14 Feb 2020
Dear WBHS Families,
I have been very pleased with the strong start to 2020 by our students and staff. A few things to highlight:
Updated Mobile Phone Policy - our Mobile Phone Policy has been strengthened to help maintain the focus on quality teaching and learning, and to keep every student as safe as possible. Following consultations with staff and students, there have been several improvements and additions to the policy which is available on our school website here. I will be highlighting the changes at Monday’s whole school assembly. I ask that you please read and discuss the policy with your child/ren. Thank you in anticipation of your ongoing support.
Website Facelift – we are currently changing the layout and currency of the school website to make it easier to navigate and find required information. Our website will be much more functional once improvements are completed over the coming weeks.
2019 Achievements - for some years now, WBHS has published an annual Achievement Booklet to showcase a range of achievements from the previous 12 months. This important tradition will continue with a fresh new format on the school’s website. More details soon regarding the publish date. Our school has much to celebrate.
Student Support Teams – we have streamlined the structure of our student support teams to better serve our students and families, and to improve communication within the school. Each year group has a dedicated, comprehensive Wellbeing Team comprising the Deputy Principal (chair), Year Advisers, Counsellor, HT Welfare, Student Wellbeing Officer (teachers with a slightly reduced teaching allocation), Student Support officer (youth worker) and Attendance Coordinator (Ms Tamas, HT Languages). These teams will be joined by other relevant personnel as needed, such as Learning and Support teachers, the Careers Adviser and Student Engagement Officer. Each team will meet fortnightly to discuss the best ways to support students who need additional help with their learning, behaviour, wellbeing, attendance and individual needs. Please contact the school if your child needs additional support in any area of their schooling.
2020 Professional Learning Focus – this year, staff professional learning (PL) will be strongly focused on classroom teaching and learning practices that work best in terms of their impact on improving student outcomes. PL will be scaffolded on evidence-based practices from the DoE’s Centre for Educational Statistics and Evaluation (CESE), and publications such as “What works best: Evidence-Based practices to help improve NSW student performance”. Other leading research is also being unpacked (eg. Tony Wagner, John Hattie, Gratten Institute, AITSL). All teachers have joined one of nine cross-faculty teams to reflect on current research and its implications for WBHS, then develop and implement evidence-based, future-focused strategies directly aimed at improving student outcomes. At WBHS, our goal is that every student, every teacher and every leader improves every year. We want every student to be engaged and challenged to continue to learn, and that every student is known, valued and cared for.
Bushfire Fundraiser – our senior student leaders are organising a fundraising event to contribute to the bushfire appeals. The event will feature a lunchtime rock band concert and BBQ. Students will be advised of details next week. I am so proud of all our students.
New Canteen Managers – welcome to our new Canteen Manager, Mrs Paula Boersma and Assistant Canteen Manager, Mrs Rachel Honnef. Both come with extensive and highly successful canteen experience and we are very pleased that they have joined the WBHS team. Our two longstanding canteen managers retired at the end of 2019. Wendy and Marj both did a marvellous job in feeding and caring for our students over many years. I thank them both and wish them all the very best.
Uniform – our school has been a proud uniform school for many years. As the weather begins to cool, I remind our school community that hoodies are not part of the uniform. Uniform details are available here.
Regards,
Marcus Neale