We have come to the end of another year, and I am sure we are all looking forward to finally spending some time with family and friends over the festive season. Term 4 is always a hectic term with awards ceremonies, exams, transitions and preparations for next year. Our students finish this term on Friday 16th December 2022. Staff will be working on Monday the 19th of December and Tuesday 20th December 2022. The official start day for 2023 is Friday 27th January for staff, Monday 30th January for years Seven, Eleven and Twelve, and all remaining students on Tuesday 31st January.

Congratulations to Susan Nguyen on being selected as a recipient of the 2022 ABCN Highly Commended Award. She will receive a certificate of recognition, a group online mentoring session and $500 to be spent on educational expenses. We hope that Susan will find this award beneficial as she pursues her goals.

Congratulations to our Year 9 students. Our NAPLAN results for 2022 were outstanding! The Year 9 students scored above state and similar schools for reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation and above similar schools for numeracy.

Congratulations to the following finalists in this year’s Canterbury Bankstown’s Children and Youth Awards.

The Academic Achievement Finalists for young people who have shown significant achievement or improvement in one or more aspects of their academic life.

• Afifa Akhtar  Year 9

The Community Involvement finalists for young people who are involved in improving their local community and helping their fellow community members.

• Cindy He Year 9

The Creative and Performing Arts finalists for young people who have shown outstanding ability in different aspects of the creative and performing arts, such as music, drama and visual arts.

• Gabrielle Daggar Year 8
• Thato Galane Year 9

The Inspirational finalist is for young people who have shown an ability to shine through moments of adversity in their life and are an inspirational role model to others.

• Clairene Naval Year 9

Congratulations to our Relieving Head Teacher CAPA,  Mr Joe Bennie who has been selected to be one of the education/media industry judges at the Collart Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM) Awards this year! He will be judging two industry categories, Best Music Video and Web Series. We are so fortunate to have such a talent in our school.

Thank you to Mr Robert Mills for his tireless contribution to the wellbeing of our students. Our breakfast club is an absolute hit ensuring that our amazing girls have a nutritious start to the day.

Our awards ceremonies started with the Year 12 Graduation, a hugely successful day celebrating the achievements of our fabulous year 12 students as they completed their schooling. This term we wished our talented Year 12 cohort the very best as they entered the HSC examination period. This is always a challenging time, but our exceptional Year 12 students were well-prepared and ready to embrace every exam demonstrating their rich learning and academic flair.

After the departure of the year 12 students, Year 11 engaged in a transition program that provided a range of experiences and supports designed to give students a head start on HSC studies. Students took the opportunities available to them, participated well in these highly structured programs and will now go into 2023 prepared to take on the new challenges they will face.

The rest of the school are preparing for end of year exams and are looking forward to the upcoming Awards Day to celebrate the successes of students in all year levels for 2022.  It is heartening that at the end of a very difficult year that our students and families have been able to celebrate their achievements and get prepared for their next adventure in their schooling.

This term gives us the opportunity to engage in transition days. In week 8 we will welcome our new students for Orientation Day 2023. The students will be provided with a genuine experience of being in high school, meeting their potential teachers and classmates for next year. We will once again welcome these students on 31st January when they begin their secondary education experience and their journey into the post school pathways they aspire to.

The Inclusive, Engaging and Respectful Schools package was announced earlier this year by NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning, The Hon Sarah Mitchell. It centres on three new policies and procedures and a framework that together set the guidelines for how we ensure all children can learn through public education in a safe and engaging way.

The package includes the:

• Inclusive Education Policy for students with disability (operational from Term 4, 2022);
• Student Behaviour Policy and Procedures (operational from Term 4, 2022); and
• Restrictive Practices Framework and Restrictive Practices Reduction and Elimination Policy and Procedures (operational from Term 1, 2023).

With these new policies, we want all students to:

• Be included in all aspects of school life and supported to learn to their fullest capability
• Be supported in engaging, respectful and effective classrooms with positive and inclusive practices
• Feel welcomed, valued and safe in our schools and classrooms.

Two of the policies are new: The Inclusive Education Policy; and The Restrictive Practices Framework and Policy.

Both clarify existing obligations, effective, appropriate and prohibited practices, and the rights of students, parents and carers.

The Student Behaviour Policy replaces the Student Discipline in Government Schools and Suspension and Expulsion Policy. The key change is the approach all NSW public schools will take to address disruptive or inappropriate behaviour by a student. The duration of a suspension will be reduced along with the number of suspensions across a year. Every school will be able to draw on the support from a range of staff. This will include behaviour specialists that will  address issues resulting in the prevention of further escalations. It does not mean however, that students who are violent or seriously disrupt the learning and wellbeing of others will be kept at school. Any student who puts the safety of other students, teachers and staff or visitors at risk of harm – will be suspended until it is safe for them to return. We will continue to work closely with you and all our families to ensure every student has the right support at the right time to help them grow into confident, resilient adults

I would like to take the opportunity to thank parents/carers and community for your support in all we do here at Beverly Hill Girls High School. It has truly been a wonderful year filled with changes and challenges. I acknowledge the wonderful job the staff do to support student learning. I also thank the SASS staff who we rely on to keep the school humming along. I look forward to 2023 and wish all the Beverly Hills Girls High School Family the very best for a happy, relaxing and enjoyable Festive Season and holiday.

The DoE has released a toolkit that features self-care tips, handy lists, wellbeing articles and leading Australian and international parenting resources. From top parenting podcasts and apps to books and websites, our 'essentials' toolkit aims to give parents and carers a head start and support throughout the school holidays and beyond. 

• Parents and carers essentials toolkit (PDF 1.51 MB)

Ms M Iemma

Principal

Welcome to Term 4, one of the busiest terms for all students across the school. At our school our focus continues to be on education and to ensure all students are working to do their best in every lesson, every day.

Year 11:  Students have completed the Preliminary Course and have commenced Year 12 work. All Year 11 completed a three-day program at the beginning of this term that helped prepare them for the requirements of the HSC course.

ELEVATE presented to the students on the following three areas:

1.      How to study
2.      How to use memory as a tool
3.      Time Management Techniques

Other sessions included ‘How to Ace your exams’, how to score well with multiple choice questions using NESA’s Multiple Choice Generator (NSW Students Online - Year 12 :: Online Multiple Choice (nesa.nsw.edu.au), ALARM (A Learning and Response Matrix), Rules and Regulations for HSC Students. All students walked away with tools and tips on how to be the best student they can in their journey to the HSC.

Year 11 reports have been posted and we recommend that all students reflect on their learning and take on board teacher feedback to improve on individual performance. Apart from reading the report comments, it is essential that students reflect on learning and set goals that will assist each student in doing their best. For example, revision should be a part of a students’ everyday regime. Notes need to be summarised daily so that when it comes to exams, students are prepared. Students should regularly ask for teacher feedback on class tasks and practise writing exam style questions weekly. Students should also have a look at NESA’s Stay Healthy HSC website Stay healthy HSC (nsw.gov.au) which contains fantastic resources and strategies for study techniques, exam tips and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This is tailored for the current HSC cohort, but the tips contained on the website are transferable.

Attendance Matters:  We have been working really hard as a school to improve our attendance because attendance matters. Over 90% attendance for students is extremely important so that student learning is maximised and students can be somebody that are successful in their learning. Non-Attendance can impact academic, socio-economic and health outcomes (see infographic below). To ensure all students are succeeding every day and not missing out on valuable learning, we ask that parents assist students in getting to school on time, unless they are unwell, every day to improve on their individual attendance percentage. Attendance percentages can be viewed in Sentral by parents and students. If you would like to have access to the Parent Portal on Sentral, please contact the school and ask for Vicki Loupos who will be more than happy to assist.

If your daughter is currently not obtaining 90% or above in attendance, it can be improved if there is a commitment to do so, starting today. For example, we ask that appointments are scheduled outside school hours or in holiday time (if possible) or packing bags and organising school uniform and equipment required for school the night before, including packing lunch. A reminder also to ensure students bring a note to explain any lateness.

Every fortnight (14 days) we celebrate and recognise 100% attendance. All students who have managed to come to school every day on time have a chance of winning a voucher in recognition of their attendance. The Wheel of Attendance is drawn every Tuesday during assemblies, every two weeks. Congratulations to all the students who have been able to obtain 100% attendance. The winners of 100% attendance draw from Term 3 and 4 are:

• Ayman M- Year 7
• Miriam N- Year 7
• Zaara F Year 7
• Ana Maria D Year 11

Taking leave from school:  Regular attendance at school is essential for students to achieve quality life outcomes. Schools, in partnership with parents, are responsible for promoting the regular attendance of students.

Please see the information below:

Families are encouraged to travel during school holidays. If travel during school term is necessary, discuss this with your child’s school principal first. An Application for Extended Leave will need to be completed. This can be downloaded from our website or by accessing this link: Application for extended leave - travel (nsw.gov.au) Absences relating to travel will be marked as leave on the roll and therefore contribute to your child’s total absences for the year.

New policies, procedures and framework to keep students engaged in learning at school- Inclusive, Engaging and Respectful Schools:

This new policy ensures every student is engaged and learns to their fullest capacity and ensures all students, teachers and staff are safe in schools. The Inclusive, Engaging and Respectful schools package includes three new policies that help our schools manage the diverse spectrum of student needs to improve outcomes for all students in every public school across New South Wales. They include:

• Inclusive Education Policy for students with disability
• Student Behaviour Policy and Procedure and the
• Restrictive Practices Framework and Restrictive Practices Reduction and Elimination Policy and Procedure

The Inclusive, Engaging and Respectful (IER) Schools package was announced in February this year by NSW Minister for Education and Early Learning, Hon Sarah Mitchell.

It centers on three new policies and procedures and a framework that together set the guidelines for how we ensure all children and young people can learn through public education in a safe and engaging way.  The IER Schools package includes the:

• Inclusive Education Policy for students with disability
• Student Behaviour Policy and Procedures
• Restrictive Practices Framework and Restrictive Practices Reduction and Elimination Policy and Procedures.

With these new policies, we want all students to:

• be included in all aspects of school life and supported to learn to their fullest capability 
• be supported in engaging, respectful, and effective classrooms with positive and inclusive practices  
• feel welcomed, valued and safe in our schools and classroom.

Two of the policies are new: the Inclusive Education Policy; and the Restrictive Practices Framework and policy. Both clarify existing legal obligations, effective, appropriate and prohibited practices, and the rights of students, parents and carers.

The Student Behaviour Policy replaces the Student Discipline in Government Schools and Suspension and Expulsion Policy.  The key change is the approach all NSW public schools will take to address disruptive or inappropriate behaviour by a student. The duration of a suspension will be reduced along with the number of suspensions across a school year.  Every school will be able to draw on the support of a range of staff including behaviour specialists to effectively address issues resulting in these behaviours in order to prevent future escalations. We will continue to work closely with you and all our families.

It does not mean, however, that students who are violent or seriously disrupt the learning and wellbeing of others will be kept at school.  Any student who puts the safety of other students, teachers and staff or visitors at risk of harm – will be suspended until it is safe for them to return.

The Inclusive Education Policy for students with disability and the Student Behaviour Policy become operational in Term 4, 2022 and the Restrictive Practices Policy becomes operational in Term 1, 2023.

The staff and I are reviewing our current approach to all of the areas covered by these policies and wish to share any changes we believe need to make with you next term.

Our school already takes a strong, positive student-centred approach, but we want to work with you to ensure, together, every student has the right support at the right time to help them grow into confident, resilient adults.

For more information on these policies, please visit the NSW Department of Education website.

To further support the new The Behaviour Support Toolkit resources for parents and students has been updated and provides more information.

Be aware that there have been a number of issues at school regarding TikTok and the way it is being used as a platform to cause emotional harm to others. Even though these incidents get reported to school, very often, the school does not know who owns the account and can only report the issue back to the social media platform and support the victim through a challenging time. We rely on our students to come forward when they know something is wrong and to be an upstander, not a bystander.  

If your child is subjected to online bullying and harassment, it is important they do a few things.  

• Block all accounts associated with the incident.  
• Ensure all social media accounts are set to private.  
• Report the incident to the social media platform.  
• After 48 hours, if the content is still visible online, report the platform, the content and the instigator to the Office of the eSafety Commissioner.  
• Let their Year Coordinator know so your daughter can be supported here at school.  A sincere thank you to our students who do report these incidents.  

Ms R. Spratt

Deputy Principal

The final term of Year 7 has arrived. As student advisors, we have seen most students settle into friendship groups and have a better understanding of their place in the Bevo Girls community. With their final term comes the realisation that they have almost completed their first year of high school. Although it may have been quite daunting to begin with, this year has brought about academic and personal growth, not to mention new beginnings, both socially and in the classroom. During the final weeks of Term 4, we ask all Year 7 students to take some time to reflect on how far they’ve come since that first nervous day walking through the front gates.

On our own reflections as year advisors, we have had a lovely time getting to know each and everyone one of our students in the cohort. We have continued to develop our understanding of their wellbeing needs and how to best support them in their educational journeys in high school thus far.

We would also like to congratulate those who have met the high expectations set in respect to uniform and attendance. We encourage all students to approach their next year of schooling with the intention of exceeding the expectations we have for them, as well as growing into the strong young women they are capable of being.  

John Klironomos & Janet Hutchinson

Year 7 Student Advisors 

As the year comes to an end we would like to share some of the wonderful initiatives that Year 8 have been involved in.

We have started a Year 8 sports round robin every fortnight. Our first game of basketball was a success and it gives students and teachers a chance to connect over friendly competition. We would like to encourage all Year 8 students to get involved and spend some time with their peers.

The next competition will be a handball game! Keep an eye on our google classroom for more information

Year 8 also completed their “Check in” assessment online. This program aims to give teachers a greater understanding of the literacy and numeracy skills of our Year 8 students. This allows us to better tailor our teaching and learning programs to suit the needs of our students.

We are also happy to announce that 6 of our students at BHGHS have been nominated as finalists for various categories in the Annual Children and Youth Awards offered by Canterbury Bankstown Council. We wish Gabrielle D in Year 8 the best of luck for her nomination the category “Youth – Creative and Performing Arts”

Lastly, we would like to inform parents and caregivers that in the coming weeks, Year 8 will be involved in their Subject Selection while at school. This is where students are able to choose their electives for Year 9 Semester one, the start of their ROSA (Record of School Achievement). This follows our wonderful ASPIRE Program unique to BHGHS where students granted a unique level of flexibility with their subject selection. We ask that parents and caregivers sit with our students and have a discussion about the subjects their child is passionate about and would like to pursue in Year 9 and 10. More information can be found on the BHGHS website in “Junior Curriculum” under the “Our curriculum” tab

https://beverlyhg-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/doe/sws/schools/b/beverlyhg-h/download-box/Aspire_booklet_2021_Semester_21.pdf 

Ms Raelene Knight & Mr Peter Lofitis 

Year 8 Student Advisors

As we reach the end of Term 4 and the end of Year 9, we wish you all the best of luck. We are hopeful you will remain engaged in your learning until the very end of term, and continue to be positive and committed quality learners.

We encourage you all to prepare for Year 10 over the six week holidays and to begin the year with a positive mindset. The start of senior schooling is just around the corner! Work hard, believe in yourself and success shall follow you everywhere you go.

Below are some Year 9 highlights of Term 4.

Canterbury Bankstown Children & Youth Awards – Finalists

We nominated a number of Year 9 students for the Youth Awards categories, and we are proud to announce that out of 30 finalists from the Canterbury Bankstown area, 5 were selected from our Year 9 nominees! We are beyond amazed by our students, their achievements and contributions to their school and local community. These finalists have been invited to attend an awards ceremony on the 15th of November and we wish them all the best of luck.

Congratulations to:

• Afifa A – academic achievements
• Zoiana G – academic achievements
• Cindy H – community achievements
• Thato G – creative and performing arts achievements
• Clairene N – inspirational student

Peer Support Training & Peer Support Leadership

All students of Year 9 were given the opportunity to participate in training for Peer Support leadership. Teachers volunteered to facilitate a range of activities to develop student confidence and leadership, to foster positive relationships, increase interpersonal skills, provide opportunities to demonstrate initiative and develop organisational and time management skills.

A group of approximately 50 students will be selected as Peer Support Leaders for 2023 and will provide our younger Year 7 students a caring and friendly support network. We look forward to seeing our students at the centre of their learning, empowering themselves and each other.

Healthy Headspace

A group of approximately 20 Year 9 students were selected to take part in a program designed by Headspace and the school’s Student Support Officer Ms L Turner. Students discussed mental health and developed their strategies to check in with friends and access support available both in and outside of school.

Empowering Youth to Inspire Change

A group of approximately 20 Year 9 students have continued to participate in the ‘Empowering Youth to Inspire Change’ Leadership Program offered by Gymea Community Aid and Information Service. Students have focused on social justice issues by attending workshops about the lived experience of asylum seekers, anti-racism and action taken by by-standers.

Olympics Unleashed

In week 6, all Year 9 students will be hearing firsthand from Greta Hayes about overcoming challenges to compete in a chosen sport and how some lessons learned in sport can help students to be the best they can be – whether in school, at home, on the sporting field or with friends. Students will learn how to build resilience, the importance of setting goals and how to find what they are passionate about. We look forward to meeting and hearing from Greta Hayes!

Year 9 Student Advisers

Ms A Avgenakis & Ms D Tzavellas

Our Year 10 students are quickly approaching the end of their junior school education and have been busy completing their Semester 2 assessment tasks. They have submitted their subject selections for Year 11 and 12 and this process has enabled students the opportunity to reflect on their strengths and interests, as well as their future goals and dreams.

It has been a rewarding time watching our students grow in their knowledge, skills and commitment to their learning throughout the year. In particular, we would like to acknowledge the maturity and genuine care and compassion that students have demonstrated for their peers. Reaching out to  friends and peers who may require support is a positive step for all.

Our students have been provided with many new opportunities this term including work experience, the Police Liaison Talk, Maximising Me program and Peer Mediation Training. We also have The Purpose Project, Olympics Unleashed presentation and the My Strengths Program to look forward.

We encourage all students to seek their personal best, learn from each experience, set challenging personal goals and look after their wellbeing.

Mrs Martin and Ms Pangis

Year 10 Student Advisers

Congratulations to our incoming Year 12 students. Term 4 marks the beginning of Year 12 and the HSC course for the graduands of 2023. The Preliminary Y11 courses are now completed and their final scholastic year has begun.

We began the term with three days dedicated to supporting student’s learning as they participated in ALARM workshops, becoming familiar with NESA policy and procedures and receiving their Assessment Schedule. We were fortunate enough to engage the Elevate Education Organisation where our students focused on study skills, memory and mnemonics and exam preparation that will enable them to enhance their learning. Student feedback was very positive and indicated that these sessions were invaluable to kickstart year 12.

In addition, students have received their ‘Senior Student Responsibilities’ information form where their responsibilities and procedures have been outlined. This form needs to be read and signed by both parents and students, and returned. 

As the students transition into their most senior year, we look forward to the delivery of their jackets. These are expected by the end of term 4 and are designed to complement our school uniform. The jackets may be worn over a white shirt and green jumper, and either green pants or green skirt. Full school uniform must be maintained as Year 12 are the leaders and role models of our junior students.

In week 4 of this term, students attended their final two sessions of the Life Ready program, on Money Matters and Health and Safety. We hope that they have gained a better understanding of the importance of budgeting and financial literacy, as well as how to make informed decisions regarding their physical health and safety.

Additionally, Year 12 had their first ‘Memories Day’ in week 5, dressing up as their favourite movie characters. It was a great way to kick off the final chapter of their high-school journey, and we are looking forward to making many more memories! ­­

Finally, we would like to extend our congratulations to all the students who have attained leadership positions in our school. Our Captain, Jannah C, Vice-Captain Le-Anna N and the Senior Executive Officers will lead not only Year 12, but the whole Beverly Hills Girls community into a productive and successful year. 

We are proud of all our students, and wish for them a fabulous term 4, a restful summer break sprinkled with a little school work, and a successful 2023. 

Mrs J Papas and Ms F Banbas

Year 11 Student Advisers

Life Ready is a mandatory 25-hour course designed to prepare and support senior students as they encounter situations related to health and safety as they become more independent and gain more responsibilities. It focuses on offering opportunities for students to build the functional knowledge and skills for life post school.

On Thursday 3rd November, year 11 students completed Day 5 of the Life Ready Program. This was the final day of a series of workshops held throughout the year. The workshops have included education and skill building on topics including:

• values, skills and strengths
• self-care and stress management
• mindfulness and goal setting
• drug education
• road safety
• money matters
• rights and responsibilities
• diversity and inclusion

We were impressed by the positive engagement of our students throughout the course. The skills developed will enable students to feel empowered to take positive action to be healthy and safe. 

The English Faculty fosters the creativity of our students inside and outside the classroom. We aim to develop and extend the ability of all students by giving them additional opportunities to display their talents and by encouraging them to reach beyond the ordinary, to think more innovatively and to create new worlds, situations and characters in pieces of written work.

As such, we would like to congratulate Nora S. of Year 9 who entered the ‘Little Stories, Big Ideas Body Competition’ and won the junior category for Term 3. Nora’s magnificent poem titled ‘Alter Me Up’ is a powerful examination of the challenge of gender equality. Well done Nora, you are definitely an inspiration to all!

We encourage all students to visit the noticeboard outside the English staffroom for more competitions or to speak to Ms Avgenakis for more information. 

Ms A Avgenakis

English Teacher

Our PASS 4 elective students have been participating in the Sports Leadership Program. Every Friday our students work in small groups to deliver fun and engaging practical lessons to primary school students at Narwee Public School. It has been great to see our students develop their confidence and leadership skills through sport and physical activity. Well done year 9/10!

Ms D. Tzavellas 

PDHPE Teacher

In Terms 3 and 4, three girls from Yr 11 and Yr 12 completed a Work Experience Program at Coles, Roselands.

They were able to learn and perform many of the tasks assigned to the busy employees at the supermarket. Where to place and how to display every one of the many items in each row, and what to do with everything else. How to care for customers and each other with tidiness and safe practices. COVID precautions. Forms, paperwork and legal responsibility. Correct lifting, resting and the use of equipment. Recycling, hygiene and, of course, customer interaction!

Caitlin, Sydney and Alia were able to learn the ropes and take responsibility very quickly. They showed off some great numeracy and reading skills along with their knowledge of workplace safety. They found the part-days quite tiring. They were surprised at how kind and helpful the staff were to them. It helped them cope with the stress of dealing with mistakes and customers’ queries. And their excitement could be heard when we checked in with them each day.

Our girls may or may not work in a supermarket, but they will approach employers and job applications with more confidence.

Mr R Sen & Ms M Van Der Pol

Learning & Support teachers

Our final term of 2022 comes with a lot of promise and celebration as to what was achieved not only for our group but for the school and the wider community. We take this time to reflect and maybe have a yarn at home with parents and friends on how far each and every one of our girls have come and to set goals leading into the future.

This year has been a real success for the Bulbuwil Sisters which has seen the creation of our personalised acknowledgment of country, successful NAIDOC Week celebrations, students getting scholarships and being a part of university programs and our long awaited and planned mural being painted.

2022 has really been about trying to build the foundations of the group in order to make sure that cultural expression and identity is formed through student focused interests. A group formed around an understanding that we meet on Bediagal land each and every day and how to best respect those whose land this was and always will be.

We plan to push on next year and do things around the school and in the community, which will bring about the change, growth and development which is going to see generations before and after us benefit from.

To 2022 we bid farewell. To 2023 we say Cooee!!

 John Klironomos

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Coordinator 

Week 6 saw the completion of the much anticipated Bulbuwil Sisters’ Mural on the Science block/Library building. The mural was designed by the girls and painted with local artist Merindah Funnell. The design incorporates the themes of – Feminism, Collaboration, Community and Aboriginal Cultural. With the Bulbulwil Sisters integrating the Acacia prominens (Gosford wattle), Hardenbergia violacea (purple coral pea), Blue banded bee, Danaus chrysippus (Lesser Wander butterfly) and Corymbia gummifera (red bloodwood coastal banksia).

The mural is and forever will be a mainstay at Beverly Hills Girls High School for generations to come and leaves a lasting reminder of the ever-present connection to culture and the Bediagal people of the Eora nation who’s land we work and play on each and every day.

John Klironomos

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Coordinator 

On Wednesday 31st August, two representatives from Western Sydney University came out to our school to run a program with our students from Pacific Islander backgrounds, Pasifika Achievement to Higher Education (PATHE). PATHE operates across three core pillars: university, schools and community. This program aims to assist school students to see the opportunity and value of further education. The program provides much needed information and experiences that empower prospective students to see tertiary study as a realistic and viable option. PATHE hopes that through their participation, students can accomplish their tertiary aspirations, build confidence and capacity for study, and create relevant networking connections to achieve their life and career goals.

The Wednesday session was an introduction day where students in Years 7-10 met the team leaders from Western Sydney University - Ana and Talalelei. The full program is anticipated to run in 2023 and the following elements of the program aim to give our students the chance to be involved in a wide range of activities;

• PATHE Senior Students Check It Out Campus Tours (Planned for 2nd November 2022)
• PATHE Year 9 Leadership Summit
• PATHE Year 10 Chase the Dream Conference
• In-School Workshops
• Planning for Tomorrow (PFT) Sessions
• Studiosity
• HSC Preparation courses
• PATHE Academic Excellence Scholarship.

For further information please contact Mr. Powell or Ms. Van De Pol on the school number.

Ms. M Van De Pol 

Special Education Teacher

The excursion to the Sydney Jewish Museum helped us learn about the horrific events of the Holocaust and the impact of the Nazi Regime on the Jewish people in Europe during the years 1938-1939.

This allowed for a clear understanding of the history of WWII and we were able to link it directly to our learning of our core topic of Power and Authority in the Modern World in Modern History. We had the opportunity to view the artefacts from Concentration and Death Camps such as Auschwitz.

We viewed the everyday objects that helped save the lives of many, whether it be a belt, a bowl or spoon, everything mattered. We were also shown diaries, objects from the camps, wedding rings and pieces of clothing which had huge sentimental value significance to the survivors. We were taught how people would get married in concentration camps in order to give hope for a better future.

Overall the excursion to the Sydney Jewish Museum enhanced our understanding and gave an insight to the history of the past. 

Banean M Year 11 and Lillian A Year 11

Our experience with a Holocaust survivor

On our excursion we had the honour of meeting a holocaust survivor Jack Muenster.  Jack was brave enough to share his experiences and give us a little insight to the horrific experiences that the Jewish people went through and his harrowing experiences of being separated from his family at the age of 10, and the events leading up to his migration to Australia.

Jack displayed resilience in sharing his story and spoke of how opening up about his past allowed him to be out at ease and acknowledge what he had gone through and how he had come out of it.  Jack was one of the few individuals who was given the opportunity to work, narrowly escaping an untimely death. After being separated from him family, he went on to work in a munitions factory being given minimal rations until finally moving to Auschwitz camp III. He recalled being treated fairly well whilst still being rationed. Punishment was only dealt to attempted escapes.

Jack acknowledged the luck and good fortune he had when he was rescued from the camp by American soldiers, but will never forget the discrimination he faced at such a young age. Once rescued he spent a harrowing 6 weeks in hospital recovering from the aftermath of rationing and finally migrating to Australia where he described ‘finally being accepted for who he was’.

Jack was so strong he revisited the sight of these tragic events, standing at the gates of Auschwitz camp, he remembers telling those around him, ‘I walked in there a prisoner and came out a free man’. These emotional words speak to his experiences and Jack left us with the reminder to ‘never give up’ as he never did and now, he could not be happier.

 Aaliyah S and Zara H

Congratulations Ola Gafour in year 12 on representing our school and achieving Finalist in the Zonta Botany Bay, Young Women in Public Affairs Award. Ola is an active volunteer, both at school and in the community. She is an articulate and expressive public speaker and stood out for her speech about creating a more equitable world for women. Ola also met with former BHGHS student, Daniella Mraovic, who won the International Young Women in Public Affairs award and continues to be an active advocate, empowering women and girls.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month so we invited Police Youth Engagement Officer, Senior Constable Kelly Stewart. Kelly to speak with all students in years 7 – 10 about keeping safe online. She presented “ThinkUKnow”, an evidence-based presentation developed by the Australian Federal Police to educate young people about online safety. Our students were very respectful and asked insightful questions. A factsheet, “Young People and Technology”, to assist parents talk to their teens about the internet can be found here 2671 - AFP - TUK - Technology - Update_V3.pdf.

To support the physical wellbeing of our students, the school is pleased to announce that the Student Eyecare Program will be running in Term 1, 2023. An optometrist will be onsite during school hours to provide students with a free comprehensive eye examination that is covered through Medicare Australia. 1 in 6 students have eye conditions that go undetected. This is due to the high level of visual demand on their eyes from books, laptops, tablets and smartphones. Every student will receive a full report about their eye health and a prescription will be provided if glasses are required. The prescription can be taken to any optical store to get the glasses made. Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity.

The next major initiative of the Wellbeing Team is the introduction and implementation of MyStrengths programs for students in all year groups. Beginning with “MyResilience” for year 7 & 8, students will be equipped with strategies and responses to the most common hardships they will face as teens. “MyStrengths” in years 9 & 10 helps students discover their strengths and “MyFuture” leads students to set goals and create a plan for maximum achievement. Parents can learn more about the program and access parent resources on Parent Help Archives - MyStrengths Resources Hub.

This term we welcome back our Student Support Officer (SSO) Ms Laura. SSOs have been appointed to schools to provide additional wellbeing support and help students develop social and emotional skills through targeted strengths-based programs and strategies that build resilience, coping skills and positive relationships. Ms Laura can be found in the library and is available Mon, Tue and Fri each week.

We wish you all a safe Summer break and look forward to seeing you again refreshed and ready to learn in 2023.

Ms S. Stock

Head Teacher Wellbeing & Learning Support

Sentral Parent Portal and School Bytes

Please ensure that the school has your current email address so that you receive all communications. Please send your updated email address to

beverlyhg-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au. Please remember to add your daughter's name and year in the subject line.

The Sentral for Parents app allows you to monitor your child’s school journey simply and efficiently. You will find numerous smart features that help streamline your day. Receive messages and notifications from teachers, report absences, make payments for school activities and more. The Sentral for Parents app helps you stay connected and informed about your child’s education.