Edition 1 - Before Term 1 2022

Strength to STRENGTH – Top 50

Bunbury Senior High School’s class of 2021 students have proved themselves to be, as a group, one of the highest achieving in the school’s recent history after the release of the Western Australia Certificate of Education results. We are so very proud of their achievements. It seems there is no stopping the new milestones that our students are able to reach.

The ATAR students achieved a median ATAR of 84.15. This is above the state mean and has placed the school in the top 50 at number 38. This is a wonderful achievement in what has been trying times. This is the highest place the school has been in a number of years.

Over 20% of the students scored an ATAR of 90+.  They were; Megan Bain, Liam Dovey, Nathan Edland, Lexie Edwards, Rohan Guy, Norah Harkin, Morgan Ursino, Rafael Van Niel and Kay Yamauchi. Many of our students were on the cusp of a great score, with a further 23% being given a score of 90+ by one or more universities after they have added their bonus points. 

A Certificate of Merit was awarded to 12 students. This is awarded to each eligible student who, in their last three years of secondary WACE enrolment, achieves 190-200 points. These students were Megan Bain, Sienna Berry, Liam Dovey, Nathan Edland, Lily Gray, Rohan Guy, Norah Harkin, Ella Sudlow, Kade Szyszka, Morgan Ursino and Kay Yamauchi.

Indicators of school performance, such as WACE achievement rate (90.53%) and the Attainment rate were affected by the OLNA requirement. The results were above the state and like school averages but down on our usual achievement.

VET students also performed to a very high level, with 37% of Year 12 students completing a certificate. There were even a number of students (20%) who completed a Certificate III or IV. Eight students completed two qualifications. 

These results are a testament to our students’ hard work, the backing of our supportive families, dedicated teachers and a school environment that stimulates a cooperative atmosphere of learning. I congratulate the class of 2021 not just for these wonderful achievements but for the courage and resilience that they showed in achieving these results under trying conditions.

What’s New 2022

I am very excited about the new year. In 2021, the staff have been working hard behind the scenes analysing data, discussing strategies and doing professional learning to support the Social and Emotional development of our students. 

School data has shown that an inability to manage disappointment, relationship issues and self-regulate, results in behaviour incidents that interrupt student learning. Research has shown that students who have the social and emotional maturity to handle these day-to-day struggles are much more engaged and successful at school.

In 2022, for one hour a fortnight for a school semester, the Year 7 and Year 8 students will with their teacher engage in two separate programs, Aussie Optimism and Safe on Socials™, to learn how to identify their feelings, evaluate their thoughts more accurately, empathise with their classmates and develop positive coping, social and self-awareness skills. The program develops children’s emotional and mental resilience, preparing them to meet the challenges and stresses of life, such as peer pressure, changing friendships, the transition to high school and the changes that come with adolescence. To do this we will invest a small amount of the students’ academic time. The 3% decrease in the amount of academic time will result in a much greater use and efficiency of the remaining time and have long-lasting benefits for the students.