BSHS December News - Three Principals and a Pandemic

GAT Camp
During Term 4, the Year 7 and Year 10 students went on a camp (separate) to celebrate their successes throughout the year. They participated in several activities that built stronger bonds between them and promoted teamwork.

GOSCARS
In addition, students across all years participated in a series of challenges during normal class time that extended their learning. We saw some brilliant short films (GOSCARS) and mini-documentaries. Not to mention the building of a mock-up flight simulator, catapults and trebuchets, and good old paper planes.

Year 8 GAT Projectile Motion Project

The Year 8 GAT class have been using catapults and trebuchets and taking slow-motion capture film of the projectile motion of the firing of these siege weapons. Measurements were then taken against a Cartesian plane. Digital technologies were used to turn these measurements taken and convert them into a parabola function. The students plotted the parabola function in GeoGebra and compared their measurement for the horizontal distance their projectile travelled using their siege weapon against their computer model.

Special Awards

The Outstanding Academic Achievement ATAR pathways - Jamieson Loxton, Nathan Nguyen, Hannah Thomas, Emma Tinley and Saoirse Torr

The Outstanding Academic Achievement in the Vocational Education and Training pathways - Ella Catalano, Mackenzie Mahony and Caitlin Van Schalkwyk

Australian Defence Force Long Tan Association - Katharine Mulligan

The Australian Defence Force Future Innovators Award - Nathan Nguyen

Sportsman of the Year Award - Devan Craig

Sportswoman of the Year Award - Emma Tinley

En Avant Award - Ebony Wallin

Best All-Rounder Award - Shaye Skraha

PAiS Student of the Year - Sharmin Ahamed

Principal’s Personal Excellence Award - Aisling Hall, Darcy Healey, Angela Manzi and Megan Roberts

VET Dux - Mackenzie Mahony

ATAR Dux - Nathan Nguyen

Course Awards

Mathematics Essentials (General) - William Allen

Mathematics Applications (ATAR) - Hannah Thomas

Mathematics Methods (ATAR) - Jamieson Loxton

Mathematics Specialist (ATAR) - Nathan Nguyen

English (General) - Sharmin Ahamed

English (ATAR) - Ruth Strong

Literature (ATAR) - Saoirse Torr

Biology (ATAR) - Ebony Wallin

Chemistry (ATAR) - Jamieson Loxton

Human Biology (ATAR) - Ruth Strong

Physics (ATAR) - Nathan Nguyen

Psychology (ATAR) - Alyssa Davies

Career and Enterprise General - Abbey Barber

Economics (ATAR) - Tristen Bazeley

Certificate II Business - Charlotte Brett

Certificate II Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways - Georgina Clarke

Workplace Learning (Endorsed Program) - Mackenzie Mahony

Outdoor Education General - Georgina Clarke

BEST Endorsed Program - Zac Trigwell

Physical Education Studies (ATAR) - Emma Tinley

Applied Information Technology (General) - Ella Catalano

Automotive Engineering and Technology (General) - Jasper Ravening

Children, Family and the Community (General) -Hayley Troode

Food Science and Technology (General) - Ella Catalano

Materials Design and Technology (Wood) (General) - William Allen

Applied Information Technology (ATAR) - Ruth Strong

Media Production and Analysis (General) - Ebony Wallin

Visual Arts (General) - Caitlin Mildred

Visual Arts (ATAR) - Saoirse Torr

A big congratulations to all Year 12s for successfully completing their Secondary Education and good luck to our 11’s who will now move into their final year of Secondary Education.

I would also like to commend our senior school students for getting through the Semester 2 exam period. Many staff commented on how well the Year 11 and 12’s handled this stressful time and praised students on their organisational, time-management and general study skills.

Moving into Senior School
Year 10 ATAR Pathway students completed exams in week 7. The most important aspect of sitting significant assessments (such as exams) is to reflect and review their individual performance and highlight and address areas for improvement. Students who are moving into the ATAR pathway for 2021 should pay particular attention to their feedback and actively reflect on their performance. We strongly advise all students to examine their results and whether the pathway they have chosen for next year is consistent with their performance. It has been pleasing to hear that many students have made adjustments to the way they study, based on the Elevate sessions they have attended throughout Semester 2 and visits to various Universities. Replacing old study with effective study habits is the first step to achieving success in Senior School.

We wish all of our Year 10’s moving into Senior School the best of luck. Senior School is the final phase of schooling at Bunbury SHS, where Year 11 and 12 students work with a greater sense of autonomy and independence. The senior school learning environment is tailored to the particular developmental needs of young adult learners and allows for increased levels of responsibility and self-direction.

Thanks to our wonderful staff for their work in this challenging COVID year and I would like to acknowledge all those who have contributed in supporting the school in 2020.  On behalf of our wonderful staff,  we extend our thanks to all our families for their support and partnership, enabling our students to continue to flourish.

I wish all the Bunbury SHS community a very happy and safe festive season.

Kylie Ward
Manager Education Services

VET & Workplace Learning
Welcome to the 2021 VET students. We look forward to a busy and rewarding year. If you have your own contacts or are able to find a willing employer host for Workplace Learning, you are welcome to send the details via email to me at elizabeth.chambers2@education.wa.edu.au

Prior to authorising insurance for work experience, the students will complete a program for work readiness, safety induction, program expectations and an online module of Occupational Safety and Health. Consent forms will be required before work experience can commence. Please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding the program. Wishing all families a Merry Christmas and relaxing break.

Ms Chambers
Workplace Learning Officer

Timetables for all students for 2021 have been completed and they will receive them on the first day of school, Monday, 1 February.

Year 9 - 10 Subject Selections 2021
At the beginning of a new school year, students often request to change electives. Whilst this is possible, please be aware that there is a time limit and process which needs to be followed:

* No changes will be permitted in the first week of Term 1. Students are expected to complete at least one full week.

* Changes will be subject to space within classes and changes are only considered in electives.
           
* Requesting a Teacher change is not a suitable reason.

* All requests must be accompanied by a subject change request form (available from admin) which should have a parent signature and an appropriate reason for requesting the change.

* All forms must be presented in person to Mrs Ward in admininstration accompanied by the student. Please do not leave requests with reception as they will not be considered. Some classes already have waiting lists for spaces.

* No requests will be considered after the end of Week 2 – Term 1. 

Kylie Ward
Manager Education Services

Five Curious Minds (Vee, Amelia, Ava, Gabrielle and Taleena) started their STEM journey filled with four jam-packed days of experiments and discussions. Due to their outstanding results in this year’s Big Science Competition, Amelia and Ava were invited to apply for the Curious Minds Camp 2020.  All five students were successful in their applications, especially with only 140 places available Australia wide.

Usually, the program enables students to attend Australian National University in Canberra for two camps in a six month period. In between, they are allocated a mentor scientist and complete a project which they present at the second camp. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, students participate from home via Zoom sessions with a box of science equipment and resources sent to them to use and keep. Starting on a Sunday and running for four days, students participated in 10-12 hour days.

Well done to our young scientists for their persistence and Mr Gregory for his organisation. 

The Student Services team provides ongoing support and advice to assist students to achieve personal excellence within a safe learning environment. The Student Support team is comprised of a Student Support Officers, Clerical staff, Education Assistants, Chaplain, Nurse, Heads of Year, Learning Support Coordinator, Psychologist and Head of Student Services.

Bunbury Senior High School is committed to ensuring our Student Services staff are suitably trained to best support students. In Term 4, Student Services staff continued to enhance their skills in a number of evidence-based training opportunities. Staff participated in:

• Aussie Optimism – Optimistic Thinking Skills
  The Aussie Optimism programs are based on psychological and educational research into the risk and protective factors associated with psychological difficulties. The programs focus on competence, resilience and skill-building. In our ‘Optimistic Thinking Skills’ workshop, staff learnt about: understanding the link between thoughts and feelings, applying optimistic thinking styles and challenging negative thinking styles.
  
  
• Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention
  
  
• Youth Mental Health First Aid
  The course teaches adults how to assist adolescents (those aged between 12 and 18 years) who are developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. Staff learnt about adolescent development, the signs and symptoms of the common and disabling mental health problems in young people, where and how to get help when a young person is developing a mental illness, what sort of help has been shown by research to be effective, and how to provide first aid in a crisis situation.

Tim O'Byrne - Board Chair

Approached to join the Bunbury SHS Board in March 2018, I was privileged to be asked to support the school as Board Chair a year later. I’m a former student and Prefect, graduating in the Class of 2008, currently working as General Manager of a Singapore headquartered 'renewable energy’ technology firm, Anergy, providing innovative plant and equipment globally, employing staff in London, Singapore, Perth, and further afield.

Education is a particular passion; promoting and encouraging others, being involved in the school Board, and pursuing my own interests. Amongst other qualifications, I hold a master’s degree in Business Administration from UWA and am currently completing a Juris Doctor of Law at Deakin University in Victoria. Being part of the Bunbury SHS Board has been incredibly fulfilling, to bring my acumen and skills to the table helping progress key infrastructure works, as well as providing input to the operations and strategic planning for a successful future.

Well done to everyone for getting through a busy and challenging year.

Hopefully you can now relax a little…….

Have a safe and relaxing break in the Summer Holidays and I look forward to seeing you all in 2021.

All the best

Deon Throne
BSHS Chaplain

After leaving Bunbury SHS as Head Girl in 2016, Georgia has skyrocketed through her career and at only 20 years old became a lawyer with a national law firm.

After graduating as head girl Bunbury SHS in 2016, what have you been up to? After graduating, I did some travelling before starting at Curtin Law School in 2017.

During uni, I worked as a secretary at a law firm, mainly in employment and safety law. I was fortunate to complete clerkships with some local community legal centres during that time.

In 2018, the Partner I worked for as a secretary moved to a new firm to start up an employment law practice and I moved with him to work there as a Paralegal, which was a great experience.

When I was in the final year of my degree, I moved back to the first firm, where I started as a Secretary. Since graduating, I have completed a Diploma of Legal Practice and been admitted to practice as a Lawyer to the Supreme Court.

I am now in the Commercial Insurance team, and my file load ranges from Workers’ Compensation, Compulsory Third Party (CTP) to Treatment Liability files. I am also the Pro Bono Coordinator, so a lot of my work involves managing and running our pro bono matters, which is something I am quite passionate about. Being able to help the broader community on a no-charge basis is very rewarding and has offered multiple opportunities.

Otherwise, I’ve travelled and had a lot of great experiences.

Have you always be interested in Law and did you study anything in high school to prepare for university? I am not sure I was always interested in Law (although my mum would probably tell you otherwise). I have always been passionate about helping people and access to justice.

I worked in a range of jobs during school – I was a Junior in a salon for a few years, and I really wanted to be a hairdresser.

I did not think university was for me (or school in general) until around Year 10 when I fell in love with English. I always enjoyed reading, public speaking and writing.

I was lucky to have a great support system in my parents, friends and teachers, and I thought I would give ATAR a crack.

My courses were all humanities-based, so I studied Literature, Psychology, Indonesian, Applied Information Technology, History and Cert II in Business.

The reading/writing aspect of those courses certainly prepared me for the course work, and the intensity of ATAR prepared me for university life. Having a good routine was crucial, and I developed those habits in upper-school.

Why did you decide to study Law at Curtin University? Apart from being a reputable university, I was given a Scholarship to attend Curtin for my ATAR marks so that helped with the financial burden of moving to the city and so on.

I loved the idea of doing the Trimester program at the Law School so I could finish the degree as quickly as possible.

I also liked that the Law School was situated in the city so I could work, it was very convenient.

What was it like completing a 4-year degree in just 3 years? It was very intense, coupled with working and living out of home for the first time. It was certainly worth it – being able to establish my career at a young age has been invaluable.

The Trimester system is also very competitive, and that is attractive to those employers who are interested in students with the ability to work under pressure.

The practical elements of Curtin Law School are favourable (in my opinion) to other schools where you could spend twice as much and twice as long for the same piece of paper.

What piece of advice would you give to the current students at Bunbury SHS? The most important advice that I received was from a certain fabulous teacher who told me there was more to life than doing bog laps around Bunbury every weekend! School is only temporary, and there are so many opportunities available to get you where you want to go if you put in the effort whether that be TAFE, apprenticeships, university, traineeships and so on.

Booklists and Contribution & Charges for the 2021 school year are available on our website on the following link at the bottom of this section.

Full packs can be ordered through Ziggies Educational Supplies using the below logins:

LOWER SCHOOL
Year Code: BSHSD-LOW
Password: ZZY270

SENIOR SCHOOL
Year Code: BSHSD-SEN
Password: ZZY270

The Uniform Shop will be open for back to school requirments as detailed below. The uniform shop is located near admin and there will be clear signage for those that are unfamiliar with Bunbury SHS. Students will be able to try on uniforms in Room 16 and will be assisted by parent volunteers. Parents/students should complete an order form in Room 16 and present it at the Uniform Shop for pick-up. 

27 January  9:00am – 4:00pm
28 January 9:00am – 12:00pm
29 January 10:00am - 12:00pm                                                                                                   
1 February  10:30am – 2:00pm
2 February 10:30am – 2:00pm
3 February 10:30am – 2:00pm
4 February 10:30am – 2:00pm
5 February 10:30am – 2:00pm

REGULAR UNIFORM SHOP HOURS throughout the year (school terms only).
Monday 10.30am – 11.30am and Wednesday 1.00pm – 2.00pm 

Please contact the Uniform Shop Manager, Marianne on 0417 982 387 for further enquiries. We accept payments in cash, cheque, EFTPOS or credit card phone orders.

Please download the order form on link below:

Moving from Primary School to Secondary School or from Secondary School to Secondary School can be an exciting time for both students and carers. However, for some coping with this change may be difficult. Talking with your child and accessing further information may help you and your child manage this transition.

TIPS FOR PARENTS/CARERS

• Ease your child’s worries by creating a list of things to do in preparation for school such as buying a backpack, a visit to the new classroom, perhaps a catch-up session with new friends.
• Be calm and have a routine that helps start each day smoothly.
• Be positive! Your child will pick up on your emotions and attitudes very swiftly so you may need to harness your own fears or anxieties and focus on the good things that your child will experience.
• Be observant, as your child might not verbalise any fears or worries.
• Be understanding if your child seems to have changed in the first weeks of school– some become argumentative or withdrawn. Encourage them to talk about their day.
• Give positive praise when your child shows coping skills.

SUPPORTING YOUR TEEN

• Try these tips for supporting your teen’s successful transition to secondary school.
  
• Prepare your teen for what to expect at secondary school – organise school visits, uniform and books, and meeting new classmates before school begins
  
• Be open about your feelings and concerns and encourage your teen to share theirs.
  
• Talk to other parents in the same situation.
  
• Your teen may not be as communicative as usual but be open to a chat when they need it.
  
• Encourage new school friends to visit at home.
  
• Make connections with teachers and engage in school events and activities.

Correct Contact Details
It is important to keep the school updated with your current email address as student information is generally distributed in this format. Please notify the school if you have changed your email or wish to identify another email address as your preferred point of contact.
Ph: 08 9797 8900
E: bunbury.shs@education.wa.edu.au 

Social Media
Join us on Facebook! We regularly update our page with notifications of school and community news & events.www.facebook.com/BunburySHS/

Student Achievement
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 this online form and you might be featured on our Facebook page in the near future.

House Point Application
Many students at Bunbury Senior High School are selected to represent their region, WA or Australia in various fields of endeavour, or they participate in significant competitions/events out of school. The school seeks to acknowledge these achievements within our House System through awarding of House Points. The specific categories are as follows:

NATIONAL REPRESENTATION/RECOGNITION: Representing Australia in an International Competition.
STATE REPRESENTATION/RECOGNITION: Representing Western Australia at a national level.
REGIONAL REPRESENTATION/RECOGNITION: Representing an organisation at State competition.
OUT OF SCHOOL EVENT: Significant representation/participation in a non-school organised competition/event.

In order to be awarded House Points, students can apply for recognition by completing an application on the following link.  Please attach evidence to support your application. Points gained by students, contribute to the totals of their respective House.

Mrs Kylie Ward
Manager Education Services

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.