Edition 3 Term 1, Week 9
- From the Principal
- BEST and VASP Applications Now Open
- School Board News
- Parent/Teacher Afternoon
- P&C News
- NAPLAN - Year 7 & 9 Information
- Athletics Carnival
- Emma Tinley - Fogarty Scholarship Winner
- Year 12 Ball
- New House Shirts
- Hawaiian Ride for Youth
- Twilight Picnic and P&C Movie Night
- Year 8 Market Day
- Year 7 BEST Camp
- Year 9 VASP Camp
- Interschool Swimming Carnival
- Have Sum Fun Competitions
- Chaplain's Corner - School Community
- Coming Up
The Winning Way –Standards and Innovation
Bunbury Senior High School has found the perfect blend between honouring the traditions and high standards of our history with the innovation required for the future. Our Way, the Bunbury Senior High School way, produces results. The improvement in school governance, coordination with business and other educational institution, delivery of services to students, the quality teaching and the culture developed are all aimed at producing one thing - the best outcome possible for our students.
This term, Our Way has been highly visible by the whole community in how the Cafeteria staff have embraced their new surroundings to change the way that they deliver service to the students and staff. The whole atmosphere, St Patricks Day theme and the current Easter theme in the Cafeteria provide a welcoming relaxing place for students to meet over an expanded range of home-cooked food. The edition of a barista coffee machine and two more ovens will see the cafeteria continue to innovate.
This issue of the newsletter includes reports from the School Board and P&C. I am happy to see a real revival of the traditional place that these two organisations play in school life. The important coordination of these two vital support structures brings improved school governance and student support to the school. When the Bunbury Graduates Society has completed its incorporation later in April it will join these two important groups by bringing another aspect to the community involvement in our students.
“It takes a village to raise a child”.
It is impossible to go past the continual winning ways of our students. The conditions established and the support from home allows the students to soar. Recently Bunbury Senior High School won the South West Interschool Swimming Carnival. Emma Tinley, 2020 Head Girl was awarded a Fogarty Scholarship. Connor and Aiden Wright will represent WA in the Australian Mountain Bike National Championships. Elise Fry won the City of Bunbury under 14 overall female champion and Koby Tanner placed third at the SunSmart WA School Surfing Titles and many more achievements. This is just what we know has happened in just one term.
Finally, we have completed a terms worth of work in just eight weeks. The staff and students have worked hard to make up for lost time. I wish everyone a safe and happy Easter. Please enjoy, rest and stay safe across the holiday period
Applications for our specialist Visual Arts (VASP) and Elite Sports (BEST) programs are now open! To apply, click the link below
At the first meeting for 2021, I would like to thank a number of School Board members whose term has come to an end or who have retired from the board. Their efforts have been outstanding.
- Julie Bain – Parent Representative (end of term)
- Warren Turner – Parent Representative (end of term)
- Rebecca Reid – Parent Representative (end of term)
- Glenn Gates – Parent Representative (end of term)
- Justine Brett – Parent Representative (retired)
- Norah Harkin – Student Representative (end of term)
- Jaxon Browne – Student Representative (end of term)
As we farewell these members, we also welcomed new teacher representatives - Ms Julie Russel-Krebs and Ms Inga McQueen; and new Student Representatives - Erin Lever and Darcy Reid. A call for nominations and subsequent election will take place early in Term 2 to fill the parent representative vacancies. I encourage all parents with an interest in the high-level strategy and future of the school to indicate their interest to join the Board.
Following a walk-through tour of the new school cafeteria which impressed all members, the first meeting of the Board was dominated by scrutinizing budget allocation for 2021. Board members reviewed the proposed budget and endorsed the work done by the school’s Manager of Corporate Services and the school’s Finance Committee in preparing the finances for 2021.
The Board also reviewed the school’s student performance results from 2020, and while welcoming the news of improvement in many areas, the Board noted the progress still required to reach aspirational targets of the school business plan goals. There is much to celebrate, and this will all be presented in the school’s Annual Report for 2020 to be released soon.
School Board Positions
Due to the completion of tenure, a number of board position for parent representatives have become available. They are:
- Parent representative position x 3 ending 2024, full tenure
- Parent representative position x 1 ending 2023, for retiring board member
I encourage all parents with an interest in the high-level strategy and future of the school to indicate their interest to join the School Board. Nomination can be made by forwarding the details below to Michael.sinagra2@education.wa.edu.au All information will be treated confidentially. If more nominations than positions are received an election will be held to determine the candidate.
Nominations will close at 4.00pm on Monday, 19 April 2021.
Nomination Process
Name:
Name of student enrolled at Bunbury Senior High School:
Which position: (full tenure or retiring member position)
Short Bio to the parent body:
Timothy O’Byrne
School Board Chair
Parent and carers met with their child's teacher to discuss their progress throughout term 1 in our Library and Kingia Buildings.
There was also an onsite coffee van providing refreshments to our hard-working teachers and parents.
If you could not make the afternoon, you can request feedback.
The P&C AGM was held on Wednesday 17 March. While 2020 was a tough year with Covid, I am very proud of the progress that the P&C has made in keeping our school-based businesses running during a difficult year.
Many thanks to Cafeteria Manager Deb McGinley and Uniform Shop Manager Marianne Bondarczuk for their tireless effort during 2020. I would also like to thank the Executive Committee members, General Committee members as well as our valuable volunteers for their service.
Prior to the start of the school year and during this term, the P&C has worked hard to get the new Cafeteria up and running with acting Manager Louise Bruce-McGinn whilst Manager Deb McGinley took much-needed leave to attend to pressing medical needs. We welcome Deb back in Term 2 and thank Louise for her amazing efforts.
The Uniform Shop is now selling the new sports shirts and will be contributing profits from 2020 sales to the school’s redevelopment of the bus shelters. We are also looking at future fundraising efforts to fund projects where the Education Department does not provide such funding.
Recently we hosted the annual Bunbury SHS Movie night and opened the Cafeteria to the school community for dinner whilst our school bands performed for the first time in the new courtyard.
At the AGM the new Executive Committee was elected and whilst many of the faces stayed the same, I would like to welcome Rebecca Reid onto the Executive committee as Vice President.
P&C 2021 Executive Committee
President: Geoff Ogden
Vice President: Rebecca Reid
Secretary: Penny Rackham
Treasurer: Athena Sofilas
Executive Member: Belinda Green
Executive Member: Leah Bazeley
Executive Member: Jeannie Lewis
Appointment of Auditor/Reviewer – David Payne
Our Executive & General Meetings are held Wednesdays of Week 3 & Week 7 of each term at 6pm in the school library. I encourage as many parents as possible to join us in the work we do for the students at Bunbury SHS.
Geoff Ogden
P&C Association President
Between 11-21 May this year, the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) online testing will be conducted for our Year 7 and 9 students.
NAPLAN is only one source of student performance data for teachers, however, the information gained remains an important mechanism for assessing school, class and individual student achievement. Bunbury Senior High School has a history of excellent performance in NAPLAN and we expect equally strong results again this year.
While, for your child, Year 12 is still some years away, it is important to note students need to demonstrate the minimum standards of literacy and numeracy to achieve their Western Australian Certificate of Education (‘secondary graduation’). Students can pre-qualify for this standard by achieving Band 8 or above in Year 9 NAPLAN. Students who achieve below Band 8 in any aspect of NAPLAN will be required to complete the Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (OLNA) in Years 10 – 12, until such time as the minimum standard is achieved. Ultimately, failure to pass the OLNA will result in a failure to achieve the WACE. Therefore, for a number of reasons, we ask that you encourage your child to do their very best.
Our Teachers will ensure students are familiar with the types of questions in the tests and will provide appropriate support and guidance. You can also support your child by visiting the NAPLAN Online assessment site at nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site which will take them through the types of questions and related functionalities of NAPLAN Online.
If you have any queries regarding NAPLAN, please contact your child’s Head of Year, Nic Andrew by phone 9797 8900 or email Nicholas.Andrew@education.wa.edu.au
Please click on the following link that highlights further information about the test and the schedule of assessment.
Kylie Ward
Manager Education Services
Wednesday 30 March is the house Athletics Carnival which will be held at the Bunbury Athletics Arena (Hay Park).
Students are encouraged to come either dressed in their house colours or wearing their new house shirt available at the uniform shop. The day has a focus on fun and participation with an event for everyone.
There are traditional events such as the 800m, 400m, 200m, 100m, shot put, javelin, high jump, long jump, and triple jump. And there are also house novelty events including sack races, tug-of-war, leaderball, and many more. Students are encouraged to participate in as many events as they can.
Attendance at the Carnival is compulsory and will be recorded on the day.
Buses have been organised to take the students to and from the venue at no cost to parents. Where students are not using the buses provided by the school, parents are requested to complete the form attached and please return it to reception.
More details can be found in the form below:
Congratulations to 2020 graduate Emma Tinley who is one of 10 students from across WA who have won a prestigious 2021 UWA Fogarty Scholarship.
Scholars are selected on their academic excellence and achievements in leadership, community involvement, enterprise, the arts and/or sport and receive a full scholarship for the entirety of their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
Emma who was a School Captain in 2020 said she felt honoured and privileged to be awarded the scholarship.
"I look forward to the multitude of opportunities available to me through receiving the Scholarship, and the inspirational network of people I am fortunate to be exposed to and a part of. I am excited for the chance to connect to a group of young like-minded individuals, who all aspire to use their time at university to create positive change within the community, and further develop themselves as passionate, inspired and dedicated individuals," she said.
Emma has begun at university, studying a Bachelor of Philosophy, a four-year research-orientated degree comprising a three-year bachelor and the fourth year as honours. She is yet to decide on her major.
"I have passions in environmental and human rights law, health sciences and environmental sciences, all of which I believe have core aspects in helping and caring for others and the world we live in. Through undertaking a Bachelor of Philosophy, I hope to be exposed to many different areas of study and feel I have flexibility and creativity in shaping the direction of my degree, and ultimately my future career."
The red carpet was rolled out for the Year 12 School Ball on Saturday 13 March at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre. Year 12 students dress in their best evening wear for the Casino Royale themed night to dance and laugh the night away. What a great evening for all involved.
You can access the professional photos taken by Steves Photography via the link below.
Select 'Private Galleries' at the top to be able to view the Bunbury SHS ball photos. Log in details below:
Username: Bunbury
Password: 2020
Once you have logged in go to 'Private Galleries' to find the Bunbury SHS photos. You can download images for free and there are options to purchase prints also.
Recently we welcomed South West Regional Director of Education Sue Cuneo, local Aboriginal artist Cody Hill and P&C President Geoff Odgen to our school for the launch of our new House Sports shirts.
The Indigenous design seen on the new shirts was produced by local artist Cody and represents our location between the rivers and the ocean.
The shirts are now available to Years 7 & 8 students to purchase, just in time for our Athletics Carnival next week!
To purchase a House shirt use the link below to order online or visit our uniform shop on Monday mornings or Wednesday afternoons.
Last week we were pleased to welcome a team of riders from the Hawaiian Ride for Youth team to our Performing Arts Centre.
The Hawaiian Ride for Youth is held annually over 4.5 days, with riders travelling from Albany to Perth over a total of more than 2,000kms to raise funds and awareness for Youth Focus. The cyclists visit high schools to engage and inform students on issues of mental health, as well as the services that Youth Focus provides. Youth Focus is an organisation that provides support and mental health services for young people.
Our Year 10 students listened to personal mental health stories from one of the riders and heard from a representative from Youth Focus who encouraged students to make connections with people around them to strengthen their mental health journeys.
Please check in with your child. Content matter from the presentation has the potential to cause distress. If there were concerns, contact your GP or access the following support organisations:
Lifeline WA: 13 11 14
Kids Help Line: 1800 55 1800
Headspace: 1800 650 890
Youth Focus: 6266 4333
On 10 March, Year 8 students held their HASS Market Day! Held on the front lawn, students fashioned marketed stalls and sold products and business ideas they created throughout the term as part of the $20 Boss Program. The program supports students to solve real problems and better understand their relationship with money.
Year 8 students sold items such as sausage sizzles, cupcakes, plants, scrunchies, muffins, earrings, meals, drinks, activities and much more! Look out for the next market day towards the end of the year when our Year 7’s will get their turn.
At the beginning of March, our Year 7 BEST students attended the annual training camp in the Busselton/Margaret River region. Students were put through a range of challenging activities where they were encouraged to push themselves out of their comfort zones both physically and mentally, and in doing so, learnt a number of skills they can take with them into the next term.
From 18-19 March our Year 9 VASP students attended an overnight camp in Perth.
On day one, students participated in a visual analysis workshop at the Art Gallery of Western Australia. After lunch, the group attended a creative entrepreneur workshop at the Western Australian Museum. This was followed by a wander through the museum exhibits.
Overnight was a stay at Campus Perth with pizza and a night stroll to Elizabeth Quay.
Day two saw students head to Cottesloe Beach on a sizzling 38 degree day to take in Sculpture by the Sea. Students gained insight and inspiration from two exhibiting artists as part of an Artist's Spotlight Tour.
Congratulations to all our students who competed at the South West Interschool Swimming Carnival on 16 March.
Bunbury SHS won overall school which hasn't happened in over 8 years! We also won the lower school shield and had four individual age group champions: Noah Piavanini (Year 7), Olivia Doddy (Year 7), Rafferty Mullens (Year 9) and Brooke Edwards (Year 10) and also Kai Lever (Year 8) who achieved runner up champion. Well done to everyone who participated on the day to achieve such a great result.
The Have Sum Fun Competition is an exciting mathematics initiative that uses a quiz-night format. Teams of six students race against the clock to solve four intense rounds of eight challenging problems. Bunbury Senior High School entered 4 teams, two in the Years 11 and 12 competition and two in the Year 7 and 8 competition.
Our students represented our school beautifully and all had admirable performances. One of the 7 and 8 teams finished third out of 26 teams, which was an outstanding result. In the Senior School competition, one of our Year 11 and 12 teams finished 5th in their competition, which was also a commendable result.
Congratulations to all students that participated.
I hope you have had an enjoyable term 1. It seems to have gone very quickly. I'm sure the students are looking forward to the school holiday break. And I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable Easter long weekend.
Deon Throne
BSHS Chaplain
| Parent/Teacher Interview Afternoon | 30 March |
| Athletics Carnival - Bunbury Athletics Arena (Hay Park) | 31 March |
| Students last day of Term 1 | 1 April |
Term 2
| Students first day of Term 2 | 20 April |
| Whole School Assembly | 21 April |
| Anzac Day Assembly | 23 April |
| ANZAC Day Public Holiday | 26 April |