Dear Parents and Carers
With eight incredibly busy weeks of the school year behind, students are heavily engaged with assessment in order to demonstrate their progress over Term 1. I commend them on their commitment to their studies and their cooperation with their teachers to maximise their learning opportunities.
I am pleased to report that our Annual Implementation Plan, Investing for Success Agreement, Data Plan and School Budget have all been finalised and endorsed by our P&C Association. This very important work provides the foundation for a successful 2023. On that note, I would like to encourage Parents and Carers to attend our next P&C meeting which will be held on Monday 27 March at 5pm in P Block (the old Library).
Road Safety
I would like to briefly comment on a couple of important safety concerns that are impacting on our school community at the moment. As many of you will appreciate the road traffic and pedestrian traffic around the school at the beginning and end of the day is significant and often leads to congestion. All too often, I receive reports of students being involved in accidents during these busy times of the day which is alarming to us all. I must stress the importance of road safety around the school at all times and remind drivers to please adhere to parking regulations for the benefit of the residents of our neighbourhood. Could I also ask that students are encouraged to utilise the designated road crossings at the traffic lights to ensure students are not running across Maryborough St, putting themselves in harms way. I understand the frustration of the traffic congestion and I am constantly on the lookout for solutions.
Vaping
As I explained last year, vaping through the use of e-cigarettes is a significant challenge for all schools and Bundy High is no exception. Vapes are illegal for young people and there is no place for them in our school. The Premier announced this week a parliamentary inquiry to tackle this major societal challenge and I will continue to issue significant consequences for students who engage in this highly dangerous behaviour. Could I ask that parents and carers please research the impact of vapes on young people and discuss it with your children in order to prevent harm from occurring. I have attached a link for your information.
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/vaping
Celebrations
Despite the challenges faced during Term 1, we have much to celebrate at Bundy High. There have been a number of celebrations including our annual Leadership Investiture and the awarding of our 2022 School Dux as well as year level assemblies which acknowledge student success in many areas of school life. We have also seen a number of academic, sporting and cultural events that have provided great opportunities for our students and as usual, they have done us proud. A major highlight for the term is the return of our wonderful Sister-School relationship with Shijonawate High School in Osaka, Japan. Students and staff have joined us this week for a cultural experience supported by a homestay arrangement with families for our school community. This is part of an ongoing relationship which extends for more than twenty years. We are fortunate enough to be able to reciprocate with a Study Tour to Japan for our students this year in November/December this year.
2022 Senior Dux announced
Congratulations to Ryu Belz who was named Bundaberg State High School 2022 Senior Dux at our recent Investiture Ceremony. The determination of the Senior Dux is pending the release of final QCAA results. Ryu is currently studying a Bachelor of Aviation at CQUniversity, Bundaberg Campus. It was wonderful to present Ryu his certificate and medallion at our recent Investiture.
2023 Annual Leadership Investiture
Bundaberg State High School Investiture and Year 12 Badge Ceremony saw our Junior and Senior leaders come together in unity to make Bundaberg State High School a better place to learn and grow.
More than 300 guests, including family members, beamed with pride as our 2023 leaders were presented with their badges. I congratulate all our leaders who are doing a wonderful job and making a difference.
Annual Inter-house Swimming Carnival
Bundaberg State High School students took to the battle of the water at our annual Inter-house Swimming Carnival early this term. With the sweet smell of victory in the air, expectations were high and the standard of swimming talent on display even higher. But at the end of the day, there can only be one winner. Hinkler House put on a commanding display in the water to cruise to victory and defend their title as Swimming House Champions. This is always a great day for students and staff and I thank our staff for their outstanding commitment in organising once again a great day for all.
Lions Youth of the Year Public Speaking Competition
Our School Captains participated in the Lions Youth of the Year Public Speaking Competition on Saturday 18 February. Students were interviewed about their applications before going on to the public speaking portion. They were given two impromptu topics on which to speak for two minutes about. Each student also presented their prepared five-minute speeches to the audience and judges.
Georgia H. was declared both the winner of the public speaking segment and overall winner for the Bundaberg Lions Cub. Nicole S. was awarded the overall winner representing the Bargara Lions Club. Both students will go on to represent their respective clubs in the Regional Round on Sunday 12 March 2023. All of our contestants were fantastic representatives for our school!
Schools Working Together
Bundaberg State High School students, Anna and Jade H. attended the Walkervale State High School Induction. Both students had attended Walkervale School and spoke words of encouragement for the future leaders of Walkervale. It is wonderful to be able to work with our feeder schools.
Bundy High Chess Teams making a mark!
Eleven Bundaberg State High School students competed in the Term 1 Gardiner Chess Interschool Tournament against 161 students from various schools around the Bundaberg Region. Despite the tough competition, and seven rounds, our Bundaberg Gold Team consisting of Shaurya J., Riley N., Ewan K. and Swarith C. came an overall first.
Our Bundaberg White Team, consisting of Thomas S., Kevin N., Kaleb W. and Dorrian C. came an overall third. Congratulations to all students and special mention to Joseph Curtain who gives up his time to train and support these teams.
Clean Up Australia Day
It was wonderful to see the commitment of our students to the annual Clean Up Australia Day. Students and staff came together to pick up rubbish and make their surrounding area a better place to be. It is hard to believe that over thirty years ago, a simple idea to make a difference in a backyard has now become the nation's largest community-based environmental event, held annually in March.
QParents
We thank all those parents/carers who have joined QParents. We encourage all to join QParents as it is the platform for online consent management for school activities involving parental permission. This is a Departmental initiative to simplify communication between schools and families in relation to consent for school activities such as excursions and sporting events that would traditionally involve permission forms being sent home and returned.
Please contact the school if you have not received an invitation or are having problems with getting on this new platform for assistance.
To learn more about QParents you can: