Dear Parents, Caregivers and Community Members,
I would like to start by thanking all staff, students and parents for your efforts and support of BSHS last Semester.
Term 2 is always challenging, especially during winter, but there were a number of events that need to be celebrated.
CELEBRATIONS
Country Week
In Week 10 of last term, our Senior School Students participated in Country Week, a week-long sporting event in Perth. There were a number of outstanding results:
? Our country week debating team finished second in their division.
? Kaleb Peters and Maddie Bleach made their individual finals.
? Both soccer teams battled through injuries but did not give up.
? The Girls' Basketball team finished second to Manjimup in the B division final losing by only two points.
? The Boys' basketball won the A division Final by one point over Newton Moore.
This is an outstanding effort; it is the first time BSHS has won an A division since 2006. This demonstrates to all of us how a goal was set in 2014 to win this final in 2016. It was achieved by the players working together as a team.
BSHS finished second overall in the second tier cup, which is an outstanding outcome. I wish to thank all the staff involved for their effort and support of our students.
Many after-school hours were put into preparing our teams and during the week our coaches worked around the clock to ensure a safe, supportive environment was provided for all our participants.
Year 9 Canberra Trip
Our Year 9 students experienced an amazing trip to our nation’s capital, Canberra. They visited Parliament House, various museums and enjoyed some downhill fun on the ski slopes. Once again, our students represented the school exceptionally well.
Borneo Trip
Another trip during the holidays was to Borneo with our students volunteering in a local village. Talking with the students on their return, it was evident they had learned so much, experienced new challenges and enjoyed immersing themselves in another culture.
For trips to Borneo and Canberra to be successful, it does rely on a number of staff giving their time. I would like to thank all staff involved in these trips, who ensured our students had a memorable and rewarding time.
Sheerluck Holmes Production
The BSHS whole school production of ‘Sheerluck Holmes’ was an outstanding success with a number of humorous moments. I am consistently amazed at how talented our students are; their performances reflected the hard work to learn lines, attend rehearsals and develop their characters.
The Arts and Music Departments and other staff volunteers have worked tirelessly to direct and produce a marvellous production. A special mention must go to Lee Cooper for her superlative direction of the play.
Drain Rehabilitation
Through the leadership of our School Captain, Patrick Donovan, the school has undertaken the challenge to rehabilitate a section of the Queen Elizabeth drain next to the school each year.
All Year 7 and 8 students were involved in planting over 1000 plants and constructing a pathway. They have done an amazing job.
Thank you to all staff involved.
R.E.A.L Reward Excursions
Finally, congratulations to all the students who attended the R.E.A.L reward excursions. These students have shown Respect, displayed Empathy, strived to Achieve and endeavoured to Learn. Thank you to all staff involved with the organisation and supervision of the excursions. For those students who were unable to attend, Term 3 is the time to reflect and improve your standing, to allow you to attend the REAL excursions at the end of the year. I would like to remind parents that all students are assessed on the REAL attributes in the Interim, Semester 1 and Semester 2 Reports.
SEMESTER TWO
Semester 1 reports were sent home at the end of last term. These will have provided a snapshot of how your child is progressing in 2016. For those parents who were unable to attend the Parent’s Evening, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teachers to discuss strategies they can use to improve in Semester 2. The goal for all students is to be engaged in their learning in order to achieve the best results they can by the end of the year.
Expectations
The beginning of Semester 2 is a time to reinforce the high expectations of all students while attending BSHS. I wish to reaffirm that fighting, bullying, verbal abuse and harassment of others is completely unacceptable at Busselton Senior High School. Our classrooms must remain safe, productive environments that cultivate our students and their learning. For this to happen, students must adhere to our R.E.A.L attributes. A copy of this REAL matrix can be found in this newsletter. All staff at BSHS are committed to supporting you and your child to ensure they reach their potential. Please take the time to go through these expectations as it is important we work in partnership to support your child’s learning.
Year 10
It is the time of year when students begin selecting their Senior School Pathways. The school has a great selection of ATAR and VET courses that will set students up post BSHS. Subject selection and course counselling can be a stressful time for students, especially if they did not receive the grades they were expecting in Semester 1. I can assure you that every student will be counselled on an individual basis, with parental involvement, to ensure they are given every opportunity to select a pathway that suits their interests and ability. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school.
New Roof and Air-conditioning
I am happy to report that after 60 years, BSHS has a brand new roof and every classroom is air conditioned just in time for Summer. These projects will have a positive impact on the learning environment, allowing students to learn in more comfortable conditions.
All the best for Semester 2 and I look forward to seeing you throughout the remainder of the year at the various events BSHS has planned.
Kind regards, Dainon Couzic - Principal