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Hello everyone
I am hoping that most of the school community has heard the fantastic news that Bridgetown High School was the state finalist in the recently awarded Resilience Awards 2021. This is a very well deserved acknowledgement of our Emergency Service Cadet students, both past and present, and of the staff and community members who give up their time to lead the Cadet unit. Particular thanks should go to Mr John Tonai-Moore for his tireless efforts and belief in this facet of our school. Ms Old, myself and Mr Tonai-Moore recently travelled to Perth for the award ceremony and it was a heart-warming moment when our school was named as the winner. We will be representing the state of Western Australia in the National Resilience Awards later in the year.
Unfortunately, we have had a number of recent reports of anti-social behaviour of high school students in the community after hours. Whilst we would always hope that our students display our school values of Kindness, Resilience, Responsibility and Respect when out and about, we certainly do not condone, and cannot accept responsibility for, this behaviour. Please do not judge our school on the behaviour after school hours of a few, as I know you would be very proud of the high standard our students demonstrate on most occasions.
I would again like to urge parents to monitor their students’ use of “screen time”. We have had some reports of students engaging in unpleasant conversations with others during their screen time and this can cause those who are targeted to experience health issues and become withdrawn. It is now well documented that screen time should be limited due to the mental and physical health risks associated with it. Another issue that we come across quite frequently is lack of sleep. I cannot stress enough the need for our students to get a good night’s sleep. Being on a device until the wee small hours is not helpful and students often present as tired, anxious and not “school ready”. Your support in limiting device time or implementing a device curfew hour in your home would be much appreciated and will only benefit your child. Please feel free to give me a call if you need more advice or support in this area.
Many thanks to all those parents who have continued to keep their student fees coming in. The more fees we collect, the more we can provide in terms of opportunity and resources for your student, so please consider either paying the fees in full or discussing a payment plan with our Manager of Corporate Service, Camille Sinagra.
I’m off to enjoy the sunshine.
Positive Behaviour Strategies continue to be implemented at school. We are now moving into the 'Teaching and Encouraging Expected Behaviour' stage.
Teaching
We know that alot of students at Bridgetown High School demonstrate positive behaviour. However, teaching behaviour expectations ensures that all students understand the expectations for behaviour at BHS and, therefore, know what is expected of them in the classroom, around the grounds and on excursions. Teaching expected behaviours helps students to be fluent and competent in performing the social behaviours expected at school and in the community. This teaching practise serves to remind and re-inforce positive behaviours that the students already 'know' and helps them learn how to positively behave in a school and community setting.
Explicit teaching will take place during Form lessons, including practise in the form of activities and games. Teachers will remind, encourage and acknowledge throughout all classes.
Encouragement
Students will be acknowledged with positive behaviour/house point slips. These acknowledgements will help them, their house and all school students. Positive behaviour slips count towards house points, individual rewards and count towards a whole school reward. When the number of slips reaches the set goal, all students will get to participate in a fun day with a choice of activities. More on this as we progress.
Weeks 5 & 6 - Resilience, Bounce Back From Challenges
This fortnight, our Positive Behaviour focus is on Resilience, in particular – being able to 'recover from a setback' or 'to return to a more positive mindset after a difficult or challenging situation'.
We need to be able to do this in all aspects of our life so that we can better deal with life’s challenges and stay happy and healthy.
We have attached our 'toolbox' template for you to use at home and work with your children together, to think of 'Bounce Back' strategies and draw or write them in the template.
Weeks 3 & 4 - Kindness
Last fortnight, our Positive Behaviour focus was on Kindness, in particular – being aware of our impact on others.
We can impact others in many ways both negatively and positively. Our words and actions can affect others.
Over these two weeks we looked at ways to help us be aware of our impact on others and, therefore, help us to have a positive and constructive effect on those around us, at school and in the wider community.
The following procedure can help us be aware of the impact we may have on others and help us to ensure our impact is positive.
- Be Aware and Attentive – Check your surroundings. Where are you? Who is around?
- Check yourself – Do a ‘check in’ with yourself. How are you feeling? Our feelings can affect our behaviour.
- Consider others – Empathise. There may be people nearby who will be affected by your words or actions.
- Positive? – Continue. If you are sure that the way you are about to behave, or are behaving, is positive or constructive, continue with the behaviour.
- Negative? – If you think that your behaviour may impact others negatively. Don’t behave that way. Try not to use negative words or actions. Can you find an alternative way to act?
Have a go. Be aware and think about your impact on others.
If you managed to curb a negative impact – what did you do?
When you saw you had a positive or constructive impact, how did you feel?
'In Form classes, teachers used the 'ripple effect' to highlight the impact that we can have on others. Our words and actions can have far reaching effects, like a ripple. People, like the objects in the water, can get 'bumped' by the ripples negatively and positively.
We are aiming for a positive and constructive ripple effect around school and the community.
Weeks 1 & 2 - Following instructions
When we follow instructions we;
- Stop what we are doing
- Look at the speaker
- Listen carefully
- Do as requested immediately
- Ask clarifying questions if we don’t understand
-We follow instructions in class, outside, in the Student Common Room, in the library and in the office.
-Instructions can be spoken, visual and written.
Welcome to Term 3. We are over halfway through the year but it is still vitally important to be vigilant with your attendance and to be ON TIME every day and to EVERY lesson. Not only does every day count, but every minute counts towards being successful.
Here is the percentage attendance for each year group from the start of this term.
Year 7 – 88.57%
Year 8 – 87.13%
Year 9 – 83.31%
Year 10 – 88.39%
SCHOOL STARTS AT 8.40AM
Talking to your child about Sexual HealthDuring Term 3, I will be supporting/providing education on Growing and Developing Healthy Relationships for the Year 9 students. Research shows that promoting a partnership between schools and parents is the most effective way in teaching young people about sexuality and respectful relationships.
Here is some information for all parents to think about, when it comes to the sensitive topic of talking to your children about sexual health.
Parents often feel uncomfortable raising this topic with their children, but young people need accurate information about sex and sexuality in order to be able to negotiate sexual relationships safely and responsibly, and to become sexually healthy adults.
Your child will learn about sexuality at school, talk about it with their friends, and get information on the internet and through social media. But young people do trust the information they get from their parents, so get informed by looking at reliable and evidence-based websites and information.
Talk soon. Talk often. A guide for parents talking to their kids about sex is an excellent resource that will guide those tricky conversations. Download your free copy from https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/~/media/HWA/Documents/Healthy-living/Sexual-health/talk-soon-talk-often.pdf
Also check out ‘Get the Facts’ website www.getthefacts.health.wa.gov.au
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Open communication between parents and their children has a positive influence on adolescent sexual behaviour. For example, young people who talk openly about sexuality with their parents are less likely to become pregnant before the age of 18. They’re also more likely to use contraception the first time they have sex. |
Tips for Parents
Be prepared
It might help to think in advance about your values and beliefs around sexuality so you can be clear and consistent with your child. For example, they might ask you about same-sex attraction or contraception, a positive response from you is vital – sorting out your own feelings/beliefs about different sexuality issues in advance is a good idea.
Create and recognise opportunities to talk about sexuality
Sometimes your child will ask you directly about sex and sexuality or an opportunity might come up naturally for example when you hear something on the radio or watch a show on TV.
Read your child’s signals
Look out for signs that show that now isn’t the right time for a ‘big talk’, such as when your child is busy, tired or distracted. You can always try again later.
Talk about the really important stuff
There are some things that are really important for every young person to understand. For example, your child needs to know:
- that he/she has a right to say ‘NO’. All young people have the right to control what happens to their bodies, and your child should never feel pressured into doing anything that doesn’t feel right. Talk with your child about recognising what feels comfortable and safe, rather than doing what their friends might be doing.
- what ‘safe sex’ means, and how to protect against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
- about the laws that apply to sex, sexual touching and sexting.
- trying to see things from your child’s perspective.
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In Australia, over half of Year 10 students have experienced sexual touching, and over one-quarter have had sexual intercourse. By 16 years of age, the majority of teenagers will have had some sexual contact. |
What is sexting?
Sexting is using a mobile phone to create, send or store sexual photos or videos. Sexting also includes posting sexual content online.
Sexting is different from just looking at porn, because sexting usually involves sending or posting images of yourself or people you know. These images can be shared with lots of people very quickly.
Sexting isn’t a simple issue. Children and teenagers sometimes get involved in sexting because they feel social pressure, but sexting is also something they might consent to doing.
If a sexual photo or video of your child is shared online, it could be posted to social media sites or emailed to friends and then to people your child doesn’t even know. Once online, it’s virtually impossible to remove.
Sexting and the law
Creating, sending and having sexually explicit images or video of people under 18 years is a criminal offence in every state and territory in Australia.
Sexting is covered by state and territory child pornography laws. If your child is involved in sexting and someone reports your child to the police, your child could be charged with distribution or possession of child pornography. This can happen even if your child has consented to creating, sending, receiving and/or storing the sexually explicit material.
Adapted from Raising Children Network, visit raisingchildren.net.au for more information.
To contact me regarding any health or wellbeing concern or query please leave a message at the school or email felicity.lukins@heatlh.wa.gov.au
Felicity Lukins - COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSE
Bridgetown High School would like pass on a HUGE thank you to the The Stables IGA and the Lions Club of Bridgetown for their recent generous donations.
The Stables IGA offer our high school ongoing support throughout the year for various programs and awards. Each term they kindly donate to our School Chaplain program which enables our Chaplain, Yuko Tonai-Moore, to provide a nutritious and comforting breakfast for students on Tuesday's and Friday's.
Most recently, the Lions Club of Bridgetown provided two donations; one for the Lions Club award which will be decided and presented at the end of the school year and a large donation to support schoolwide student programs.With local business support like this, we are able to provide our students with the excellent opportunities we do.
The Better Health Program is a free, healthy lifestyle program for families. The program is evidence-based and is delivered by qualified health professionals to support families with making sustainable health changes at home. Children (and their families) are eligible to participate in the program if they are:
- Aged 7-13 years
- Living in regional or remote WA
- Above a healthy weight
The online program includes:
- Weekly interactive modules
- Weekly phone coaching support with a health professional
- Lots of freebies (including a garmin fitness tracker and other great resources)
- Prizes
The Term 4 program starts on the 4th of October, 2021, registrations are open now!
Better Health Program details
Call: 1300 822 953
Email: info@betterhealthcompany.org or Visit: www.betterhealthprogram.org
