Heard on the Hill Term 2, Week 2

ANZAC Day

Thank you to all the staff that were involved in the planning and execution of our ANZAC day commemoration. It was very well done. I received an email of congratulations from Cr Brown who attended our commemoration, he was moved by the service.

I attended both the Bunbury City dawn service and the midmorning march on Sunday.  Both were great events. I regularly attend dawn services but I have never been part of the veteran’s march. It was very moving. Please congratulate Megan Bain and Kaitlyn Myles who attended the mid-morning parade to represent Bunbury Senior High School and lay a wreath.

Skills for Lifelong Learning

So I think we all enjoyed the sessions on our School Development Day, but so what? What was the learning underlying those sessions? The point was to remind us that delivery of curriculum doesn't have to be traditional "chalk and talk". When students are presented with a problem or a challenge or an opportunity to explore ideas, how can we open up the process to allow them to lead their own learning? The biggest challenge for teachers is letting go of controlling each and every aspect of what unfolds in their classroom. When students are engaged in project-based learning, they do need structure and support, but they also need the flexibility to explore beyond the knowledge imparted during a planned explicit instruction lesson. They need to be able to follow where their learning takes them, access experts beyond the classroom who can ask them probing questions or pose interesting ideas. The teacher doesn't have to be the expert in this situation, they just need to take away the boundaries.

Last year I ran a session with staff using spaghetti and marshmallows. The focus of the session was for teachers to recognise and identify the other skills, separate from the content of the curriculum, that were being developed by posing a problem and trying to solve it by working collaboratively with others. At the end of the session, I provided a modified instructional framework for planning a project, and an Observation Checklist, for identifying the types of skills being used by students when working together.

I hope that you find these tools useful and I am providing them again here. They are also available on our Instructional Leadership Connect Community.

I challenge you to take one class through one project this year. It won't always go to plan. Failure is part of your own learning and growth. But if you never try, you will never know how rich the learning can really be using this approach.

Ball Coordinator

The Ball Coordinator position is available. Sarah Barrett has given her time and energy to this role over the past few years, and has made the School Ball an even better event each time around! Thanks, Sarah for your contribution to the school.

The Ball Coordinator also has an awesome sidekick, Danelle, who works closely with the Coordinator to ensure that the students have a fantastic evening. This role involves setting up and overseeing the Ball Committee (a group of Year 12 students who set the theme for the Ball), as well as making all the necessary arrangements for the event.

The position comes with a Band 2 Special Responsibility Allowance for Term 1, 2022.

If you are keen to pick up the reins of this role, please email your Expression of Interest to Kelly Anderson by COB Friday 30 April.

NAPLAN

NAPLAN Online Testing will commence in week 4 through until the end of week 5 for all Year 7 & 9 students. The test window is nine days and tests need to be taken in a specific sequence. This increases the security of the writing component that is required for some linkages however, the writing component is unavailable to students on Day 1 so we are able to commence with the reading component on Tuesday 11 May. The writing component will commence on day 2 and must be completed by the end of day 3. After that, the correct test sequence must be followed before students can move onto the next component.

Please note the entire Macbook Fleet will be out of service and internet usage during testing sessions must be kept to a minimum to allow for maximum internet capacity for the online testing sessions. Due to the nature of the testing, SCSA has recommended that a preparation period of 10-15 minutes in addition to the allocated testing time is factored in for student instruction, log in and any other technical issues that may be experienced at the start of each testing session.

The NAPLAN test order is:
Writing (45 minute test + 15 minute prep = 60 minutes)
Reading (65 minute test + 15 minute prep = 80 minutes)
Conventions of Language (45 minute test + 15 minute prep = 60 minutes)
Numeracy (65 minute test + 15 minute prep = 80 minutes)

I have attached the NAPLAN schedule. Students have been divided in alphabetical order in each year group to allow for the maximum and equal number of students sitting the test at one time and the maximum capacity of our WAPs in the library testing area. The schedule also allows for the change out and recharging of Macbooks between testing sessions and any other technical issues that we may experience with devices.

• Year 7 Surname A – K Group 1
• Year 7 Surname L – Z Group 2
• Year 9 Surname A – H Group 1
• Year 9 Surname I – Z Group 2

Please note this will affect gridlines with minimal students attending class and this interruption will affect both elective & MESH classes. Please ensure you are aware of the schedule and how this will affect your lesson planning for weeks 4 & 5.

Students will be given the opportunity of catch up sessions should they be absent on the day of testing and this will be managed daily by our Test Administrator and Student Services team. We will be using a dedicated Test Administrator (Brad Hicks) to administer the testing with the assistance of an EA and Library Staff.

During this time the Library will be out of service including before school and lunch 2. Library duty teachers please assist in other duty areas. Homework club may continue however is to remain in exam set up.

SIDE students will use Online Room and Private study will be allocated rooms (TBA).

Students will receive an individual timetable next week and I will send student lists daily as a reminder of who needs to be where and when.

Please see me with any further questions or queries. Thanks in advance for your support and I apologise for the major interruption this will cause to your timetable during Weeks 4 & 5.

Senior School Exam Timetable

Please find attached a copy of the Senior School Exam Timetable that has been approved by the Leadership Team. If you have any queries or concerns, please speak to your HOLA.

Senior School Update

Exams (Weeks 6/7) and WPL (Weeks 5/6) are fast approaching for Senior School students. Thus Semester 1 reports are also fast approaching.

The following key messages are being delivered to each of the cohorts.

• Senior School expectations – regular attendance, commitment, academic achievement, positive relationships with peers and teachers and a focus on individual goals.
• Ongoing critical feedback is being provided (academic and behavioural) from teachers, Mr Healey & myself.
• Semester 1 report will be reviewed

Students wishing to attend Country Week will be required to demonstrate exemplary citizenship to attend. Students not meeting expected standards are being identified and these students will be reminded of what is expected of them for the remainder of the term for permission to be given. The proposed CW list is being reviewed.

In addition, academic review meetings (approx. 5-10 min) are now happening on a regular basis. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience. If a student is requested to leave class and it is critical they remain in class, ask them to come to SS at the end of the lesson or at the beginning of the next lunch break. We are aware there can be some impact on class learning by having these “at short notice” meetings.

We appreciate your understanding!

Uniforms

Welcome back everyone after a well-deserved holiday. I would like to thank all staff for being vigilant whilst on duty, please keep reporting incidents to Student Services. With winter fast approaching it is essential that the uniform policy is adhered to.

Approved garments

Shirts

• BSHS Navy Blue Junior Polo
• Any other approved shirt with school crest or name (Eg. Country Week shirt, VASP/BEST and concert band shirts)

Jumpers

• BSHS Rugby Jumper
• BSHS Fleecy Jacket
• Any other approved jumper with school crest or (Eg. Country Week shirt, VASP/BEST and concert band shirts)
• “Hoodies” specifically not permitted to be worn at school

Shorts and Skirts

• All shorts and skirts to be navy blue (no stripes, patterns, slogans or motifs).
• Clothing worn under school uniform that is visible must be school colours. Eg white, navy blue, maroon.
• In accordance with the Department of Education policy, denim is not recognised as appropriate for school uniforms.

Please send students to Student Services as soon as you can with uniform violations. If a teacher is not comfortable having this battle with a student, please inform Student Services and it will be dealt with.

During Week 3 there will be Year meetings for Year 7 to 10 students. The dates, times and locations are as follows:

• Year 7 - Tuesday Period 3, Library
• Year 8- Tuesday Period 1, Library
• Year 9 – Thursday Period 1, Library
• Year 10 - Tuesday Period 1, Library

Please mark the roll, instruct students to leave their bags in class and supervise your students to the year meeting.

Aaron Wilkinson
Head of Year 8/10

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