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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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

4. Between 2018 and 2019, there was significant improvement in the means in Year 3 and Year 5 Writing.

5. 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.