Edition 5 Term 2, Week 11
Bunbury Senior High School community has pulled together through a difficult term. The spectre of COVID shutdowns, winter illness, staff shortages and bitter disappointment of last-minute cancellation of Country Week has made Term 2 difficult. I have said it before and I continue to sing the praise of students, families and the staff of Bunbury Senior High School; their resilience and courage to keep going and to support each other are outstanding.
Never has it been more vital for us all to pull together and work as one. This theme is very relevant with NAIDOC day coming up through the school holidays. I encourage everyone to attend local NAIDOC day events. Sharing in our rich Noongar history, stories and culture bring us all together to support each other in moving forward as one nation.
The school will have our NAIDOC Day celebrations during week 4, Term 4. In 2022, our NAIDOC Week celebrations will be moved closer to NAIDOC Week and will occur in Term 3. For local NAIDOC Week events, visit the Yaka Dandjoo Events website.
Recently our Year 8 students did a cultural walking tour of Bunbury/Goomburrup. It was led by Mr Troy Bennell. The students were entertained and enlightened by Mr Bennell’s stories of the use and significance of the land they were standing on. It is no accident that caring for the environment, empathy for animals and the love of camping is part of the Australian psyche. That is because of the learning and appreciation for the ways of our First Nations people. It is very hard to work in a land without understanding the story lines and significance. As we stood on Boulter Heights Mr Bennell pointed out the significant distance natural landmarks and told stories of the recent past. Never has it been truer, the need for understanding and reconciliation. You can check out these cultural experiences here.
Last Saturday night was the culmination of three weeks of Eisteddfod events. The Gala Evening included the best performance of the three-week heats. The Bunbury Senior High School Senior Jazz Band featured and were a crowd favourite. Year 11 student Erin Lever also featured playing a very complex solo piano piece and was wonderful.
Across the winter, many of our students are involved in community sport. In the Bunbury Senior High School way, they have applied themselves to excel. Many have made state or representative teams. School Sport WA has notified me of the following students:
- Phaedrus Liddiard 12yrs and Under Boys Hockey
- Chase Martinson 15s AFL Boys
- Riley Fisher 15s AFL Girls
- Alira Fotu 15s AFL Girls
We are very proud of the students. This is a wonderful achievement for them.
Our students have also made their mark in the academic field this term. Emma Standish has secured a place doing fieldwork on the Ningaloo Reef with an organisation called Earth Watch. Emma will be conducting Shark and Ray surveys, plankton tows and will survey the oceans for macro and micro plastics.
Our staff also have been hard at work this term, in class and out. Often the planning, assessment and review work that teachers are involved in is often invisible to the school community. This term, and for the rest of the year, the staff have been preparing to make schooling a better place for our students. They have been reading research papers on the Future of Work and the educational changes needed to keep our students current. Preparing our students not just with the curriculum but with other researched skills, like Critical thinking, Team Work and STEM skills, will keep them best placed and competitive in the world market.
Recently the staff have been planning to repackage their curriculum to include a structured program to support the social and emotional development of our Year 7 and 8 students. Complimentary to the social and emotional learning, staff have been planning to have research and projects at the core of their curriculum; giving students more chance to connect their learning to real-life problems and solutions. Already we have seen many of these experiences being delivered to our students and we will see them grow with the addition of wonderful technology like the underwater drone the school recently purchased by receiving a grant from local company Tronox.
Some of our amazing staff will be leaving us at the end of this term. I cannot thank them enough for their contributions to Bunbury SHS: Teschna Taylor, Gale Gass, Charmain Slater and Kim Morrow.
After such an amazing effort this term, I encourage everyone, staff, students and parents to use the holiday break to rest and recharge.
En Avant
Mike Sinagra
Principal
The board held our Annual Public Meeting in Week 9 of Term 2 and took the opportunity to review the student achievement data year to date. Pleasingly OLNA is on track, however, attendance is slightly lower than expected. We expect to see another dip yet this winter from lingering COVID and lockdown effects.
A review was particularly focused on the workforce management plant, addressing a number of staff shortages that have impacted the school. This is not unique to us - these issues are manifesting in schools across WA. The board is taking steps to see the school develop succession planning and identification of high-risk areas, particularly Science’s and specialist subjects, to minimise disruptions to the students’ learning year in future.
We held an initial review of the school uniform and dress code policy addressing updates to requirements for appropriate swimwear to be worn during school activities in preparation for the next summer season, and also agreed that the school will provide students free hats in school colours for everyone to enjoy the school open spaces in a sun-smart way.
Tim O’Byrne
BSHS Board Chair
The Uniform Shop has been busy this term supplying Country Week uniforms and two new warm jackets. We have sold out of the Microfibre Jackets that had a warm lining added. We are now selling the new Navy Blue Soft Shell jackets but stock is limited to 120. The jackets are proving popular with staff so I encourage parents to try out the jackets to promote the school and stay warm. We also invite feedback on both jackets. We will have them all year Microfibre jacket and a soft-shell winter jacket.
The Cafeteria menu continues to evolve to meet students needs as the winter months set in. Manager Debbie McGinley would love to have more volunteers. Hours are flexible and the kitchen is a great place to be with much cheer as meals are cooked and prepared for Lunch 1 and 2 services. If you can volunteer any time next term, please contact Debbie at debbie.mcginley@education.wa.edu.au.
The P&C is looking at the possibility of holding a disco when the warmer months return as well as being involved in the Bunbury SHS Alumni 1000 People project later in the year. All the best to everyone for the mid-year holidays and please consider attending our next meeting on Wednesday Week 3 of Term 3 on Wednesday, 4 August. We can be reached through our Facebook page.
Geoff Ogden
P&C President
CAFETERIA SURVEY
Your feedback and opinions are valuable to our continued efforts of improvement across the school's operations. Our Cafeteria has been in operations since the beginning of this year and would like your feedback!
Please follow the link below to a survey about our cafeteria services. Both parent and student feedback are welcomed.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Program
Bunbury Senior High School provides students with a learning environment that is inclusive, creative and challenging, and recognises the significant role that technology can play in enhancing the teaching, learning and assessment processes.
BYOD is a parent-funded program in which students own and use their own device at school and at home.
At Bunbury Senior High School, the required ‘BYOD’ is an Apple iPad-based bundle involving the following:
- Apple iPad 9.7” (Wi-Fi). 32GB storage (recommended). 128 GB is also available.
- STM Dux Keyboard Case
- AppleCare plan
The school has also teamed with Winthrop Australia to provide online portal ordering for those parents who may prefer shopping from home, with the advantage of reduced pricing. The Winthrop portal address is:
https://sales.winaust.com.au/shop/bunburyshs
Password: Kingia
CONTRIBUTIONS AND CHARGES
Bunbury Senior High School relies heavily on parent’s ongoing support by meeting their commitment to the payment of contributions and charges so we can continue to provide quality education to our students. The school appreciates payment of ALL Charges & Contributions.
Voluntary contributions are used by the school to provide class textbooks, photocopied materials and some materials in elective subjects.
Compulsory charges apply to some elective subjects in lower school and all senior school courses. Payment of all charges is compulsory.
Itemised invoices have recently been posted out. We encourage prompt payment and accept various forms of payments detailed below.
Payment Options:
Payment can be made at school administration between 8.00am and 4.00pm during school terms by:
• Cash
• EFTPOS
• Credit card: in person or by telephone – 9797 8900
• Direct deposit: BSB: 016 560 Account #: 3408 25826
• BPay: Biller Code: 300355 Reference: student number
If you wish to discuss alternative payment options or set up a payment plan, please contact the Accounts Officer on 9797 8900.
RECONCILIATION BRIDGE WALK - RECONCILIATION WEEK
As part of Reconciliation Week and National Sorry Day today on May 26, over 50 of our students across all years represented Bunbury SHS at the Bunbury Reconciliation Bridge Walk.
Students walked together with other members of the community to express support for meaningful reconciliation between Australia’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
Students started at the Wardandi Booja Sculpture at Koombana Bay foreshore and marched to Bicentennial Square where they hear from guest speakers, had morning tea and participated in an activity.
Thank you to our amazing staff members who took the students down for the walk.
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY
On Wednesday 9 June our prefect team held a Mental Health Awareness event during lunch 1 and 2.
Throughout the week, the prefects asked students across the school for some messages of support for people living with mental health issues. They then got these messages made into a wall decal which was placed in our school cafeteria. Thank you to parent Brad Myles from On2it Graphics for supplying and creating the message tree for us!
The prefects also sold cupcakes making a total of $348.70 that was donated to Bunbury Soup Van – a community group delivering soup and bread to those in need and rely totally on donations and volunteers.
Thank you to one of our student bands who performed live music in the amphitheatre for all to enjoy.
WA Performing Arts Eisteddfod
On Saturday 26 June, the WA Performing Arts Eisteddfod Gala was held at BREC. The Gala night included students who excelled in their own categories and were invited to perform on the night.
Our Senior Jazz Band who performed on the night was a crowd favourite! Year 11 student Erin Lever also performed her piano solo which earned herself the Open Scholarship.
All done to all our students and staff involved.
MUSIC SHOWCASE
On Thursday last week, guests filled our Performing Arts Centre for the Bunbury SHS Music Showcase!
Parents and guests watched on as multiple students performed solos as well as bands and group numbers.
In the first act, some solos were performed by students playing the flute, trumpet, and piano. We also enjoyed our Senior Contemporary Band and 4 Bit band play two numbers each.
In the second half of the night, guests were entertained by our Junior Jazz Band conducted by one of our talented music students Jonah Golds, Senior Jazz Band, Vocal Ensemble, Junior Concert Band and Senior Concert Band.
A big thank you to our music teacher Mrs Billie Larkman and to our band coordinator Geoff Ogden and all other music tutors and teachers on the night who assisted with the smooth running of the evening.
For more photos from the evening - check out our Facebook page.
UNDERWATER DRONE
With links through businesses in our community, Bunbury Senior High School has recently received a grant from local titanium dioxide producer Tronox as part of their Schools Partnership Program.
The Tronox program provides funding for STEM related resources, to excite students about STEM concepts, ideas, and futures. Tronox expanded this program in 2021, to include schools in their five operating regions across Australia, including the South West. STEM skills are critical for students to develop, and there are many diverse and exciting career opportunities for students interested in these areas within Tronox.
The school decided to purchase a Gladius Mini submersible drone fitted with a camera and tethered remote which will be utilised underwater to view objects, ecosystems, people and wildlife. The drone will be accessible for students in Term 3 across numerous subjects such as improving swimming techniques of students in our BEST program, viewing local ecosystems from under the water, during snorkelling lessons in outdoor education and much more!
We can’t wait to start using this amazing piece of technology next term and see what creatures are lying beneath the waters of Bunbury!
This story was featured in the Bunbury Mail! Check out the great article via the link below.
Maker + Co Robotics Workshops in Bunbury!
Looking for something to do over the school holidays? Maker + Co will be hosting Robo Academy.
The workshops will provide young people aged 12-18 with the opportunity to imagine, experiment with new technologies, and learn from industry experts. The Bunbury workshop will see students work together to build, program and operate their own robots! While at the Busselton event, the focus is on STEM to explore the world of robotics through Lego Mindstorms.
Head to the Maker + Co website to book a spot!
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
We want to get to know our students and school community better and hear all about your life out of school. If you have been kicking goals out in the community - whether you've had sporting success, are volunteering somewhere fun, or have an interesting or unusual hobby we want to know about it. Please fill in the online form using the link below and you might be featured on our Facebook page or in our newsletter in the near future.
SCHOOLZINE APP
We understand that now more than ever, it’s essential for our school to have effective and efficient communication channels available to our school community - accessible anywhere, anytime. Our new communication platform "Schoolzine" offers that and more! We encourage you to download the SZapp so that you have access to the latest news and events as well as important links in one convenient app.
Please follow the instructions below to install.
This month on SchoolTV - Friendship & Belonging
Learning how to make new friends and keep them involves a number of skills every young person needs to understand and develop. For some these skills will come very naturally, allowing them to easily move between different friendship groups, sharing their experiences and opening up to new people. For others, this can be much harder to navigate. Belonging to a group that is like-minded with similar interests is highly beneficial to a young person’s wellbeing. It gives them a sense of security helping them feel valued which in turn builds their confidence.
Positive friendships are an important part of the journey to adulthood. Adult carers can support their child or teenager by providing guidance in the many social and emotional skills required for a healthy relationship. This will help them to obtain, retain and maintain friendships. However, not all friendship are regarded as positive. Sometimes young people develop negative or toxic friendships. Therefore it is also important for them to learn how to identify, avoid or deal with such a friendship.
In this edition of SchoolTV, adult carers can learn how to support their young person’s friendship so that they experience a sense of belonging. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this month’s edition, and we always welcome your feedback.
If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.
Here is the link to this month's edition https://bunburyshs.wa.schooltv.me/newsletter/friendship-belonging.
YEAR 10 CAREER COACHING INFORMATION
Over the past couple of weeks, our Year 10 students have been thinking about their future career pathways and aspirations while attending course counselling sessions with our skilled staff and selecting their subjects for senior school.
Parental support during this period in your child’s life is vital in assisting them to choose their own pathway. Below is an excellent resource for career coaching information for parents and guardians.
WA DEBATING LEAGUE COMPETITION
On Wednesday 4 June, Bunbury Senior High School had great success in Round 3 of the Western Australian Debating League competition.
The novice team defeated Bunbury Catholic College and the Junior and Senior teams both won their debates against Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School.
BSHS Debating Coordinator Xan Ashbury said she was proud of everyone’s commitment and effort.
“I was especially impressed with the courage shown by the Junior and Senior teams, who participated in their first impromptu debate of the season. They were given their topics just one hour before rising to their feet and delivering a speech – it’s an incredible skill to develop.”
This was a second victory in the season for the novice and junior teams.
Congratulations to the Novice team:
- Isabella Chalker
- Belle Harris
- Michaela Williamson
- Nina Tovar
Junior team:
- Talita Botha
- Daniella Schoeman
- Miles Akerman
Senior team:
- Tayla Andrew
- Phoebe Akerman
- Layne Wilks
WORLDSKILLS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Congratulations to hard-working VET TAFE students Jessica Cherry and Sky Burgess who have been selected for Team WA for the WorldSkills National Championships in Perth.
The competition, held in August over three days, is designed by industry and skills experts who assess an individual’s knowledge, practical competence and employability skills against a set of strict criteria.
Jessica will be competing in hairdressing and Sky is putting her hospitality skills to the test. Good luck girls, do us proud!
SOUTH WEST HIGH SCHOOLS NETBALL CUP
Congratulations to our Country Week netball team who competed at the South West High Schools Netball Cup on Wednesday 16 June. The girls put their hard work to the test and came out with an amazing result as runners up.
The team won all their games and progressed through to the grand final only losing by only 2 points!
The netball team was invited to the Elimination Finals - a competition held in Perth against other metro schools but unfortunately will not be able to attend.
Well done all BSHS staff and students and good luck at Country Week!
YEAR 12 RESIDENTIAL COLLEGES VISIT
In the lead up to ATAR exams, our Year 12 ATAR students have been visited by two residential colleges from Perth to talk about future opportunities after they leave school.
On Friday 18 June, students were fortunate to hear from residents of St George's College - two of which were 2020 Bunbury SHS graduates Emma Tinley and Alyssa Davies.
Students were engaged by the residential representatives who told students about the colleges' facilities, programs, university, lifestyle changes, scholarships and much more!
Our Year 12s were also visited by another residential facility, Trinity College this term and heard from residents about their experience at a different college.
SHEDWORKS PROGRAM
With the mid-year break looming, I am mindful of what we have achieved in the Shedworks Program so far.
Our previous Mummery Crescent site was closed for our daily use so we had to acclimatise and integrate into the school community. The freedoms that come with an offsite location took away the opportunity to replicate a workplace situation.
Our student group has grown and subsided with some successes for students achieving apprenticeships, returning to mainstream classes and leaving for meaningful work.
At the Bunbury SHS, we have been able to access the Arts area, the kitchens used in food and the Design and Technology workshops.
We were challenged by furry caterpillars and slimy snails, weeds, wind, heat and sufficient watering.
Staff have been able to access some of the garden produce for their cooking classes and for their own use.
We participated in volunteer work around the school which has seen the students improving the amenity through rubbish collection, repairing paving and developing new concepts for two more garden beds.
Within our art lessons, we have decorated terracotta pots, researched, designed and made small bonsai pots and used some of our developing gardening skills to pot up and enterprise succulents inside artistically decorated pots.
In the Design and Technology area, we have focused on designing a product for a need. The projects were of a personal nature, were skill-based for a practical outcome. One student created a table that would hold his monitor and gaming hardware. Another student experimented with the wood lathe and quickly found that he could create candleholders.
On Mondays, the students were tasked with creating a five-dollar meal. They had to research something they wanted to cook and create a documented recipe with a procedure. They accessed costing online and had to budget for their meal. Often students would combine their five dollars to afford a more generous meal. In the afternoon we would cook our meals with the help of the food technology area.
On Wednesdays, the school's nurse Penny has been visiting us to bring a range of interesting facts to create awareness around life challenges.
The students attended a first aid course over two Mondays to attain a first aid certificate. A great qualification for life skills and for their resumes.
The final event for this semester will be resilience development and managing risky behaviour at Forest Adventure South West in Ludlow.
Tammy and I have would like to acknowledge some wonderful development in our students approach to the Shedworks paperwork and activities. Congratulations to you all!
Jamie Turnbull
Shedworks Teacher
AWARD WINNER
Congratulations to one of our lovely teachers Leanne Risdon who has won a 'Making a Difference' award from the Department of Education.Leanne received the award for always getting results that matter, having a great rapport with the students at Bunbury Senior High School and always going above and beyond to engage with them.
The award recognises and celebrate the workplace values and behaviours in the department's Code of Conduct and are designed to build a good culture where good work is regularly noticed and celebrated.
I hope you are going well during this busy time of the year.
Thank you to all the staff, students and parents/carers who contributed items for the Bunbury Soup Van Appeal. It is a valuable service for people in Bunbury who are struggling.
I hope all the staff and students will have a safe and enjoyable break in the school holidays. And when you come back in Term 3 we will be halfway through our school year!
Deon Throne
BSHS Chaplain
BUNBURY SHS GRADUATES SOCIETY (ALUMNI)
Greetings from the Interim BSHS Graduates Society (Alumni) Association.
In 2021, with the guidance of the BSHS Principal, a small team of BSHS Graduates have been working to create a Graduates Society. This is an ambitious development to connect the wisdom and experience of former graduates and staff with opportunities for current students and staff, assisting graduates to stay connected with their high school and former friends, and also encourage the development of the school’s heritage and history with the creation of the Kingia Foundation.
The initial and most important project for the Interim Alumni Council was the creation of an effective constitution. This has been lodged with state government and registration is imminent. The next steps will be to establish governance arrangements, including holding the inaugural Council elections, establishing bank accounts and seeking sources of revenue that will help deliver the activities the Alumni work on together.
However, the most important part of any Graduates Society is the graduates. You.
Sarah Henderson (1985) is heading up a small Alumni project team to deliver an event called ‘The 1000 People Project (1000PP)’. This musical collaboration between current students and graduates will officially launch the Alumni and will be held in November 2021. Apart from having a good time, we will be encouraging graduates to join the BSHS Graduates Society (which by the way you can do right now by letting us know your details. Follow this link to the Graduates Society website).
Finally, if you are interested in joining the Alumni Council, please contact Mike Sinagra, Principal of Bunbury SHS via email: michael.sinagra2@education.wa.edu.au. Your support and participation in developing the Graduates are welcome, needed, and important in giving back to a school that gave so much to its graduates and former staff.
Yours sincerely
Interim Alumni Council
James Jarvis (1985)
Sarah Henderson (1985)
Sam Goodlad (1994)
Kristy Narkle (1996)
Peter Martinson (1961)
Wayne Hayres (1981)
HIGHLIGHTING OUR ALUMNI
Peter Martinson – Class of 1971
Peter also enjoyed playing golf for sports lessons on a Friday afternoon at the old Koombana Reef Golf Course (now the Bunbury Foreshore Caravan Park). Peter was also a prefect in his senior years at Bunbury SHS. See if you can spot him in the photos hanging on our wall in reception!
After graduating in 1971, Peter started working as a teacher at Mt Tom Price, then Geraldton, and Sandstone where he was a Principal. The school had only around five to six students – almost one in each year group! Peter relished teaching science and computing and still volunteers at CoderDojo and does occasional IT relief.
He then worked at Pegs Creek, and Carnarvon before moving back to Bunbury and starting as a Deputy at Eaton Primary School. After working at Eaton PS for 27 years he then retired in January 2016. Peter couldn't stay away from schools and after just one month of retirement, he was back teaching instrumental music and doing relief teaching where he could.
In his spare time, Peter stays active playing golf and is currently the captain at Bunbury Golf Club. He is also a talented musician, starting out his musical endeavours in a band at Bunbury SHS playing the clarinet, sax, trumpet, trombone and many others.
Currently, Peter has been assisting us with our most recent round of NAPLAN as a test administrator and has assisted with establishing the Bunbury Graduates Society for our Alumni, which is soon to be launched!
| Students Last day of term | Friday 2 July 2021 |
| School Holidays | 5 - 18 July 2021 |
| Staff Development Day | 19 July 2021 |
| First day of Term 3 | 20 July 2021 |
| Whole School Assembly - Pd 2 | Wednesday 21 July |