BILLABONG HIGHLIGHTS - Billabong High School
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BILLABONG HIGHLIGHTS
Term 2 Week 4B 15th May 2017
Monday 2 November 2020 Term 4 Week 4B
Principal’s Report
At last week’s P&C Meeting I announced In addition to this news, on Friday I was
some upcoming leadership changes at unexpectedly contacted by an Executive
Billabong High School. For 2021 I will take Director from Sydney, and I have been
up a three year position as Principal, School asked to relieve as Director, Educational
Leadership (PSL) based out of the Albury Leadership for a network in the Metropolitan
Education Office. My new role involves South of Sydney. I will begin in that role as
coaching and mentoring principals to of Monday next week, meaning that this
pursue school excellence and improved week will be my last for now at Billabong
outcomes for all students. It will begin Day High School. Although this was unexpected,
1 of Term 1, 2021. we have already conducted significant
planning for next year’s restructure, so we
Director, Educational Leadership for are in a very good place to simply bring
the Hume Network, Sue Lowe, recently our plans forward to next week. Several
conducted a merit selection process to staff members have already filled higher
fill the Relieving Principal position, and I roles when I was recently in the Hume
am very pleased to announce that Julie Director role, so we certainly have the staff
Bowen will lead Billabong High School into capacity to achieve this successfully now
the future. I have since run a process for and into the future.
the Deputy Principal Instructional Leader
position, and I am pleased to announce For now I would like to thank staff, students
that Liz Murdoch was successful. They will and community members who have
be joined by Dr Nim Weerakoon in the supported improved learning outcomes for
Deputy Principal role at Billabong High students at Billabong High School over the
School for 2021, making for a very strong five years that I have been principal. When
senior executive leadership team. I came to Billabong High School I was struck
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Billabong Highlights
Above: Aurora College iRes 2020 Participants
by the potential of our school community, to instructional leadership and high
and although we have achieved significant quality professional learning for staff, an
gains in student outcomes during that increase in the number of staff seeking
time, there is still considerable opportunity higher accreditation and leadership
for continued improvement. In line with development opportunities, and of course
the School Excellence Framework, New our significant improvement in student
South Wales public schools are pursuing growth, including Billabong High School
excellence and “continuous improvement achieving the highest NAPLAN scores in
for every student, every teacher, every the Riverina. Our success is exemplified
leader, every year.” We’re not looking by initiatives such as the establishment of
for “comfortable”, “close enough” or Aurora College, the Thrive program, our
“what we’ve always done.” We are growing Special Education and Learning
pursuing excellence, as defined by the Support capabilities, and in our exemplary
School Excellence Framework. This active management of continuity of learning
pursuit requires commitment, expertise, during COVID-19. I am confident that this
professionalism and disciplined execution year’s HSC marks will indicate an upward
over time. It means putting student trend, and that next year’s HSC marks
outcomes at the centre of all decision- will confirm that trend – especially with
making, and often involves (all of us) Julie Bowen leading the team with clear
making difficult or challenging decisions in commitment, direction and purpose.
order to achieve outcomes for students.
As a proud employee of the NSW
Our success at achieving this is reflected Department of Education, my commitment
in our clear ongoing commitment has been, and will always be, to improve
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Billabong Highlights
Above: Senior Hospitality Incursion
outcomes for NSW students. Just as it was Barista Incursion
a privilege to teach English at Liverpool On Wednesday and Thursday last week
Boys High School, and to be a Deputy our Senior Hospitality students completed
Principal in Macquarie Fields, so it was a a Barista Course. During the incursion, Kylie
privilege to be Principal of Billabong High from Wagga Hospitality taught our students
School. I look forward to now supporting how to use the coffee machine and
student outcomes in Sydney South, and make really good coffee! It was a great
then to my future role working again with experience and everyone gained valuable
local principals out of Albury. As next year’s skills, knowledge and experience that will
role will include supporting the principal be beneficial for them when seeking future
of Billabong High School, and as my own employment.
three sons will continue to attend public Report by Georgia O’Connor Year 11
schools in our area (and possibly BHS), I
will retain a very strong professional and Aurora College
personal interest in the performance of Due to COVID-19, Aurora College held their
Billabong High School. I look forward to residential online (iRes) last Monday and
continuing to work together to support the Tuesday. Our shared students attended a
success of all of our students. Best wishes, range of sessions. Guest speakers included
and kind regards to everyone in our school Adam Spencer (mathematician and
community. comedian), Dr Norman Swan (physician,
journalist and broadcaster) and Melina
Mr K. Wawszkowicz Marchetta (author). Students also
Principal presented their Science Fair to their virtual
classmates, performed a coding activity
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Billabong Highlights Calendar Tuesday 3 November 2020 Year 8 VALID Testing Thursday 17 November 2020 Year 6 Taster Day Tuesday 1 December 2020 Orientation Day and participated in an online Kahoot! trivia game involving 250 students. There was even an opportunity to attend a Zoom disco hoisted by our own Steve Bowen! While iRes could not replace the programmed residential in Canberra, student appreciated to effort Aurora College put in organising the event. Above: Thrive Textiles Students displaying their bunting
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