Beverly Hills Girls High School

INTOUCH@BHGHS

Newsletter

June 2022

Principal's Report

Staff news

We welcome several new staff this term. In English we have Ms Jessica Fay-Williams who has replaced Ms Chelsea Slender. In Learning Support, Monique Van-De-Pol is our new Learning and Support Teacher. Elizabeth Mouratidis and Bastas Spirithoula have joined our HSIE Faculty. In Mathematics we have Maria Dinos and in Technology and Applied Science we have Deborah Carouse and Fatima Kassira. I know that all these teachers will bring quality teaching to all our students.

Congratulations to Vicky Liakopoulos who has been selected for the role of Curriculum Writing Specialist (CWS) to support the implementation of the Writing in Secondary initiative through support for the development of writing within a specific secondary setting across four KLAS (PDHPE, Visual Arts, Science and History). The expertise of the CWS will support the development of skills in academic writing for demonstration by students of deep content knowledge. The CWS also works as part of a broader team to contribute to deepening and scaling the evidence base for improved student outcomes in writing within subject disciplines.

The Writing in Secondary initiative is focused on supporting schools in NSW to lift academic writing in stages 4 and 5 within subject disciplines, across the state, with a specific focus on equitable achievement of student outcomes. The work will focus on driving improvement through a focus on academic lift at the ‘top end’ to deepen the evidence base for scaled implementation and support.

School Development Day

Our Term 2 development day focussed particularly on data analysis of our HSC 2021 results. We would like to thank Jennifer Pledger from NESA who took the 2 hours to explore the Results Analysis Package (RAP) and assess our student’s assessment data. The rest of the day was spent developing the skills of our staff in numeracy and high potential and gifted learners. The learning completed by our staff will be evaluated through Learning Walks which will occur in week 6 this term.

Annual School Report and School Improvement Plan

We have been working hard to complete our 2021 Annual Report which will be available on our website at the end of Term 2. I hope you find the report informative. It certainly reflects a very busy and successful year in the life of Beverly Hills Girls High School.

As a school community, we were fortunate to be involved in the Department’s external validation process during 2020. As we reflected on our progress relative to the fourteen elements of the School.

Excellence Framework, we were able to identify specific outcomes where we were excelling and others where we will focus on growth and improvement. This data provided us with an excellent starting point for the focus of our 2020-2024 School Improvement Plan.

Parents and Citizens Association

Our next meeting on Wednesday 1st June 2022 will be the Annual General Meeting. We hope you can come as we desperately need new members to fill the executive roles. It is a great opportunity to work with our school to sustain quality teaching and learning for our girls.

We will also have our student advisors present to outline the direction of each year cohort for 2022.

Canteen

Our canteen is due for a renovation and will be closed during Term 2 Week 9 and Term 3 Week 2. We will still be providing food for our students with temporary canteen facilities in place.

School Reports

We are currently working towards the preparation of school reports for all students. Year 12 will receive their reports on 23rd May and Years 7-11 reports will be distributed to students during period 4 on the last day of term.

Student Safety

During the past few weeks, we have been communicating with students regarding several important issues and it would be very helpful if parents and guardians reinforce these important messages.

We regularly remind students about the importance of being safe as they move to and from school. Please note the points below from the Department of Education guidelines. 

Make sure your parents or another adult you know is aware of where you are at all times. Always walk straight home or to the required destination. Walk near busier roads and streets or use paths where there are a lot of other people.

  • Know where safe places are – a shop, service station, police station, library or school. If you are frightened, you should go to one of these places and ask them to call the police.
  • Learn about safe adults you can look for and talk to if you need help – police officers, teachers at school, adults you know and trust.
  • Do not talk to people you do not know, and never get into a car with someone you do not know. If a car stops on the side of the road and you do not know the person inside, do not stop.
  • If you are scared and can use a phone, call Triple Zero (000) and tell them you are scared.
  • If someone tries to grab you, yell out, ‘Go away, I don’t know you!’ This lets other people know you have been approached by someone you do not know.

 I also encouraged students to speak to their parents and myself or one of the deputies if they witnessed or were involved in any incident of concern so we can provide the appropriate support and let the authorities know of any concerns.

Students were reminded to be more alert when walking home and to obey any pedestrian management advice that may be in place. With trucks moving around construction sites and heavy vehicles sometimes hampering movement of cars, there is the potential for more unpredictable behaviour such as cars overtaking and trucks backing from driveways. Students are reminded about the safe use of pedestrian crossings. Too often we see students simply walk, or run, out onto the crossing without looking. Students are to check that any vehicle approaching the crossing has seen them and is stopping before they enter the crossing.

Influenza is a very contagious infection of the airways. It affects people of all ages. Although it can be a mild disease, it can also cause very serious illness in otherwise healthy people. It can require hospitalisation and can cause death.

Vaccination is a safe and effective way to protect you from serious disease caused by influenza and Covid19. 

Ms M Iemma

Principal

Deputy Principal's Report

During 2021 and 2022, our school has been  part of the NSW Government’s COVID intensive learning support program which is aimed at delivering targeted, intensive tuition for students who have been disadvantaged by the move to remote and/or flexible learning. The purpose of the COVID intensive learning support program is to deliver intensive small group tuition for students who have been disadvantaged and were identified by our school as most likely to benefit from additional support. The COVID intensive learning support program will run for the year and our plan is to target the program to support as many students as possible. The additional support ensures identified students benefit from high-quality literacy and/or numeracy small group tuition that best meets their learning needs, led by teachers and educators working in partnership with classroom teachers.

At Beverly Hills Girls High School we are running a range of programs. The details are:

Quicksmart Program.

The program provides a framework with short and targeted lesson components for teachers/tutors to work through with their students. The aim of QuickSmart is to enable students to become automatic (quick) in their basic skills in order to move onto more complex problem-solving skills (smart). Under the guidance of our Numeracy Coordinator, Mr Sharma, we are currently completing the program for our 24, Year 8 and 9 students. This initial group have shown considerable improvement in their skill level and have given positive feedback on the program. The second group of 24 Year 7 students are just starting their QuickSmart journey and we look forward to seeing their success in future weeks.

Reading Matters Program.

Working under the guidance of our Head Teacher Teaching and Learning,  Ms Antoniadis and our Reading Coordinator Ms Zissis, have set up small groups of students with a similar Literacy/Reading level. This group will meet twice a week, with their allocated reading tutor to work through a tailored program. 30 Year 7 students in 6 groups participate in the program. Currently running in Year 7, the program will be evaluated at the end of term 2 and with positive feedback we will look to extend the program into Year 8.

LearNing Matters – Stage 5.

As a part of our ongoing commitment to student growth in areas of numeracy and literacy, Beverly Hills Girls High School implemented a plan to enhance and support students learning in these essential skills areas. The program involves all students in year 9 participating in a Numeracy and Reading tutorial style program. The program organised into 2 sessions per week, is due to run for semester 1. Students have been placed in one of 10 classes with a qualified teacher. The program is led by Head Teacher Teaching and Learning, Ms Antoniadis and Deputy Principal,  Mrs. Williams.

The numeracy component of the LearNing Matters Program includes the use of individualised adaptive testing and practice to help target student’s weaknesses and prepare for both online and paper tests. The teachers support the students to work through the topics in numeracy which students find challenging.  Students apply their skills to answer a variety of questions from a range of subject areas. Each lesson, students record their results of the practice tests as a way to monitor their progress.The reading component of the LearNing Matters Program focuses on developing students understanding of and ability to use the Super 6 reading strategies and applying these skills to answer a range of questions based on the text read each lesson. Teachers  support students to understand the texts being read and support the students as they develop their skills.

NAPLAN

During weeks 3 & 4, Year 7 and 9 students completed the 2022 NAPLAN tests. NAPLAN is an annual assessment for all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. It tests the types of skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. The tests cover skills in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy and for the first time our school completed these tests online. In addition, due to COVID restrictions during 2020, this group of students have not completed any NAPLAN tests for the past 4 years.  Prior to the testing we ran a 2 hour LearNing Matters workshop for each year group aimed at preparing the students for the testing period. Activities in exam technique, time management, positive mind set and how to complete the tests online were completed. Students gained awareness of the importance of the tests and how best to prepare for them. By refining their test taking techniques we hope that each student can perform at their best when completing online tests.

The online tests were completed in the library under the supervision of Ms. Pangis, Ms Knight, Mr Kouts and Ms Van De Pol. The smooth operation of the testing schedule ensured minimal disruption to the school’s operation and allowed students to complete the test in the right environment.   We are very proud of the way the students approached these tests and the look forward to receiving the results later in term 3.

Supporting our HSC students.

In response to a recent Year 12 staff and student survey, we have implemented a range of initiatives and programs to support our Year 12 students. We have utilised the skills of the Elevate team to lead Year 12 through a number of study skills workshops. Students have been linked to a teacher mentor who will work closely with the student in areas such as study techniques, time management,  preparing for future pathways and offering generalised support. In recent weeks we have started our Writing for the HSC tutorials. Run by our expert History teacher Ms Liakopoulos, this series of workshops aims to further develop the student’s ability to write for the exams.

Our latest addition to the initiatives is the setup of a Study Centre. Year 12 have the opportunity to stay at school and study from 3.00pm through to 5.00pm. Working independently or in small groups, students have the opportunity to study which may not be the case at home. While in its infancy, we are sure that it will be well used by the Year 12 students.

Professional Learning

To support the wide range of Teaching and Learning programs running this year our staff have engaged in a number of PL programs. One of our priorities is to develop our teachers in areas relating to the delivery of HSC courses. The HSC PL is designed to improve HSC learning outcomes for all students. It is a system-wide routine of PL that is inspiring for teachers, high-quality, fit for purpose and progressively evaluated – responsive to the analysis of data and improved using a research and evidence base. In addition, staff have completed courses on implementing the ALARM Matrix, delivering Numeracy across the curriculum, High Impact PL, Data analysis skills and many course related Professional Learning. All of our students will benefit from the Professional Learning of our teachers.

Looking forward to continuing with this focus on Teaching and Learning into semester 2. 

Ms C. Williams

Deputy Principal

Deputy Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to Term 2.

Students’ success at Beverly Hills Girls High School is closely linked to attendance, involvement in the range of experiences that the school offers as well as home study and revision. Many students have already signed up for a range of extracurricular activities across the school.

This term, we will be focusing on attendance because Every Day Counts. We ask that families review their routines at home and make plans about how to ensure students are organised and ready to arrive at school BEFORE 8.45am. Students MUST attend school on time, every day. The responsibility lies with the student and family to find solutions to ensure punctuality. Please help us to ensure that learning matters and that every day counts for successful learning so that your daughers can Be Somebody!

The ‘Tell Them from Me’ student feedback survey

This term, our school, like many others in the state, participated in a Department of Education initiative ‘Tell Them from Me’ student feedback survey. The survey aims to help improve student learning outcomes and will measure factors that are known to affect academic achievement and other student outcomes. The NSW-wide survey will focus on student wellbeing, engagement and effective teaching practices.

The survey is a great opportunity for students to provide our school with valuable and effective feedback about their thoughts on school life, how engaged they feel at school and the different ways that teachers interact with them. Schools in Australia and around the world have used the ‘Tell Them from Me’ survey to help improve school systems and student satisfaction. To clarify, the survey information is confidential and school staff will not be able to identify individual students from their responses. We look forward in analysing the data collected from this survey and to continue to make improvements to our school using the results.

BHGHS Alumni

We are excited to announce that we are establishing a Beverly Hills Girls High School Alumni and, as a former student/affiliate, we would like to extend a warm invite for you to join. We foresee a range of exciting opportunities including the possibility of mentoring and guest speaking, sharing of skills, meetings each term, and so much more.

If this sounds like something you would be interested in and you would like to receive more information, please visit our website for details and registration. We look forward to hearing from you.

Primary Visits

This week, some of our Science teachers went out to our local primary schools to teach Science to students of Year 5 and 6. It has been a very successful start with Beverly Hills North, Riverwood and Hannans Road Public Schools hosting the program. The students from those schools enjoyed the experience and learnt what an exciting subject Science is. Our visits will continue with McCallums Hill, Beverly Hills, Narwee and Penshurst Public Schools.

We are excited to visit these schools and in creating more opportunities and learning for our network of public schools in expanding their in-school learning and hands on experiences with Science. In term 4, we are planning in hosting students the students at our school where they will be given the opportunity to experience more learning opportunities.

Leadership

This term also saw the presentation of our new Student Representative Counsellors and Peer Support Leaders 2022 in a zoom assembly. This was the first time that our leaders have been presented with their badges via an online assembly. We were delighted to announce our leaders to the school and community. We look forward to working with all the leaders over the duration of the year. A big thank you to Ms Byrnes, Ms Antoniadis and Ms Stock for their involvement in Student Leadership.

Uniform

A reminder that with the colder weather, black hoodies are not part of our school uniform. Students need to wear the correct uniform everyday. The uniform shop is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday for convenience. An online ordering system is also available.

Ms R Spratt

Deputy Principal

Uniform Shop Hours

 

Monday 8am – 11am

Wednesday 12pm – 3pm

Friday 8am – 11am

Year 7

Year 7 have settled into their new school well, enjoying an exciting start to Term 2 with lots of things going on around the school! 

The term started quietly with Eid celebrations in Week Two, however, students were welcomed back to complete their NAPLAN with the testing including reading, writing and numeracy with this year’s group being the first to do the tests online. While there were a lot of changes, they showed their resilience and increasing confidence when faced with new situations. We would like to commend Year 7 for the hard work and dedication in which they approached the tests.

On Monday, 16th of May, Year 7 also participated in their first Athletics Carnival at Barden Ridge. The weather was perfect and everyone embraced the day with fun and enthusiasm. Everyone participated in a range of either competitive, or fun activities, with several students qualifying for the Zone Athletics Carnival. Year 7 made us proud as they encouraged each other to do their best, and everyone lived up to our school motto that ‘Women Can Do Anything’.

Mr  J. Klironomos & Ms J. Hutchinson

Year 7 Advisers 

Year 7 having fun

Peer Support 2022 - A message from Year 7

We are very grateful for the Year 10 Peer Support Leaders that helped us this year and introduced us to Beverly Hills Girls High School.

When we first started Year 7 we were excited but also confused. We didn’t know what to expect or where to go. If it wasn’t for the Peer Support Program and our leaders we would have been lost. At the start we didn’t know what Peer Support was but we went along with it. As the weeks passed we really enjoyed meeting with our group. We found the program inclusive and welcoming and we felt comfortable with our Year 10 leaders. The activities were engaging and interactive, for example, we were required to act out what healthy and unhealthy friendships looked like.

Peer Support will never be a forgotten memory. It was fun and exciting. We would like to congratulate the Year 10 students who were selected to be our leaders. You deserve it.

Thank you!

From Iliana J and Safiya G

Year 8

We are so proud of our students for their progress and engagement with learning so far this year. It has been a real thrill to see so many of you taking responsibility for your learning and trying your best each day. We want to encourage all of you to have conversations about your learning with your family and friends and to approach learning with positivity and resilience. We also want to remind you that we will continue to support you in all the ways we can. We have been delighted to see some class work that you and your teachers have shares and are really proud of the efforts of so many.

Moving forward, we want to encourage you to maintain your high standards of uniform. We know it is getting colder so make sure you layer up with singlets or spencers underneath your blouse and bring or wear your green school jackets to keep that cold away.

We would also like to reiterate that the first step to success in learning is attending as much as you can. If you are sick, make sure you get a green slip from the office and fill it in explaining any absence, but when you are well enough, you must be at school.

We want to remind you to continue checking our Google Classroom and the Year 8 Noticeboard opposite Room 14 for news on upcoming events. Very soon, our noticeboard will also have a section showcasing some awesome work that Year 8 students are producing, so come along and check it out. We are currently planning a special Year 8 day that we are excited to deliver to you so make sure you keep your eyes and ears open for news on that.

Finally, we want to remind you that ‘it’s nice to be nice’ and as you learn and grow with one another it is so important that you treat each other and all members of society with kindness and respect. You have the power to control your actions, your attitudes and your behaviour. Make sure you use that power well 😊

Ms C. Byrnes and Mr P. Lofitis

Year 8 Advisers

Year 8 - The journey so far......

Year 8 at Beverly Hills Girls has been wonderful. Coming here in Year 7, I was nervous and anxious to meet the girls in my year and after some Covid disruptions last year, a few of us were a bit nervous to start Year 8 this year too. However, since school has resumed I felt more comfortable because of the staff and students. The positive school environment makes it easy for all students to adjust to changes, whether it be an entirely new school, or just changing the routine like we had to due to Covid restrictions.

Teachers welcome all students with open arms making it easy for us to adapt to change and seek help when we need it. Beverly Hills Girls puts the needs of every individual student first by offering so many programs, opportunities and classes for students to grow and thrive.

One of these opportunities is the Gifted and Talented (GAT) Class, of which I am a member. In this class, we recently completed an assessment that whilst challenging, was so engaging. It required us to draw on aspects of Math, English, Science and Art. And this is just one of the great opportunities that comes with being a student at Beverly Hills Girls High. 

Angelina L Year 8

Year 9

Year 9 Wellbeing - ‘Thriving Minds’ Workshop

A group of students were selected to participate in a wellbeing program delivered by Beverly Hills Girls High School in partnership with 2Connect Youth and Community. This program was developed to provide additional learning opportunities for students building on life skills. Students engaged in a range of activities to strengthen their connections, problem solving skills, ability to rise to challenges, confidence and skills to support emotional regulation. We look forward to offering this opportunity to more students in the future!

“Thriving Minds was an excellent activity that we participated in. The representative from 2Connect Youth and Community was well informed and put in a lot of effort each lesson. She shared advice that we can use every day. As a group we used our skills and knowledge to better understand ourselves and those around us. It was a great opportunity and we are thankful to have been apart of it.” – Caryssa S.

LearNing Matters Stage 5 & NAPLAN

Students are engaging in a LearNing Matters Unit this semester to strengthen and further develop their reading, writing and numeracy skills. Each lesson has been interactive, with students completing a series of activities addressing specific skills, as well as students self-assessing themselves to gauge the level of their understanding across a range of areas. This Unit has assisted students in the completion of NAPLAN.

Ms A. Avgenakis

Yr 9 Adviser

Year 10

Year 10 has had a smooth beginning as we are transitioning from the difficulties of online learning to rising early for the daily school routine. Starting Year 10 meant we were in the final year of our junior studies and it was time to consider our studies seriously. We went into our classes with more maturity to aim to do the best we could this year. As this was also our final junior year, it was time to think about what subjects we would like to study for our senior years.  

Year 10 so far has been a busy time, we have had almost an endless stream of assignments and tests which we have successfully completed and we’re glad we got a break afterwards. With the beginning of term two it has been busy with leadership programs and the beginning of multiple clubs, many of which have been open to our year group. In the past week, the school had its investiture badge ceremony for Student Representative Councillors and Peer Support Leaders, which included many Year 10 students. This year for us is about committing to extra curricular activities such as the SRC to enhance our leadership skills and grow as young leaders. Alongside different activities, we also have the opportunity to go to a variety of workshops that guide us along our journey of subject selection, the HSC and our future career path. Recently, a group of students were lucky enough to go to the University of Sydney to find out about their future careers and their desired courses. We will also be having a Careers Expo day at school in June, which will further allow us to continue learning about several different opportunities that are available to us for the future. As Year 10 students we also have the opportunity to complete work experience which starts from this term. Work experience will allow us to understand the workforce along with what we enjoy, our skills and our interests. Besides all the workshops and activities, Year 10 students have also been expressing their creativity side as a relaxation from all the assignments and tests. Many students have been preparing dances for multicultural day that will be coming up this term and honestly, we’re just excited to be part of a school event after such a long time of isolation.

Surprisingly, we seem to be doing quite well but that wouldn’t have happened without the help of our teachers too. Our amazing year advisors Ms Martin and Ms Pangis have been guiding us through this year and have been providing endless support. As Ms Pangis is our year advisor and the school careers advisor, she provides work experience opportunities, workshops to participate in and information webinars from universities to us to assist our decision in choosing a career. Ms Martin, as our year advisor, has always kindly supported us through her school/ work life balancing tips and by giving due credit to help motivate us to be better in our school studies to make them proud. We thank them for their efforts, even if we whine about our tests and assignments. Our classroom teachers have also put in a great deal of effort and support into our learning to ensure the best possible results, and we thank them for always encouraging us to do our best no matter what.

We hope to continue our streak of well deserved grades throughout the whole school year as we know through sorrow and misery that this is our last year as juniors. We have grown as students and as people by connecting with those in our school as we come out of online learning and this wouldn’t have been done without the help of our peers around us. As this term will soon come to an end we wish our whole year good luck in their further studies as the next semester falls upon us all too quickly. Let’s all do our best!    

Tahsin K and Tashfia M Year 10

 

Year 11

Our students have completed their first assessment block in their senior schooling and for the most part, they did a fantastic job and should be congratulated on their wonderful effort. We would encourage them to continue to enhance organisational skills and maintain good study habits.

The students completed a survey at the end of Term 1 and these findings have helped us determine the following focus areas:

-          Study skills and homework

-          Writing skills

-          Time management

-          Focus

We are now developing a series of programs to build on these skillsets.

We continue to interview students to ascertain their goals and how our school can support them in achieving these objectives.

The students have completed their first session of Life Ready.  Feedback from the students were very positive and we would like to thank all the wonderful teachers who supported the PDHPE staff in running this part of the course.

The remaining three days will occur in Terms 2 and 3 on “Road Safety” and “Relationships”.

Students are now in the process of joining committees for the following important milestone events/activities in 2023: Year 12 Jackets, Fund Raising, Year Book and Graduation Video and End of Year Celebration (formal).  We look forward to work closely with the elected committee members in selecting their school jerseys.

A big thank you for all Year 11 Students who attended the athletics carnival on 16 May 2022. It was wonderful seeing so many of you supporting your houses and each other, representing our school and the community.

In particular we would like thank the following students:

Students helpers at the Athletics Carnival

Thao V, Paris , Le-Anna N, Christine D, Ovylia S, Phoebe Q, Preeti K, Sara K, Izzah H, Aisyah N, Zahraa H, Aya S and Amani D.

Outstanding performance in their event:

Maseray J, Alaa A, Abigail A, Aaliyah S, Jannah C and Malaak A.

Mrs J. Papas, Mrs R. Knight and Mrs F. Banbas.

Year 11 Advisers

 

"Thriving Minds" workshop highlights

A message from Languages

Languages are flourishing at Beverly Hills Girls High School. There are four languages being taught in Years 7-10 which are Arabic, Chinese, French and Japanese. All Year 7 & 8 students experience languages as a mandatory part of the curriculum and then our ASPIRE curriculum allows students to choose language units to study in more depth in Years 9 & 10. It is preferable for students to continue the learning of languages in Years 9 & 10 if they think they may choose that language for study in Years 11 & 12.Year 7 have been issued a note to choose their language for the next three semesters which is due on Friday 3rd June. We will endeavour to give students one of their language choices but due to timetable restrictions, sometimes that is not possible.Background speakers of other languages can also choose to enrol in Secondary College of  Languages which is available at a variety of other locations on Saturdays and in Years 11 & 12, these courses count towards a student’s units for the HSC or alternatively at the NSW School of Languages. This year, we have students studying languages such as Vietnamese, Korean, Indonesian, Filipino and Chinese and at these locations.وداعاً and ask your language teacher for advice on continuing you language pathway!

Mrs K. Glitsos

Head Teacher Secondary Studies

VET Report

VET Report

Did you know…….

At Beverly Hills Girls we offer senior students the option of four VET courses studied at school? They are Business Services, Entertainment Industry, Hospitality Kitchen Operations and Information and Digital Technology.

Currently our Year 11 and Year 12 students are completing one of their mandatory 35 hours of workplacement. Is a NESA requirement for Year 11 and Year 12 VET students to complete 70 hours of workplacement for each VET course.

Many of our students have received outstanding comments and praise from their workplace hosts and we would like to extend our thank you to MWLP, our worplacement providers, who do an exceptional job in placing all of our students and also to our hosts, some of whom I’ve listed below.

Our students return from workplacement with an understanding of what is expected in a work environment and with an abundance of new skills. Their confidence flourishes and their motivation to continue their studies is evident.

Special thanks to….

Al Aseel Resataurant & Catering, Le Wrap Roselands, Bankstown Sports Club, Lazeez Pizza Lakemba, Narwee Pizza, Abu Najee Pizza, Outback Steakhouse, Entertainment Park, Horizon Theatre Company, Chester Hill Neighbourhood Centre, Islamic Relief Australia, ANE Advisory, Work ventures, Choice CMN Computers.

Can you help?

We’d love to hear from you if you are able to host students in any of these areas for future workplacements and we’d really appreciate your help!

SRC

Young leaders were celebrated and congratulated at the annual Student Representative Council Investiture assembly on the 17th May 2022. These young, inspiring women leaders were successfully selected by staff and the student body to represent them and be the student voice in the school and the  wider school community. We are extremely proud of all the students and are honoured to have the privilege of working alongside such an amazing group of young women. We are thankful for our council and strive to continue the belief in our school ethos, ‘women can do anything’.

At Beverly Hills Girls High school, we believe it is important to harbour a safe and positive environment where all students feel included, heard and represented. It is through our various committees and initiatives that we are able to sustain such a strong community. The clubs run by the SRC include Book Club, where our students come together to share their love of reading, learn and discuss ideas that matter to them; Dance Club, where students socialise and learn dance styles from many cultures, and Bevo Bundlers, where the students teach one another the skills required to master knitting and crochet, leading to many of the finished products such as blankets being donated to those in need in our community. We are in the process of launching the Gardening Club, Chess Club and SASSY (Successful Aspiring Students Supporting You) soon. Please ensure that you constantly check the SRC wall to be aware of all updates from our committees.  

As members of the Senior Council, we are grateful for the opportunity and position to represent the student body. We are committed to our roles and will do our best to lead by example for the students of this school. We aspire to be a voice for our students and create an inclusive space in which our students can thrive. We believe it is important that we remember to maintain positive relationships, that is, treating all with respect and kindness. We must strive to treat all with respect and kindness because it is your kind actions and words that will and do make a difference. ‘Let your tongue speak nothing but kindness’ - Ali Ibn Abi Talib and remember ‘there is a secret garden’ in all of us…let it flourish’- H.Antoniadis 

  • School Captain Leila L, Vice-School Captain Sarah M, Senior Executive Officer Zahra M

Learning Support - Wellbeing

The Wellbeing Team is actively working on initiatives to improve attendance and engagement. To best way for students to feel connected with peers and achieve the best outcomes in learning is to maintain regular attendance. This includes being on time and prepared for learning each day.

Research tells us that attendance below 90% puts student learning at risk. 

As parents, the best way you can support your daughter to be a successful learner is to ensure they are at school, on time every day and ready to learn with the correct equipment. Parents can check attendance on the Sentral Parent Portal. Please contact the school if you require assistance for access.

Our Student Advisers monitor attendance and speak with students and parents when attendance falls below 90% and the school has not been provided with a reason for the absence. If your daughter is absent from school for any reason, please respond by replying to SMS messages with the reason or by sending a note from home on their return to school.

Students with great patterns of attendance are on track to receive Quality Learning Awards each semester, recognising their effort, engagement and commitment to learning.

To learn more about students’ learning and wellbeing, students are currently being invited to participate in Tell Them From Me”, a short online survey. Student responses are completely anonymous and are used by the school to monitor trends in comparison with schools throughout NSW. Later this year we look forward to sharing what we learn and how we will use this data to inform school planning and implement improvements. 

As the weather turns cooler, we are seeking donations for our clothing pool. Please send in any uniform items that may no longer fit, that are clean and in good condition. Your support is gratefully appreciated. Wearing correct uniform communicates a sense of belonging and pride in our school community.

Please contact the Student Advisers or myself if there is anything the school should be aware of to ensure students are able to connect, succeed and thrive in their time at BHGHS.

Ms S Stock

Head Teacher, Wellbeing & Learning Support

 

 

Careers Corner

UNIVERSITY School Visits

During Terms 1 & 2, University representatives attended the school to help our students make informed decisions about their future. These talks were held in the hall and attended by senior students where they had an opportunity to ask specific universities questions and gain valuable information.

BEVERLY HILLS GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL & ABCN

FOCUS (Accenture)

At Beverly Hills Girls High School, students continue to be offered opportunities through ABCN and their partner companies. The benefits of these programs are endless; building creative and problem solving skills, female leadership, broadening awareness of STEM and post school pathways.

To start the year on a positive note, students have the opportunity to continue to grow and develop through these programs; thinking about their future and developing new skills.

Year 10 students participated in ‘Focus’ which encourages females to take up leadership roles; with ‘Future Thinkers’ to follow later this term.

U@UNI - UTS

An excited sixteen Year 11 students embarked on their journey and attended the orientation to the 2 year U@Uni Academy program this term. An all-day program held at UTS offering an introduction of what the next two years will be like for them in the program, whilst also getting a glimpse of University life.

As our Year 12s near the conclusion of the program, they prepare to reap the rewards of their dedication and commitment to this program with access to their chosen courses at UTS.

We’re excited to be able to offer this opportunity to our students which will help them achieve success, not only in their HSC but into the future.

WANAGO PROGRAM - UTS

In partnership with UTS, we continue to provide opportunities for our students to study subjects which are not available at school. These particular subjects (Software, Design & Development / Engineering Studies) allow students to undertake these as part of their senior studies to align with their interests and aspirations.

BARISTA COURSE

Eight Hospitality students had the opportunity to participate and complete a FREE Barista course in partnership with a community organisation, 3 Brigdes.

UNSW Gateway Program

On Thursday 26th May, year 12 students had the opportunity to talk to representatives from UNSW about the Gateway Program.

Once registered, students take part in subject specific classes in preparation for their HSC, also including attendance to the Winter Program. Upon completion, students will have a chance to receive an early conditional offer at UNSW through the Gateway admission pathway.

Any Year 12 student who did not attend the information session, please see Mrs Pangis for more information.

FUTURE FOCUS @ USYD

On the 25th of May a group of Year 10 students had the opportunity to go to the University of Sydney, courtesy of our lovely Careers Advisor, Mrs Pangis.  Through the guidance of the USYD program, we were able to gain a deeper understanding of the careers and degrees that are available to students in the future.

We were ushered to the new Susan Walkin’s health building where we carried out various engaging activities. We met with a very exciting speaker from Chicago who nicknamed himself BK. He encouraged us to pursue our interests with a full passion and to understand the freedom and flexibility of our working life. 

Following an amazing campus tour, we discussed the university experience, subject selection and participated in various quizzes that uncovered everyone’s individual interests. Overall, we gained useful knowledge and experience to help kickstart our career paths and understand the great opportunities and resources available to us.

At the end of the program, the students were pleased to say that they enjoyed their experience at the University of Sydney and felt more at ease about their subject selections for the upcoming senior years and we hope to do something similar to this again soon! We send our thanks to Ms Pangis and the University of Sydney for organising this event. 

Written by Susan Nguyen and Tahsin Khan

Work Experience

Year 10 students have the opportunity to participate in Work Experience in Terms 2, 3 & 4. Work Experience is an invaluable opportunity for students to learn the job skills for a profession they may be interested in. Students may not always know which career direction to take and a good starting point is to choose the work which may align with their interests. Gaining experience in an adult work environment is important and may even help students to discover their future career path.

Work experience dates:

Term 2:

Week 8 – 14th June – 17th June 2022

Week 9 – 20th June – 24th June 2022

Term 3:

Week 2 – 26th July – 29th July 2022

Week 3 – 1st August – 5th August 2022

Term 4:

Week 8 – 28th November – 2nd December 2022

Week 9 – 5th December – 9th December 2022

Week 10 – 12th December – 16th December 2022

Please see Mrs Pangis for a form 😊

BEVERLY HILLS GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL CAREERS EXPO

We’re excited to announce we will be holding our very first CAREERS EXPO at Beverly Hills Girls High School on Friday 17th June 2022. To support our already extensive Careers Program, various exhibitors will be attending to allow students to gain a deeper understanding and explore the myriad of options leading to their future careers.

Ms S. Pangis

Career's Adviser

 

Careers Corner activities

English - Sydney Writer’s Festival

20 Year 9 students who received the top grades for their first assessment task in English were invited to attend the Sydney Writer’s Festival alongside A. Avgenakis (Year 9 Student Adviser & English Teacher) & M. Georgoulopoulos (English Teacher). Students heard from four inspiring writers who shared their tips on how to improve the quality of their own writing, including Kay Kerr whose diagnosis of autism prompted her to write a novel. Students and teachers had a great day!

Ms A. Avgenakis

Yr 9 Adviser

“The Sydney Writer’s Festival was an interesting experience and a great opportunity to meet Australian authors. The festival was held in Town Hall which was such a beautiful place and added to such a dynamic atmosphere. Each presenter described their works and writing styles and provided us with tips on writing. The face-to-face opportunity and question time allowed us to engage with the speakers and gain more ideas. I look forward to reading their novels and writing in the future.”

Azka I.

“The first speaker, Amie Kaufman, spoke about inspiration: how to gather it and how to use it. She is an award winner for her works and several of her novels are being converted to films. The second speaker, Dr Sarah Ayoub, spoke about her experiences with discrimination and racism and how this influence her writing. The third speaker, Jared Thomas, an influential Indigenous Australian writer and the last speaker, Kay Kerr, both discussed how life experiences influenced their writing. It was an enjoyable day and I look forward to reading their stories!”

Fatima H.

Sydney Writer's Festival activities

Elective History Year 9 and 10 – Land of the Pharaohs The Truth Behind Mummification: Mummifying an Apple Experiment.

This semester, the class has been studying Ancient Egypt and looking at what life was like, the geography of Egypt, the social structure and the roles of different people within this society.

This term, students began to look at the process of mummification and what the Egyptians believed about the afterlife. The students learnt that this process took 70 days to complete and left someone almost completely preserved! This was done with a substance called Natron, a salt-like substance, that was useful in drying out a body, thus preserving a person as a mummy.

In order to see this process first hand, the students first put some slices of apples in plastic cups. They then mixed baking soda with table salt and made sure to completely cover their apples, so as to preserve them, just as the ancient mummies were! The students then named our ‘pharaohs’ and left them at school so as to properly mummify. The students also saw that Miss Bastas had left hers completely uncovered, so that they could see the difference between their apples and hers. 

Within a week, the students noticed a remarkable difference in the apples. They were quite different from the week before. They saw that the apples had turned dry, hard and had turned brown in colour. Whilst, in comparison, Miss Bastas’ apple, the one not covered in salt, was rotted and shrunken in appearance.

After the apples were examined, the students then wrote down the results of the experiment – that the salt acted as a natural desiccant, thus preserving the apple in a perfect state!

This was a great success and an amazing learning experience for our students!

Ms L Bastas

HSIE Teacher

 

Child Studies

Students in child studies have been extremely busy this semester learning how to care for newborn babies. They had the opportunity to design and care for their very own ‘egg’ baby and provide it with a suitable home, along with daily updates and photos of the baby’s growth and development. There were some outstanding creations, with lot of effort put into their project. The girls should be very proud of themselves. 

Ms C Reid

PDHPE Teacher

News from CAPA

Now that restrictions have lifted, music extra curricular activities are back in full swing at BHGHS. Music students from various extracurricular groups and elective classes have been providing entertainment every Friday morning before school at our Trades Skills Centre Coffee club, run by our fabulous TAS staff and students. Most recently we heard from our Ukuladies and last week our Year 11 music students.

Congratulations to year 11 singer Aiza K and year 8 singer Gabrielle D who have both been accepted into the Talent Advancement Program run by Bankstown Council!

Our Junior Drama class has been avidly rehearsing for their upcoming performance of ‘The Grinch’ in week 9 this term. Thanks in advance to our Entertainment students who are running the staging, sound and lighting.

There’s lots going on in visual art too! Congratulations to Jana (year 12) and Jomana (year 10) on their artworks being selected and exhibited in the Mosman Youth Art Prize at Mosman Gallery. Each year, the prestigious gallery selects students from Junior, Senior and Tertiary categories to exhibit their works. Our commendations also go out to year 12 student from 2021 Selina, who received third prize in the senior category for her artwork ‘Invaded.’ Other students from year 12, 2021 who had works exhibited include, Valerie H, Noor, M and Aya. Congratulations to all exhibiting artists. The exhibition will be running until the 14th of June.  

Stay up to date on our official school Facebook page! Students are also preparing for our end of semester CAPA showcase concert which is the last Tuesday afternoon of term, June 28th. Here’s a list of CAPA activities every week. Come along and join in!

Monday Lunch: Dance Club in the Dance studio

Tuesday Lunch: Ukuladies in Brewongle

Friday Lunch: Choir in Brewongle

Friday Lunch: Theatre Club in Brewongle.

Ms E. Zampieri

CAPA Teacher


TAS teaching - An Early Career Teacher's Perspective

What do you first think of when you think about TAS?

For many of us, the first thing that comes to mind is the food. After all, the TAS faculty offer compelling cooking units. There’s Teen Cuisine, Food Trends, Modern Australian Cuisine and much more. When I first arrived at BHGHS, I overlooked the extent to which food can bring students and teachers together. Furthermore, I definitely didn’t consider the extent to which the process of creating food can bring forth an appreciation for learning.

Although, the combination of practical learning experiences and content knowledge is not specifically unique to Food Technology, what is learnt, experienced and shared in the classroom, is a life long appreciation of food preparation and its ability to unite.

As a young and early career teacher, this is what I believe learning is about; creating positive experiences, memories and opportunities for continuous growth. This has been specifically true for me, as I reflect on my own learning as a teacher, and the moments that have brought me the most joy – my students learning and smiles.

When approached to update the current Agriculture Unit for Technology Mandatory (Year 8), there was no better opportunity to apply my learning so far than to create a program that could reflect this learning ethos. After many long hours, and continuous feedback from the TAS team (which I thank dearly), it’s safe to say that the updated Agriculture Unit provides students with practical knowledge and learning experiences that continues with the TAS learning spirit.

The current unit is set to start this coming semester. Students will step out of the classroom and explore learning outside. This includes exploring and discovering the importance of agriculture on our own school grounds, evaluating, designing and updating our beloved school garden, to understanding and appreciating how easy sustainable living can be at home and in the greater community. Students will be encouraged to transfer this knowledge back into the kitchen, where they will gain firsthand experiences into the applicability of sustainable agriculture and living and just how easy it can be.

The entire TAS team and I are extremely excited to share this next step in the learning process of our students and can’t wait to see where this new unit will take us.

WINNER OF THE ANZAC BISCUIT MAKING COMPETITION

Congratulations to Veronica W who made the soft, chewy version of Anzac biscuits. Well done!

Ms F. Kassira

TAS Teacher

Year 12 Geography Excursion

On Thursday 5 May, Year 12 Geography students went on an excursion to Barangaroo where they undertook a range of fieldwork activities focusing on urban dynamics of renewal. On the day, students completed a range of learning activities such as data collection in Barangaroo and Millers Point, as well as, using photographs and mapping skills to collect evidence of urban dynamics. This enabled students to understand the social, economic and environmental outcomes of renewal in Barangaroo Sydney. A walk to Barangaroo Reserve was then able to showcase students’ artistic talents as they completed a detailed field sketch of Barangaroo South. Lastly, students assessed the liveability and sustainability in Barangaroo and Millers Point with a focus on employment, housing, heritage, public transport, architecture and safety. This gave students the opportunity to discuss how well the city planning goals have been achieved. Overall, this was a great learning experience as students worked as geographers for the day and connected knowledge from the classroom to fieldwork.

Ms R Coledan

Year 12 Geography Teacher 

PDHPE - Boost Your Brain

BBoost your Brain – why movement is medicine for your mind!

by Exercise Right 

Our brain is central to everything we think, feel, and do. Most people know that exercise is good for our body, but many are unaware of the powerful impact exercise has on the health of our brain. Exercise can increase blood flow to the brain, make our brain cells more active, strengthen connections between different brain areas and even make areas of the brain bigger, all of which can improve how well it works and protect it from disease.

FOUR WAYS EXERCISE CAN BOOST YOUR BRAIN

1. Improves cognition (thinking skills)

Just like our heart and lungs, our brain is an organ and exercise can improve its performance. While our brain is responsible for many things, one set of skills that can be powerfully improved by exercise is our cognition, or thinking skills. These are the mental processes our brain performs so we can learn, understand, and interact with the world. This includes things like our ability to focus, remember, plan, and problem solve.

Research shows that just 10-20 minutes of moderate intensity exercise (like a brisk walk around the block), can have an immediate positive effect on our ability to focus. Studies have also shown that people who exercise regularly have greater activation in the frontal lobe and perform better at the thinking tasks controlled by this region of the brain such as planning, problem solving, and decision making. Exercise can also have a powerful positive effect on our ability to control our behaviour, whether it be eating that block of chocolateendlessly scrolling online, or managing more problematic behaviours such as alcohol and substance use.

2. Improves memory

Another important thinking skill which can be improved by exercise is our ability to learn and remember. These skills are fundamental for success at work, study, and in everyday life. Exercise is thought to improve our memory through the powerful effect it has on the health of the hippocampus, a small brain area deep within the temporal lobes of the brain. Studies have shown that exercising at higher intensities (exercise that makes you huff and puff) can make the hippocampus bigger, the cells in the hippocampus healthier, and make the connections between the hippocampus and other areas of the brain stronger. Importantly these improvements in the health of the hippocampus have been linked with improvements in our ability to learn and remember.

3. Reduces your risk of brain disease (including dementia and stroke)

In Australia, the impact of poor brain health is becoming increasingly important, particularly with our aging population. As brain-related disorders are more common in older adulthood, the number of people living with significant disability and reduced quality of life is increasing rapidly. Over 70,000 Australians are diagnosed with brain-related disorders every year. This includes conditions like stroke and various types of dementia such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. Exercise can directly reduce many of the risk factors associate with these conditions including obesity and high blood pressure. Studies have shown that living a physically active lifestyle can reduce the risk of developing dementia and stroke by between about 20-30%.

4. Can help manage symptoms in those with brain disorders

In addition to reducing the risk of developing brain-related disorders, exercise can be used as a tool to help manage symptoms. Following a stroke, exercise can significantly reduce the risk of having another stroke and improve physical functioning and quality of life. Exercise has been shown to slow the progression of various forms of dementia including Alzheimer’s Disease and can also improve symptoms of depression and anxiety, which often co-occur with these conditions. The type of exercise most suited to managing the symptoms of brain-related disorders depends heavily on the condition, symptoms experienced, stage or severity of the disease, and any other health conditions a person may be experiencing, so it is important to speak to an exercise professional (such as an Accredited Exercise Physiologist) before using exercise as a tool to manage symptoms.

WHAT EXERCISE IS BEST FOR BRAIN HEALTH

single bout of exercise can have an immediate positive effect on our brain, but exercising over weeks, month, and years, has an accumulative effect where the changes in our brain health become more permanent. While any exercise is better than no exercise, not all types of exercise have the same effect on brain health. A rapidly growing body of evidence has shown that it’s important to consider how often we exercise, as well as the type and intensity of the exercise we do. More moderate intensity exercise like a brisk walk, slow jog or leisurely cycle, can have an immediate positive effect on our thinking skills. Exercising regularly at more vigorous intensities (anything that makes you huff and puff to the point where it becomes slightly difficult to have a conversation) and doing weight bearing strength exercises can trigger biological changes that improve the health of our brain and the size of certain areas of the brain. But timing is important too because very intense exercise, that wears us out, can make it harder to think in the short term.

Remember that doing any physical activity is better than doing none. If you currently do no physical activity, a session a week is great, and then you can gradually build up to the recommended amount.

For young people (12-17yr olds), this means:

  • 60 minutes of vigorous physical activity or sport everyday.
  • You do not need to complete the 60minutes all at once, you can break it up throughout the day. 20-30minutes in the morning, 20-30minutes in the afternoon
  • Do muscle strengthening activities on at least 3 days each week

Something is always better than nothing!

Think about:

What sport or physical activity do you currently engage in? How can you include more physical activity in your day?

"Movement is medicine for the mind"

Cross Country

The annual Cross Country carnival was held on the 18th March 2022 at Beverly Hills Park. We were very lucky with the weather and both staff and students had a great day.

The Age Champions on the day were:

12 years          Daniella K

13 years          Nada A

14 years          Nour S

15 years          Safa Z

16 years          Hiba H

17 years          Malaak A

The winning House was Perry!

 

FRANKLIN

KENNY

LYONS

PERRY

TOTAL POINTS

599

631

552

775

 

3rd

2nd

4th

1st

 

The theme for the Year 12 dress up was “TV Shows and Movies” and didn’t they make an extraordinary effort. As did the teachers, channelling the movie Grease.

The annual soccer match between the staff and students was held again and to the teachers credit – they won AGAIN! It was an entertaining match with some amazing skills on display.

The Zone Carnival will be held at Scarborough Park on Tuesday 31st May. Good luck to all our students competing at this level.

Cross Country running, costumes and students V. Staff soccer game

Athletics Carnival

Despite some initial concerns about the weather, the Athletics carnival went ahead on Monday 16th May. It was a perfect, sunny day which meant all events could be run and allowed for our Zone team to be selected for 2022.

There were plenty of smiles all around with students competing in both the competitive and novelty events. The competition was fierce between the House Groups and the results are in the table below. Perry winning the carnival by 21 points!

 

FRANKLIN

KENNY

LYONS

PERRY

TOTAL POINTS

465

470

415

491

PLACE

3rd

2nd

4th

1st

Athletics Age Champions 2022

12 years Aisha K

13 years Malia L

14 years Siham G

15 years Nasrine C

16 years Kayla-Maree G

17 years Asma F

The Zone Athletics carnival is on Thursday 23rd June (Week 9) and students who qualified for Zone will be issued with a permission note shortly. The venue for Zone is Barden Ridge Athletic Centre.

Ms S. Gray

PDHPE Teacher

Athletics Carnival highlights

NSW Blues Youth Leadership Forum

On April 1st, Mrs White and 9 students attended the Blues Youth Leadership Program hosted by NSW Origin coaches Brad Fittler and Kylie Hilder and featured NRL stars Simaima Taufa and Brain To’o. Motivational speaker Danny Abdallah showed the power of changing a heartbreaking situation into a positive by creating an I forgive you week, “i4giv”, conveying the power of forgiveness. Crime Stoppers International Chief Executive and my personal favourite, Shane Britten presented the hidden and surprising dangers of phones. He showed us how our mobile phones track and sell our data to other companies and the consequences of using our phones irresponsibly. Breathing expert Nam Baldwin conducted a session on relaxation and resetting our bodies by teaching a different and new way of breathing to manage stress. Together, these guests addressed 500 high school students at Western Sydney University empowering young adults on a range of social topics including resilience, discipline, online safety and stress. Overall, the experience was informative, fun, and taught us valuable approaches to life.

Sarah Yr 12

Empowering Youth To Inspire Change (EYTIC) program

Around 16 students from refugee, migrant, and international student backgrounds have been participating in this EYTIC program. It aims to raise our awareness and to take action on the issues of anti-racism and refugees. As part of this, it also builds our leadership skills. The program is funded by Multicultural NSW, coordinated by staff at Gymea Community Aid, and runs with the help of our fabulous EAL/D teachers at BHGHS.

Despite COVID interruptions, this financial year (July 2021-June 2022) we have participated in two Anti-racism bystander sessions, a workshop about the experience of asylum seekers called “In Their Shoes”, some filmmaking workshops, and two full days of leadership training. The second day of leadership training took place on Friday 20 May. It was a wonderful help for us to identify the process of expanding our opportunities, improving our well-being, and unlocking the real freedom that we as ordinary people have to decide who we are, what we do, and how we live.

The leadership program also increases our confidence by: Setting goals and directions; Developing relationships; Knowing our self-value; Facing our psychological challenges; Letting go of negative people and thoughts; Taking initiatives to do what we love; Creating a mindset that loves learning, and; Developing our knowledge and skills. It encourages us to give the best we can, and to replace harmful habits with beneficial ones such as managing our time well, avoiding procrastination, and cooperating with our peers.

On Thursday 30 June, at the end of Term 2, we will proudly participate in the EYTIC Showcase at the Hurstville Entertainment Centre, alongside five other local high schools. For the next financial year (July 2022-June 2023) we need some new students from refugee, migrant, international and indigenous backgrounds to join the EYTIC, especially from years 7, 8 and 9. If you are interested, please ask the EAL/D teachers in room 48. You’ll love it.

 Rawan, Year 11

Bulbuwil Sisters Update

On Thursday 5th of March, GO Scholar Kiara S was invited and participated in the GO Foundation ‘Cultural Connection’ Day. The day was a success with students networking from other schools, participating in cultural activities such as weaving and dance; bringing them together through culture and identity.

Kiara and other scholars had the privilege of meeting GO Foundation founders and AFL legends Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin who engaged in a yarn with the scholars answering questions surrounding cultural and identity.

Leading into Reconciliation Week we have decided to sell wristbands and lanyards to raise money for Reconciliation Australia. The Bulbulwil Sisters with our SRC will be involved in the selling of the bands and lanyards to raise the funds.

For our NAIDOC Week celebrations, we have our annual poster competition running. We will be having an assembly on Tuesday 28th of June with a Welcome to Country as well as a guest speaker from GO Foundation and are planning to have a morning tea for parents of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and other guests on the day.

Additionally, for our NAIDOC Week celebrations we are also planning to do a mural on the outside of our Library with muralist Merindah Funnell in the works as part of a six week arts program.

Junior Volleyball Schools Cup

Junior Volleyball Schools Cup

On Tuesday 5th April the Junior Volleyball team attended their first NSW School’s Cup Competition. Not knowing what to expect, the team was full of excitement as well as nerves. As the day progressed they found their groove and were able to make the final, finishing in second place!!!

On the court the team were competitive, determined and positive. They displayed good sportsmanlike qualities throughout the whole day and fulfilled their duty responsibilities with respect and professionalism. An outstanding achievement, well done!

Pictured: Adia, Jessica, Nurtaz, Sadika, Layla, Anita, Thina, Naomi, Maheya, and Nora.

Flag Gridiron Incursion

On Monday 23th May PASS 4 elective students participated in a Flag Gridiron workshop. Throughout the day students engaged in a variety of activities where they were able to learn the rules of the game, develop their movement skills, create their own strategies and apply them in game situations. Besides enhancing their movements skills and understanding of the game, students were able to develop their interpersonal skills. Above all, they had fun!

PDHPE Teacher – Miss Tzavellas

‘The Flag Gridiron incursion was one of the best sporting experiences I have been involved in at High School. We learnt about so many new concepts such as going out of your comfort zone and the coach running the incursion taught us valuable lessons for the future reconnecting it back to the game. I had so much fun with the other students!!!’

 Juliet 

Gymnastics Junior Australian Championships

“Congratulations to Emmanouela F of Year 10 who recently competed at the Australian National Gymnastics Championships on the Gold Coast on 12th-15th May. Emmanouela won 3 GOLD MEDALS!!! 2 individual gold medals for the Ball and Ribbon events and a team medal with the NSW Team who won the junior international. We wish her the best of luck in her training and preparation to compete for Olympic selections in 2024. We are so proud of you!!! “

Ms J Martin

Year 10 Advisor


Do you know what they’re vaping?

Beverly Hills Girls High School, like many other schools, has seen a recent spike in young people vaping.

Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes, often called ‘vapes’, are electronic devices designed to deliver vapourised liquids into the lungs. There are many different styles of vapes and types of e-liquids, or e-juices, available. Vapes come in many shapes and sizes and can be made to look like everyday items including highlighters, pens or USB memory sticks.

The biggest misunderstanding about vapes is that they are harmless compared to cigarettes. This is not true. Vapes are not safe.

Vaping facts

  • Many vapes contain nicotine making them very addictive. The nicotine in 1 vape can equal 50 cigarettes.
  • Vapes can contain the same harmful chemicals found in cleaning products, nail polish remover, weed killer and bug spray. They just don’t put it on the pack.
  • Vapes can leave young people at increased risk of depression and anxiety.
  • Young people who vape are 3 times as likely to take up smoking cigarettes
  • Vape aerosol is not water vapour.
  • Vaping has been linked to serious lung disease.
  • Vapes can cause long-lasting negative effects on young people’s brain development.

Signs your child might be vaping

Tell-tale signs that your child might have started vaping include the symptoms of nicotine addiction such as feeling irritable or anxious.

The laws around selling vapes

Young people often purchase vapes online, from retail stores or from friends and contacts on social media.

  • It is illegal to sell vapes to anyone under the age of 18 years.
  • It is illegal to sell nicotine vapes to anyone, unless they are prescribed by a doctor to someone over 18 years for smoking cessation purposes and obtained with a prescription from a pharmacy.

There are a number of retailers who sell vapes to young people. This is a crime. If you suspect someone is selling vapes to minors, you can report it to NSW Health via its website or by calling the Tobacco Information line on 1800 357 412.

Talk to your child about vaping

Whether you suspect your child is vaping or not, take the time to talk to them about vaping and help them understand the risks. Try to start the conversation in a relaxed easy-going way, be patient, and remember your goal is to have a conversation, not deliver a lecture. Importantly, have your facts ready.

For more information

Get the evidence and facts at www.health.nsw.gov.au/vaping

 

Online School Payments

Attendance Information for Parents

Uniform Shop

Beverly Hills Girls Uniform Shop