From the Principal
Bonjour à tous, and Wanju
Welcome back to Term 2. The term has begun with a relaxation of COVID restriction in an indication that we are at a junction of living with the virus. I cannot thank you all enough for the way in which you have supported the school to manage the operating conditions. I know that it wasn’t always easy with mask wearing, no gatherings, entry onto school limitations and the like.
Although things feel like they are getting back to normal with masks and restricted movements, we are still living with the impacts of COVID restrictions. The number of students and teachers catching the virus is on the rise. Daily case number tracking indicates that we will be heading towards a school peak in the next two weeks. It is important to remain vigilant and follow the guidelines from the Health Department.
The school Athletics Carnival was postponed and will now be held on Wednesday 27 July 2022. After much discussion with School Sport WA, the Department of Education and school Principals, Country Week is back on the calendar. It will now be held in Term 3 Week 7 (29 Aug-2 Sept). The timing for this is not ideal and we are working on ways to lessen the impact on students’ academic success. More information about the issues surrounding this new date, our strategies to soften the impact and the choices available to students will come out in a specific communication.
ANZAC Commemorations
I would like to acknowledge the wonderful job done by Mereki Morgan-Harvey and Molly Mayne in reading the requiem at the recent ANZAC Day commemoration. Their efforts were acknowledged by the MC on the morning. While watching it, I was overwhelmed by the level our school community is engaged in the fabric of life in Bunbury. As well as those students being pivotal in the on stage ceremony, our whole student leadership team were represented (Jarrod Meyer and Molly Mayne pictured above), two of our students led the different cadet units and staff were involved in representing community groups and laying wreaths.
Exams and Testing
Term 2, is a critical time for students’ academic life, as it is the “reporting season”. Similar to company reporting, the whole school finalises assessments, collates and reviews the data to measure progress. If you notice your teenager is testier than usual, impending deadlines for assessment tasks or coming tests and examinations may be the root of the behaviour. Providing some space and reducing, outside of school, commitments can help at this time.
In the school at the moment, our Year 7 and Year 9 students are trying really hard to do the best they can with the NAPLAN testing. They have a quiet place to do the test, it is well resourced with support staff and technology to ensure it is the best environment for the students to do well.
Year 10 Pathways
When students select a senior school course at Bunbury SHS they are choosing the; top ATAR school in Bunbury and the South West and a World Skills Australian National Championship award winning school.
Bunbury SHS is situated in the heart of the city by the beach. The infrastructure of the city is our classrooms; students enhance their learning through access to the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery, the BREC, cultural walking tours, the city chambers, the Dolphin Discovery Centre and much more.
Independent Research Project
Each year our expanding pathways cater for a greater range of students. One such course event, the Independent Research Project industry night, held just recently, highlights the opportunities that are available to the students because of the relationship with the city and its infrastructure.
Students heard from local business owners who have a problem in their business or industry. The students are seeking such problems as the basis of an in depth research project, the results of which will be presented back to the business owners.
BYOD
One resource that is paramount to our students is their electronic devices. It is central to the delivery of our teaching and learning programs. Having a reliable accessible device provides your child with the greatest opportunity for success. Please see the link below to get further information about acquiring a device.
NSOS Survey
As part of our own assessment, we have gathered data from students, parents and teachers about the performance of the school. Thank you to all the parents who provided feedback to the National School Online Survey (NSOS). In general, the feedback is very positive. We strive to ensure that we provide a level of excellence that our community can be proud. We use your feedback to look for opportunities to grow and improve. If you would like to have more input to the school, The P&C, The Bunbury Senior High School Graduate Society – Alumni and The School Board are great ways to do this. Listening and acting on this feedback is why we are the great school that we are.
School Board
The school board has welcomed Rebecca Gilmore to the vacancy left by Rebecca Reid’s tenure finishing. We would like to thank Rebecca for her contribution. The AGM for the school board was held on Thursday evening. Tim O’Byrne, who has been the Board Chair for three years now has retired and will move on to some big projects in his business life. On behalf of the school community, I would like to thank Tim for great contribution and support he has provided me in our school improvement journey so far. In Tim’s place, we will be welcoming Todd Brown into the Board Chair position.
Have a great term
En Avant
Mike Sinagra
School Development Day - Date Change
Please pay special attention to the change of dates for the school development day in Term 3 Week 6 (Friday 26 Aug). It has now changed to Term 3 Week 8 (Monday 5 September). Students are not required to attend school on this date.
COVID Update
The Premier announced that from 14 April, the close contact definition will now align with the National Cabinet definition. A close contact is now defined as:
- a household member [or intimate partner] of a person with COVID-19 who has had contact with them during their infectious period,
- someone who has had close personal interaction with a person with COVID-19 during their infectious period, where they spent greater than 4 hours of cumulative contact with them in a residential setting, (i.e. a home, accommodation facility) where masks have been removed by both people for all of this period
- someone who is directed by WA Health that they are a close contact.
For schools, this means a child will no longer be identified as a close contact at school. Please continue to contact the school if your child becomes COVID-19 positive or becomes a close contact and is required to isolate. We can then provision remote learning for your child as required.
Any child who becomes symptomatic should stay home and be tested for COVID-19. Please continue to refer to healthywa.wa.gov.au for information on close contact definition, testing and isolation requirements.
The easing of restrictions has meant some of our school activities can resume this term, including school camps. We will provide more information on the requirements and COVID‑19 considerations for each activity as they arise on the school calendar.