The Weekly Bulli-tin
TERM 4 - Week 1
Principal's Report
Welcome Back
Welcome to Term 4. I hope that students have had some time to relax and rejuvenate over the holiday break. A new term is always a great opportunity for students to reflect on the previous term and set goals for the next 10 weeks. These goals could relate to specific subjects, learning habits, or social interactions. I encourage students to think about how they can make the life of others better, whether that be their peers, teachers of family members.
This term we will be concentrating on anti-bullying as we continue to grow a genuinely inclusive school. This week I met with the new senior leadership team where we discussed ways that students and teachers can work together on this issue, with a focus on being upstanders and calling out poor behaviour from others.
Are you helping, or are you hurting? We all need to ask this question when we say something, share something, write, type, or do something regarding others.
Year 12 Class of 2024
Year 12 have now successfully begun their HSC exams. We ended term 3 with their formal which was a truly enjoyable and memorable event. Thanks to Rachel Schilbe for her care and expert planning of this milestone for our Year 12 class of 2024.
The graduation ceremony was held offsite at Wollongong Town Hall for the first time due to the large cohort of students. I would like to recognise and thank our P&C for generously paying for the venue which gave the occasion the significance it deserved while also enabling more family members to attend.
World Teachers Day
World Teachers' Day will be celebrated in NSW on Friday 25 October 2024 and is an opportunity to recognise primary, secondary and early childhood teachers.
The wisdom and expertise of teachers shines brightly in our NSW schools, communities, homes, and vibrant workforce. Tell us who lights up our Bulli High School community by adding a NSW teaching gem this #WTD2024. A gem is a teacher or educator who is important to you. Access the NSW teaching gems map and let your teachers know you care by pinning a gem to the map in their honour.
Planning for 2025
This term sees our Year 11 students become Year 12. They are currently receiving their marks from their Preliminary Exams. I encourage students to set up good study habits now, such as note-taking and acting on feedback from their teachers.
We have plans for team building and wellbeing activities for students in other year groups this term, and an exciting Transition Week for Year 10 as they begin to prepare for 2025. There are always many opportunities for students to engage and learn from others at Bulli HS and I urge all students to follow their passions, take advantage of opportunities on offer, and to be kind in their interactions with others.
I look forward to an exciting and productive term ahead.
Denise James
Principal
Acknowledgement of Country
We would like to acknowledge country and the traditional custodians of this land who are the Wodi Wodi people of the Five Islands Dreaming, Dharawal Country and the Yuin nation.
We would like to acknowledge the country on which we meet and gather, near Sandon Point, the declared Aboriginal land rich in Aboriginal history and culture.
We thank the ancestors and Elders for passing down their knowledge of country and traditions which is the reason that Aboriginal culture thrives today.
At Bulli High School, it is our responsibility to preserve and respect the integrity of this significant site for future generations.
Upcoming Events
Friday 18th October
15’s NSW Regional Finals Basketball Girls
Tuesday 22nd October
Multiverse Excursion
23rd - 25th October
NSW RFS Cadetship Program
Friday 25th October
World Teachers Day
28th October – 1st November
Hospitality Work Placement
RescuED / Living Books
Tuesday 29th October
Catch up Immunisations
Wednesday 30th October
P & C Meeting @ 6:00pm
Thursday 31st October
Year 8 VALID Examination
English
It is hard to believe that we are at the beginning of Term 4. Thank you to all those students who have consistently engaged in their own learning and who have made every effort to contribute to a respectful, dynamic and harmonious learning environment- you are appreciated! And thank you to those parents and caregivers who consistently support their child and their child’s teachers.
The study of English can be a rich and challenging experience made even more powerful when we learn from each other. Please enjoy some of the work produced by our hard working and talented English students.
Year 7 - Students Construct a 'Lean-to' Inspired by the Novel 'Hatchet'
Students constructed a lean-to inspired by the lean-to Brian makes in the novel Hatchet. They had paddle pop sticks, tape and glue to work with. The students had a lot of fun imagining what his place might have looked like!
Year 7T Poetry
Here are some of the poems from Year 7.
Year 8 - Visual Literacy
Story books rely on the tension between images and words to tell often poignant stories about the human experience.
Year 8 students worked under a psuedonym for their final visual literacy task. They created an image and accompanying text under their writer's name. Students then swapped images and created new text to accompany the image. An exhibition was held at the end of last term, to compare the different text and images and reflect on the creative ways in which each of us approach storytelling.
Image 1- Text
Snowflakes danced outside the glass door, piling up like a suffocating blanket. The house felt cold and miserable, the fire flickers struggling to give the house warmth.
Lila and Max stood staring out the window, the breath fogging it up as they struggled to see outside. The world beyond was a blur of white, the snow storm relentless.
Lila’s fingers traced patterns on the frosted glass, her eyes wide with a mix or wonder and worry. Max, clutching his favourite book, tried to read but kept glancing at the swirling snow outside.
The wind howled, making the house creak. The power had flickered out hours ago, leaving them with only the soft glow of candles and the crackling fire.
Image 2 -Text
The sweet smell of Mrs Privllye’s famous Cherry pie dances and drifts through the air. She grins widely at her kids and her heels click lightly on the white tiled stairs. Her granddaughter, already hands full, reaches for another slice. A smile comes across her young face and her mood changes to one that is light and merry.
A sweet, sympathetic smile slowly spreads across his face. The water patiently draining from the rusty watering can at a patient pace. Drips slowly trickle into the strong roots of the mighty Cherry tree. It grows from one side to another, branches wild and free.
Year 8 - Creative Writing
The powdery soft snow drifted slowly onto my cheeks and nose as the tears on my face froze into ice. My entire body was numb, my skin pale as a ghost. The bitter cold had swept through me and was creeping into my bones. I was lying on an old bench in a beautiful snow-covered park, the perfect image of a winter wonderland. It had a beautiful old oak tree growing in it, the biggest one I had ever seen. A violent tremor shivered down my spine and my teeth chattered loudly. All I had to do was survive the winter, I told myself. These thoughts filled my head as my eyelids drooped down and my vision turned to black.
“Come here sweetie!” I heard my mother’s joyful shout. “The first snow has started falling!” I gasped as I smashed my chubby face into the glass window. I was awestruck by the perfect white snowflakes that fell from the sky, the small mounds of fluffy snow accumulating on the ground, covering everything in a white blanket. My mother picked me up and we went outside into the crisp, icy air. The sound of her laughter echoed in my ears as she spun me around, high up in the air as the snow fell around us.
I bolted upright with a painful jolt as I was brought back from the happy memory. The rattle of my money donations tin lifted my spirits slightly. I collected the money and stood up. My legs were so weak that a strong gust of wind might blow me over. Slowly, I made my way to the convenience store down the street, walking down the slippery, icy cold road. “AAHHHHH” My foot caved in beneath me and I toppled forward towards the ice, with no way to stop falling. The impact of my head split the ice and all I could see was the red covering the ground covering my eyes, coating my world in a sea of scarlet. Piercing pain sliced into my brain and I lifted my hands to my head in agony. I could hear cars honking and sirens blaring but I couldn’t move, I couldn’t even cry. I was paralysed, laying there, the awful pain in my head reminding me that I was not going to escape from this unscathed.
“Police, open the door!” I could hear the sounds of a fist pounding on the wood. I looked up at my mum, tears forming in my eyes. “Mummy, I'm scared! Why won’t you let the people come in?” She took a deep breath and looked at me. Her face was pasty and eyes red. “Those people want to get me in trouble. I have to go now, but I’ll meet you at the park, the one with the big oak tree. Okay?” My eyes spilled over and I started sniffing, hiding my face in a pillow. “O-Okay promise to meet me?” I asked, my voice trembling. “Mummy?” I looked around but my mother was already gone.
My eyes fluttered open and I saw the worried face of an old woman. “Hello dear, how are you feeling? My name is Mabel.” Mabel spoke in a soft, gentle tone. “You took quite a hit to the head there, I had to do a lot of stitching!” Startled, I spluttered: ‘Thank you so much for helping me. But I can’t pay you.’ She smiled in understanding. “I expect nothing from you. You are free to stay in my home.” There was no way this lady could be serious. But I felt a shadow of hope. “Can I really stay with you?” I asked quietly. “Of course, I want you to be safe.” Mabel laid a hand on my arm and left the room. Looking out the window, I could see the ice start to thaw and the green leaves on the trees showing. The snow still on the ground was melting, forming puddles. I could hear birds start to sing. I sighed happily and somehow I knew that the spring would bring me new memories - good ones.
Elske Crawford (Year 8)
The brutal waves slapped the sides of the boat and the sharp, cool sliced through her skin as she hurled the wind-up anchor into the water. It made a mighty splash, she jumped backwards, tripping over the tangles of ropes and pulleys. She stayed on the ground, there was nothing she could do but watch as the mountains of waves built up around her like a couple of lions staring down at a mouse. The taste of sharp salty water lingered on her lips from the white caps thrashing down on her, the mighty sea wrestled with her in her boat, she held on tight to her radio, as if it was her mother. Thunder cracked across the sky like a broken mirror, flooding her ears. She tried to stand on the boat's deck, knees wobbling, eyes welding with water and tears. She looked up at the mask, it had a brutal crack across the middle, the sheets dangling and ripped like cobwebs, they were the last thing she saw that night.
She woke to the drip drip dripping of the soggy sheets on the plastic floors, radio still clenched tight in her wrinkled fingers.
‘Youngest woman to sail around Australia’ the headlines would have read if she hadn’t tapped out so early, she would have done the full track if it wasn't for that storm, she thought to herself pulling her bed sheets up to her chin. She could hear the buzz of people outside, camera shutters illuminating her room every so often, she heard her dad yelling from the upstairs windows,
“She’s just a kid, give her some space!”
She sat up slowly in her bed, glancing over at the small gaps in the curtains, searching for story-hungry journalists. Word had gotten out quite quickly about her little expedition, seems that exciting stories aren't very common at Hervey Bay. She walked over to her desk reaching for her small collection of seashells, each one from a different bay she had sailed to solo. She traced her fingers around the edges of the shells, observing the ridges and bumps, memories of each harbour come flooding back. Those memories feel so distant now.
She knew she couldn't stay in her room forever. She walked down the stairs to find her mother sitting, legs folded over on the couch, a cup of untouched tea in her hands. She stared ghostly at the coffee table, thoughts crashing around her busy minds. She did notice her walk down the stairs until her calm voice whispered
“Mum?”
She jolted back to life as if struck by an epiphany.
“Darling I am so sorry, I didn't mean any of this” she said, gesturing at the animals banging on the glass of their front door.
“Not your fault,” she replied, wrapping her arms around her mother’s shoulders, her warmth bringing small hints of hope into her mind.
Instinctively, she walked over to the front door, stopping just before the handle. She closed her eyes and remembered the soft sea spray spitting at her face, the ocean waves bobbing at her boat. She opened the door.
A cacophony of voices swelled as the questions rolled in like a relentless storm. Her eyes darted around her yard, swarmed by hundreds of people with flashy cameras and notepads.
“Emma, why did you give up?”
“Do you regret not trying harder?”
“Did you predict the storm?”
Her mind froze at the flurry of voices, trying to pinpoint one person. After what felt hours of her frozen lips not speaking a word, a certain question caught her attention.
“Will you ever try again?”
Her eyes widened at the question.
“You” she said, pointing to the small, brown haired man who asked the question. The voices quickly silenced as Emma spoke.
“Will you ever try again?” the man repeated.
A subtle smile washed across her face, as she spoke,
“I don't know if I will try again, but I will keep sailing, to the edge of the world and further.”
Bede Stroud (Year 8)
Year 9 - Black-Out Poetry
More student works.
Ms Laura Devlin
HT - English
Library
Renaissance Reading Program
Congratulations to the following students for their continued participation and outstanding effort.
Independent Reader Award
Quinn Andrews
Ready Reader Award
Layla Bennett
Independent Reader Award
Cindy Bragg
Independent Reader Award
Toby Davis
Ready Reader Award
Matthew Drinkwater
Super Reader Award
Leyla Ercan
Super Reader Award
Oliver Foxall
Rising Reader Award
Emma Hicks
Super Reader Award
Etta Hillary
Rising Reader Award
Etta Hillary
Independent Reader Award
Etta Hillary
Ready Reader Award
Etta Hillary
Super Reader (3) Award
Raphael Johnson
Rising Reader (4) Award
Raphael Johnson
Independent Reader (3) Award
Raphael Johnson
Ready Reader (4) Award
Raphael Johnson
Advanced Reader (2) Award
Raphael Johnson
Ready Reader Award
Sarah Lai
Independent Reader Award
Myla Mackay
Ready Reader Award
Mackenzie Murphy
Ready Reader Award
Hailey Murrell
Independent Reader Award
Evienne Neale
Rising Reader Award
Evie Opperman
Ready Reader (2) Award
Phenix Rickards
Ready Reader Award
Ethan Sands
Ready Reader (2) Award
Rebecca Sheath
Rising Reader Award
Rebecca Sheath
Ready Reader Award
Emmett Thorrold-Smoothy
Ready Reader Award
Noah Tracey
Independent Reader Award
Hana Tracy
Super Reader Award
Fraya Werner
Ready Reader (2) Award
Eva Whitney
Ready Reader (2) Award
Jarvis Willcocks
Ms Kylie Martin
Teacher/Librarian
Visual Arts
Please enjoy some of the beautiful canopic jars designed and made by our very talented Year 9 Visual Arts students.
The Hub
We continue to provide additional support for all students with their learning. Students can access The Hub for additional HSC study skills support, through to help with Year 7 homework.
Illawarra Convoy
Bulli High School is proud to participate in the 2024 Illawarra Convoy for the first time!!
The Science Faculty led by Mr Brankovic will be raising money to support the Illawarra Convoy and its mission to beat cancer!
We are also accepting alumni, parents and any community members who wish to participate and ride together. Please scan QR code below to register your interest!
If you are able and willing to make a donation please scan the Donate QR code OR click the link https://illawarraconvoy.com.au/individual/fundraiser-4627
Multiverse
Surfboard Design Contest
The Bulli High Surfboard Design Contest has scaled this year into a NSW-wide competition.
In partnership with Hawaii-based AkuShaper, California-based Boardlams and NZ-based PocketQuiver, this Multiverse category offers prizes for TWO separate categories: Surfboard Engineers + Surfboard Artists.
• The winning shaper will have their 1980’s board design cut in Byron Bay and offered a 12-month online internship with AkuShaper San Diego as a surfboard engineer.
• The winning artist will have their 1980’s retro designs sold at Boardlams California and offered a 12-month online internship with AkuShaper San Diego as a surfboard artist.
Students may enter without charge via the AkuShaper website under ‘Events’:
We are proud to announce that our esteemed Bulli High School alumnus, elite junior surfer and board artist Zoe Gelder, has joined the AkuShaper competition as an Australian judge.
Look out for the designs of last year’s runners-up Ralfie Scott and Jett Blue who narrowly missed out on first place to Denim Budai in the shaping category.
For students who attend the best Visual Arts high school in NSW (which happens to share an ocean with Hawaii and California), this is your chance to get art designs onto the world stage. And monetise your talents in the United States.
Entries close on 1 November.
For any queries about the competition please contact multiversebhs@gmail.com.
MVC24: Dream Big. Work Hard. Network.
Sport
Basketball
Congratulations to our 15s Boys Basketballers. Whilst we went down 64-52 in the South Coast Grand Final today, our efforts were outstanding. With our star big man 'Zac Attack' Jordan on holidays in Vietnam we were a little light in the middle. We battled bravely, especially our quintet of year 7 future stars, but luck just didn't fall our way in this one. With Max on 3 fouls early, JBH fouling out in the second quarter & Kai & Jesse joining them in the foul out club it made it tough. But with every challenge comes opportunity & our next gen brigade made the most of it. Matty & Felix were dogs on the ball & embraced the challenge of trying to guard the best PG in the South Coast region & Chase came out hot cashing in with three 3s for the game. Felix & Isaak showed their heart as they made immediate impacts defensively & didn’t let us down, but this game just wasn't to be. Caleb high scored with 17 for the game along with his haul of rebounds & dimes & Jesse Buckets chipped in with a solid 13. So whilst we couldn't quite get this one done, we'll cop it on the chin & look forward to welcoming back Zac (& keeping our starters on the floor) for the state top 20 round in Shoalhaven next term.
Our support crew & AC Coop were fantastic too & as good karma would have it, the young fellas pulled off a big win in their U14s club game in the afternoon. Thanks again all.
Coach Delaney
Uniform Shop
Just a friendly reminder that Term 4 is Summer uniform. In Terms 1 & 4, the BHS track pants are only to be worn on Wednesdays and during PE lessons. Please refer to our uniform policy on our website:
Yr 11 2025 Uniform Orders
It is time for the current Year 10 students to order their senior uniform for 2025.
You can place and order online at www.bullihighpandc.org.au Alternatively, students can visit the uniform shop during our opening hours or return a order sheet for delivery in January.
WHERE POSSIBLE WE WOULD APPRECIATE IF YEAR 11 2025 SENIOR UNIFORM ORDERS ARE PLACED BY OCTOBER 31ST 2024 This ensures that we have enough stock for next year.
We currently have a lot of senior uniforms in stock so we anticipate that we will be able to fill a lot of the orders placed this term. Any uniforms that are taken home can still be exchanged or returned in 2025.
If you need to collect part or all of your order next year, the pickup dates are as follows:
- Thursday 30th January 2025
- Friday 31st January 2025
There are no exchanges or extra ordering on these two days.
For those than can not make the dates, we will be open again for exchanges, uniform collection, new students and additional uniform purchases on the following dates and times:
- Monday 3rd, Tuesday 4th, Wednesday 5th February from 10am to 2pm
- Thursday 6th February from 1pm to 3:30pm
Proud Supporters of the Year 11 2024 Scholarship Program
Community News
Contact Details
Address: Dharawal Country, 17 Ursula Road, Bulli NSW 2516
Phone: 4284 8266
Email: bulli-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Website: https://bulli-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/