Student Courses – 2020

As we are coming to the end of 2019 our Heads of Learning Areas in MESH courses (Mathematics, Science, English and Humanities & Social Sciences) are currently placing Year 8, 9 & 10 students for 2020. This is determined on the students’ 2019 performance. Year 9 students have chosen their (Year 10, 2020) electives and have been placed based on availability and pre-payment of the high cost electives. Some students may have missed out on their preferred electives due to clashes. The Year 10 grid is very tight, so changes will be limited.

Year 7 & 8 students have been placed into their (2020) electives based on specialist school programs and elite courses. All other students are rotated through the six electives over the two semesters. Most students will have completed all the electives twice based on this two-year rotation. This, I hope, gives them a sound understanding of what each elective entails and assists them in making an informed choice when given the opportunity to select their own electives and, more importantly, their Year 11 subjects when approaching upper school.

Parents/Caregivers will receive 2020 booklists and school fees shortly. Next year the Year 7 cohort will be the first with their BYOD (Bring your own device) as an aspect of their book list. We are excited to have this resource to support the Year 7 curriculum.

2020 also sees the blanket mobile phone ban in all Public schools. Students have been informed of this extended rule over the remainder of this term. From 2020 all electronic devices (including mobile phones and tablets) must be switched off and out of sight from the minute students walk on school grounds in the morning until the final siren at the end of the day. We trust that the parent body will support this rule by discouraging their children bringing these devices to school.

End of Year

Lower school students (Years 7 to 10) will receive their reports via email on Tuesday 17 December. I encourage parents and students to analyse the reports together and assess their performance. This is a great opportunity to set firm and realistic goals of achievement or improvement for 2020. The last day of school for students is Thursday 19th December.  The Student Services team are currently putting together an exciting Big Day Out to celebrate the End of Year for all students who have kept their Good Standing (90% attendance and no significant negative behaviours) this term.

Any current Year 9 families who would like to donate their old middle school uniforms please bring them in on the last day, as Student Services is always grateful for these donations.

Year 7 2020 Orientation Day

Year 7 Orientation is Tuesday 10 December, when there will be approximately 190 new students attending Belridge Secondary College. Ms Grieve has organised a fantastic day for the students, which is a good follow-up to the very successful individual primary school half day transitions conducted earlier this term. Many new friendships are formed on this day. Parents are invited to attend the start of the day and participate in a school tour which should conclude by 10am.

Bridgid Lafferty
Vice Principal - Middle School