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Principal’s report
This week I have made it a focus of mine to get in to classrooms and see students in action. It was very pleasing to step in to Year 10 genetics and see the quality of work and level of understanding by students in the class, in addition to visual autobiographies in lower school and a skilled team making handlebars for scooters in metalwork. Also pleasing, has been the level of students in uniform this week.
Since coming to Bridgetown HS, I have appreciated the numerous ways in which staff create opportunities for our students to support them personally, to develop their skills and to further their education. Working together with our community is a strength in realising positive outcomes for students and this is an area in which our school excels. The Department of Education has recently released Communication Protocols that highlights how school staff, parents and students each share responsibility for safe, supportive and productive learning environments. Further details can be found at the link below.
Student absences
By now parents and guardians will have received the individual student absence reports. Please assist us by returning these to school by next Friday.
NAPLAN results
The national 2019 NAPLAN summary report is in and it contains some very important outcomes for Western Australia. BHS has shown growth in a number of assessments in recent years, and the 2019 data for Western Australia is a celebration. Key outcomes include:
Key Results:
- These results are for all WA schools and although they are very indicative of public school results due to the large number of students involved. They are also subject to change before the final results are released.
Year 9:
- WA mean scores were higher than the Australian means in all Year 9 assessments. Ranked 1st in Numeracy and Writing; Ranked 2nd in Reading; Ranked 3rd in Spelling, Grammar & Punctuation.
Year 7:
- WA results were close to the Australian mean in all areas.
Year 5:
- WA achieved its highest ever mean scores in Numeracy and Writing.
Year 3:
- WA achieved its highest ever mean scores in Numeracy, Reading, Writing and Grammar & Punctuation.
- Performance against National Minimum Standard
- Year 9 percentages at or above national minimum standard were higher than the Australian percentages in all assessments.
- Year 3, 5 and 7 percentages at or above national minimum standard across all tests were within 1.2 percentage points of the Australian percentages.
- WA remains the “most improved jurisdiction” in Australia. WA had the highest number of improved mean scores of any State, (16 out of 20 assessments) when comparing 2019 results to the base year; 2011 for Writing and 2008 for all other tests
- Between 2018 and 2019, there was significant improvement in the means in Year 3 and Year 5 Writing.
- Western Australia continues to have one of the best participation rates and lowest withdrawal rates across all year groups.
I look forward to sharing our schools results when we receive them.
Student Safety
Student safety is everyone’s concern and sometimes one quick decision can result in an accident. For the safety of all, staff and students are reminded of the following;
Buses - students are asked to stay off the road/driveway from Steere Street to the steps at the base of the school in the mornings and afternoons. School buses enter this way to the school - Trying to touch the bus or windows on the bus is dangerous for both the student, the driver and the students on the bus. Please walk along the grassed area closest to the school oval during these times.
The year 10 Cadets enjoyed another outing as part of the DFES 10 week program - this time to the local SES unit.
Check out the photos!
A huge $286 was raised at school on Friday 30th August, thanks to the awesome efforts of the Bridgetown High School P&C Association - thanks to all the parents, citizens and students who provided so many yummy treats for the fundraiser. It was a huge success and the funds raised will help provide some of the resources used at school, such as the Robot Kits used for STEM.
Check out the photos!
Year 7's practiced their measuring and weighing skills with the incentive to weigh out 60g of chocolate that they could eat in pairs. Year 8's made Nutty Brown Rice Bites as well as a sugar free muesli slice. The year 9/10's made their own ricotta cheese and used it to top their Mixed Grain Salad and Halloumi Buddah Bowls.
Year 10 girls sports classes have stepped up to a whole new level, with students enjoying the fun and challenges associated with Step Aeobics.
The benefits of the high-intensity cardio workout are well known to improve overall fitness by building strength, reducing fat and boosting overall cardiovascular health.
Looks like fun, keep it up girls!
Hi From the School Nurse
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms that our children use, please read the following information created in partnership between Instagram, Headspace and Connect Safely.
A parents' guide to Instagram
- Why do teens love Instagram?
Because they love media, sharing it and socialising with it on their phones, and Instagram makes all that doable in a simple, eye-catching way. Teens like taking, cropping, enhancing, sharing and commenting on photos and videos. But the commenting isn't just commenting - in effect, they're socialising in mixed-media conversations that include plenty of likes and links too.
- Does Instagram have a minimum age?
Yes, it's 13, which is similar to most other online services (originally because of US law). But Instagram doesn't ask users to specify their age, and there are many younger children who use the service, often with their parents' permission. Whether Instagram is "safe" depends more on how it's used than on the age of the user, but Instagram will delete underage accounts if they're notified and can verify the users are under 13.
- What are the risks in using Instagram?
Though there's nothing inherently dangerous about Instagram, the main things parents worry about are typical of all social media: mean behaviour among peers and inappropriate photos or videos that can hurt a child's reputation or attract the wrong kind of attention. Parents are also concerned that people their kids don't know can reach out to them directly. Kids can learn to manage these risks, which is why we wrote the guide.
- What's the best way to help kids stay safe on Instagram?
As with all social media, being respectful of ourselves and others makes us safer. Our posts and comments reflect on us and others in our photos and videos. Whether serious or silly, they become part of our public image. Respecting others in how media is shared, tagged and commented on reduces risk. While most kids are smart about this, it doesn't hurt for parents to be sure kids aren't posting provocative images or having inappropriate interactions with people they don't know, which leads to the next question....
- Should my child's profile be private?
For many kids, part of the fun of Instagram is developing a big following - a good thing for parents and kids to talk about. Having a public account on Instagram means anyone can follow you. A private account means that you have to approve each request from anyone who wants to follow you, so many parents have their kids start using Instagram with a private account. But there's no guarantee your child won't be seen on Instagram or any other photo-sharing service, because people post photos of each other. Even not having an Instagram account can't ensure a child won't appear in a photo there. How positive or negative a young person's experience is on Instagram or anywhere online depends as much on the person and his or her friends as on the app.
For any questions or queries regarding any health issue, please don’t hesitate to contact me by leaving a message at the front office for me to contact you or email: felicity.lukins@heatlh.wa.gov.au
Felicity Lukins
COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSE