by offering the extras to pursue medical and engineering pathways. We have had a great response from our Alumni to participate in the mentoring of students.
Also, for 2025 the Aviation course will begin. In partnership with Southern Aviation, we will deliver a general aviation course with 2 units of competency towards a commercial pilots licences, two flying lessons and simulator training.
As I said in the beginning, we will not sit idle on our excellent reputation of high achievement. We will continue to strive to offer the most current opportunities, on a foundation of high student care, while maintaining the highest quality of teaching and learning.
Operational Matters
-
- 2025 Year 7 enrolments close soon. Please submit your enrolment application before the deadline to be sure of you place. Out of boundary enrolment applications are accepted. The process of assessing these for the small number of places left will beginning in Term 4
- In addition to the 10-year building plan projects mentioned in our last newsletter the indoor/outdoor up-grade of the hallways will begin this holiday break with the painting of the hallways. The project will be completed for the start of 2025. It will transform the ground corridors into comfortable indoor space for students to be out of inclement weather
As we head off on to spring break, please enjoy, stay safe and we look forward to seeing everyone back, full of energy, ready for Term 4.
En Avant
Mike Sinagra
New Board Position - Alumni Member required
The Bunbury Senior High School Board are looking to appoint a new school board member as a content expert. The position is specifically to appoint an Alumni member to the board to drive the ongoing establishment of the Bunbury High School Graduates Society. BHSGS. If you are an Alumni or know an Alumni with a passion for supporting the school, organising events and working with the school board, please contact the principal to find out more details.
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.
| School Holidays | 20 September - 6 October |
| First Day of Term 4 | Monday 7 October |
| Whole School Assembly (period 2) | Wednesday 9 October |
| Year 8/9 GAT STEM Excursion | Tuesday 8 October |
| PBL Parent Night | Tuesday 22 October |
| Year 12 Presentation Night | Thursday 24 October |
| P&C Theatre Production Matinee & Evening Show | Thurs 31 Oct & Fri 1 Nov |
| Year 7 Parent Info Night | Tuesday 19 November |
| School Development Day - Students don't attend | Friday 22 November |
| GAT Information Night | Monday 25 November |
| Year 7 Orientation Day | Tuesday 3 December |
| Music Showcase | Thursday 5 December |
| Final Whol School Assembly (period 2) | Monday 9 December |
| GAT Showcase | Wednesday 11 December |
| Student's Last Day | Thursday 12 December |
| School Development Day - Students don't attend | Friday 13 December |
Follow the school calendar and our Facebook and Instagram accounts to keep up to date with all important information.
Our teachers at Bunbury SHS are committed to providing the best possible education for all students. To support this, in Term 3 we have been actively participating in the Pivot program, a comprehensive professional learning approach designed to enhance our understanding of and support for students with Autism.
The motivation for this focus has been from the identification of increased numbers of students with ASD diagnoses across our wider school network, and an understanding that high-quality teaching strategies to support these students will also support all of the students in our classes. Throughout this program, our teachers have delved into research-based strategies, developed learning area improvement plans, and begun implementing and trialing innovative approaches to meet the unique needs of our students. We are proud of our teachers' dedication to continuous improvement and commitment to ensuring a supportive and inclusive learning environment.
BEST Update
Athletes have also completed their Semester 2 fitness testing. This is a chance for athletes to test themselves and see how they are tracking in key fitness components. There are many external factors that can influence an individual’s results. It is important to reflect on the results to set new short-term SMART goals for the future. Congratulations to all the athletes who achieved a personal best.
Year 7:
During Term 3, Year 7 BEST athletes have begun focusing on the muscular system and how the muscular and skeletal systems work together to create movement. Athletes have been able to apply this knowledge to their training by developing workouts that train specific muscle groups. They have also been continuing to train hard through various running sessions, including continuous runs of up to 5 km, interval training, and fartlek training. On top of their training, athletes have been focusing on kicking sports this term, including soccer, AFL 9s, and Gaelic football, which has culminated in a round-robin tournament where athletes have competed in each of the sports to crown a champion team.
Year 8:
This term, year 8 BEST athletes learned about Sports Psychology as part of their theory sessions, focusing on the mental aspects of being an elite athlete. They have been involved in continuous training sessions along the beach paths, as well as circuit training in the school gym, boxing and yoga sessions in the PAC. Athletes have participated in basketball, where they have played in a well-contested SEPEP basketball competition among 5 teams to complete the unit. They have been working hard completing a variety of different tests as part of their fitness testing requirements to round out the term. – Mr Oakford
Year 9:
This term the Year 9 BEST theory sessions have been focussing on recovery and how essential recovery sessions are in an elite athlete training program. All athletes have tried to incorporate some of these methods within their own training plans. Badminton is our term 3 sport, where they played a mixed doubles tournament with the finals being held in week 10. Our conditioning focus this term, has been increasing our aerobic capacity and muscular endurance for our upcoming 9 BEST camp. Athletes will take on a range of endurance-based challenges such as a Duathlon, 9km team run and Mountain bike session. - Mr Duncan
Year 10:
Athletes traveled to Melbourne, early in the term, for their high-performance camp at the beginning of the term. This was a great experience where athletes developed and refined their snowboarding skills, and consolidated sports career knowledge at the VIS and Hawthorne Football Club. Athletes also spent a number of sessions at Exempla Cross-fit Bunbury, learning key movement matters to develop strength and mobility. – Mr Smith
Year 11:
This term the BEST athletes have been busy in the Fitness Centre working on their personal resistance training programs along with conducting coaching sessions with Year 8 students in Physical Education. Athletes have participated in Volleyball and Tennis throughout the Semester and now welcome the change in weather to further develop their aerobic fitness through continuous running sessions. – Mr Allan
Year 12:
This term was the final term for this group of athletes. A time to reflect and take stock on how they have matured and developed over the years. Athletes participated in a range of physical literacy sessions taking in all the different sporting contexts they have engaged in. Whilst continuing with their individual strength programs, athletes designed, developed and completed a 6 week speed and agility program. All athletes have completed their Cert. II in Sport Coaching and will be looking forward to what the future may hold. – Mr Smith
Congratulations to the following Term 3 winners:
Year 7: Pheonix Cockerill
Year 8: Henry Archer
Year 9: Mia Widdeson
Year 10: Madi King
Year 11: Daisy Chance
Year 12: Mikayla Williams
Thank you to all students and their families who have engaged with Senior School Workplace Learning Program. It has been another successful and busy year with over 150 placements made with 95 different host employers. Students have gained valuable insight, experience, contacts and in several cases, employment.
Placements have included pre-apprenticeships, work experience and school based traineeships, with everything from farming to banking. It has been fun seeing the students outside of school in a range of career pathways, including the World Skills competitions with TAFE.
Thank you to families for assisting with transport. It has been a pleasure to work with the 2024 year groups who should be proud of themselves.
Wishing all school leavers happiness and success on their journey. En Avant.
-Liz Chambers
WAAPA Workshop – Jazz Performance
In Week 1, myself, Mr Ogden, Mrs Moore, and our jazz students will be heading off to Australind Senior High School to participate in a workshop run by the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts Senior Lecturers in Jazz Performance.
They will be bringing down to the region a student ensemble who will perform for students, and give instrumental workshops for students.
WAAPA Workshop – Audition
We have been invited to attend a workshop run by WAAPA on the audition process. This will be held at ECU Southwest Campus. Students will learn how they can make their auditions give them the best chance of success.
Primary Schools Tour – Senior Bands
We will again be going on tour in Week 5 for a tour of the local region’s primary schools – our feeder primary schools. This is a great opportunity to showcase Music at Bunbury Senior High School to future students. This is a whole day trip and is a lot of fun for our students as well as the Primary students.
IMSS Parent Evening
Our Senior Concert Band and Junior Jazz Band will be welcoming parents to the annual IMSS Parent evening, where parents of Year 4 students can find out information on their child’s prospective journey into music education at school, starting in Year 5.
End-of-Year Music Showcase
Our End of Year Music Showcase is fast approaching – a celebration of our Music Students and their achievements in Music.
We will have solo performances, duos, trios, and all of our bands and ensembles performing.
We look forward to an amazing final Term for 2024!
- Mrs Billie Larkman (Teacher in Charge of Performing Arts)
Every Thursday from 3:15pm, Theatre Club actors have been honing their skills with two directors, Susie Ingham and Kate Maloney. Warm-ups includes a few games, after which they buckle down with running lines and learning their craft. They have a few fantastic short plays coming together.
The PAC theatre is being prepared, with stage lighting being programmed for a new stage position. Students have been learning about stage management, puppet building and choosing props.
The dance troupe is getting ready too, with some fun numbers, choreographed by Scarlett Brown. Geoff Ogden has assembled a small band of musicians and the soloists and chorus are all working on their songs. The show promises to be a great evening of entertainment. Tickets will go on sale early next term, for the show on 1 November. Watch this space!
|
Many thanks to the staff, students, and parents/carers who gave so generously in our collection for the "Give a Damn, Give a Can" appeal. We handed 4 full boxes to the Rotary Club on the last week of Term 4.
|