We have been a busy bunch at Belridge Secondary College over the last few weeks with so many special events and activities taking place.

I would like to thank our HASS Team – Ms Linto, Mr MacDonald, Ms Green and Head of Student Services, Mr Richardson, for the completion of a very successful Canberra Tour. The students had a fantastic time and did the College proud.

In Week 4, our JLC Schools took part in our third JLC Science Week Challenge. The efforts and engagement of all students in this year's activities surpassed all our expectations. Projects included a Camouflage and Survival investigation, building and researching Bird Feeders and making and developing Sustainable Model Zoos.  I would like to thank my JLC Principal colleagues and staff across all schools for getting on board with this initiative. Congratulations to Joondalup Primary School for taking away the shield this year. 

JLC (Joondalup Learning Community)
Science Week Challenge 2024

This term we celebrated Numeracy Week with lots of activities for students to take part in during recess and lunch. The Numeracy showdown with lollies as rewards went down a treat! I have never seen so many students wanting to answer Maths questions! A big thank you to Mr Anderson and his Maths Team.

We also celebrated Footy Colours Day and R U OK? Day this term, students and staff supported each of these events by contributing funds to charity and promoting the importance of mental health and checking in with one another.

Week 7 also saw the College hold its annual School Athletics Carnival, please see inside for details on our sporting successes. Again, another show of togetherness and team spirit. A massive thank you to Mr Bennett and the HPE staff for their efforts on the day and in the weeks leading up to the event completing pre-carnival events and planning. Our Year 12s looked fantastic in their costumes, the turnout and levels of participation were fantastic, it just keeps getting better each year!

This term we also celebrated EA Appreciation Week with a lovely morning tea decorated impeccably by our very own Audra Keeble (Education Assistant). It was great to celebrate the important role our EAs play in the smooth running of our College.

In Weeks 8 and 9 our VET students completed their Workplace Learning. This is a great opportunity for our students to gain vital experience in the world of work, as well as firming up a career pathway in various industries. A big thank you to Mr Smith for his time and effort in this space. 

In Week 9 we held our Visual Arts and Elite Music Concert. The time, effort and dedication that went into the show was immense. The performances were mesmerising and highlighted the talent we have here at Belridge Secondary College. A huge thank you to Ms Verschoor and the Arts staff for their time and effort in supporting this event. 

Our Open Board meeting is fast approaching on Monday, 4 November 2024, please sign up and come along.  Your views matter and help support the College in making decisions that assist us on our improvement journey. 

And finally good luck to our Year 12's who will be completing their mock exams over the holidays. I am looking forward to seeing them at our final breakfast and farewell assembly next term and of our course at our main event – Graduation on Thursday, 24 October 2024. 

Wishing you all a safe and restful break, see you next term.

Sharon Lyon
Principal

Participation in College Events

It has been great to see so many of our students participating in, and supporting, whole College events such as the Athletics Carnival, Footy Colours Day and fundraising activities, incursions and excursions, year assemblies, and competitions. It is extra pleasing to see the College Values being reflected in student behaviour during these activities. All students are encouraged to continue this level of engagement.

2025 Year 7 Enrolments

We continue to prepare for welcoming the next cohort of Year 7’s in 2025. If you currently have a child in Year 6 who attends a primary school in our local intake area, and you wish for them to attend Belridge Secondary College next year, please complete and submit an enrolment form as soon as possible. These can be collected from one of our local intake primary schools or our College reception.

The following information is for the transition activities that are planned for Term 4.

Half-Day Transition

Each feeder primary school will have its own half-day orientation for Year 6 students who have been enrolled to attend Belridge Secondary College in 2025. The half day events are scheduled for the period of Monday, 28 October to Tuesday, 5 November 2024. Students will be invited to attend on one half day during this period. Students will be picked up from their primary school and returned by bus. At our College they will be introduced to the Student Services team, complete activities and undergo AGAT testing. They will also be provided with morning / afternoon tea.

Full-Day Transition

This is scheduled for Tuesday, 3 December 2024. The day is designed to familiarise the Year 6 students and parents with the administration staff, facilities, layout and routine of Belridge Secondary College. Students will be placed in groups and given a full day's timetable. Students will experience a range of classes in our Learning Areas including the Arts, Design and Technology, Information Technology, Science and Home Economics.

Andrew Wright
Deputy Principal – Years 7, 8 and 9

Year 12 Exams 

As we approach both the Mock and WACE exams, it is important for you and your child to be fully informed of the requirements and expectations for the coming weeks. 

There are two sets of exams. The first are the Mock exams and are run by the school during the second week of the Term 3 School Holidays. These exams contribute to student's school mark. The timetable for these exams are below:

Students have now been given both their Mock exam timetable and WACE exam timetables. They can also access their WACE timetable via their SCSA Student Portal. 

End of School Year for Year 12 students 

There is a change from previous years to the final days for Year 12 students. 

General/VET/WPL students will finish their programs on Friday, 20 September 2024.  However, if they still have work outstanding, they will be required to attend school each day for the first week of Term 4 or until the work is completed. Students will only be able to get their Clearance forms signed off during the last two days of Term 3. 

ATAR students are required to attend school for the first week of Term 4. This is to obtain their exam results and to receive feedback ready for the WACE exams. 

All Year 12 students are required to attend the Final Assembly and Year 12 Breakfast on Friday, 4 October 2024. Students will be able to leave school once the assembly has finished.  

Year 11 Exams 

This year, the Year 11 exams will run from Monday, 11 November to Friday, 22 November 2024 (inclusive). Students will receive their individual timetable at the beginning of Term 4. Teachers are preparing their students for these exams as the lead in time must be extensive. Students can access the SCSA website to obtain practice exams or click the link below. 

https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/further-resources/past-atar-course-exams 

Year 10 Subjects 

Students have now selected their pathway and courses for 2025. The expectation is that students continue to work diligently to maintain or enhance their work ethic to maximise their chance of success in Year 11. Good habits need to be established early, and we know Semester One is a big challenge for Year 11's. Students have engaged in ‘Study Tips’ activities via their MESH subjects to support this. 

Louis Cheeseman
Deputy Principal – Years 10, 11 and 12

At the start of 2024, the College engaged in a collaboration with talented artist Aaliyah Henwood, a Follow the Dream alumnus. The project was funded through the PALS Community Grants and titled 'True Colours'.

The project involved Aaliyah meeting with staff and Follow the Dream students to discuss the College House structure for 2025 onwards and how the staff and students saw their connection to their respective Houses. The end result was an amazing piece of art, encapsulating the tranquility of the Manta Ray, speed and precision of the Marlin, and the drive and strength of the Shark. The artwork was then used in the creation of staff polo shirts to promote and encourage House Pride - highlighted at the recent Athletics Carnival. 

The artwork will be displayed throughout the school and used in the creation of banners, uniforms and extra-curricular events and celebrations.

Ben Dawkins
Head of Student Services and ATSI Coordinator 

Follow Aaliyah's Art Business instagram account @corridorsofdesign

A Triumph for Manta-Rays!
Form Quiz! 

We are thrilled to announce the results of our recent House Form Quiz, a competition that put students’ knowledge and quick thinking to the test! Each Form class in Years 7-9 were challenged with questions spanning across learning areas and testing skills with a broad range of subjects.

The quiz was designed to not only engage students, but to foster teamwork and house spirit. Each class was on the clock, racing to answer the questions correctly to accumulate points for their respective houses.

We are delighted to reveal that Mr Palmer’s Year 7.06 Manta-Rays class emerged as the fastest and most accurate class, followed closely by Mr Bertoli’s Year 9.06 - Manta-Rays and in third place Mr Logan’s Year 8.03 Sharks.

Congratulations to our Form Quiz Champions -7.06!

A big thank you to all the students who participated in the quiz and received points for their house. 

Miss Currie
Head of Student Services Years 9 & 10 

House Volleyball Competition Wrap-Up

Over the past three weeks, our school has been buzzing with excitement as the House Volleyball competition unfolded. With 10 teams vying for the top spot, including two spirited staff teams, the competition was both fierce and friendly from the first serve to the final spike.

The semi-finals brought some nail-biting action. In a dramatic showdown, the two staff teams faced off against each other. The Manta Rays team emerged victorious after a thrilling three-set battle against the Shar-Lins, proving that the rivalry among our staff is as strong as ever! Meanwhile, the Marlins student team demonstrated their skill and teamwork, overpowering the Sharks team to secure their spot in the grand final.

The grand final was a highly anticipated match, pitting the experienced Manta Rays staff team against the enthusiastic Marlins student team. Spectators were treated to a fantastic display of volleyball, with both sides showing incredible determination and sportsmanship. In the end, the Manta Rays were too strong, clinching the championship title in three sets.

It was wonderful to witness the vibrant house spirit that has always been a hallmark of our school community. The energy, support, and camaraderie displayed throughout the competition were truly inspiring. A big congratulations to all teams for their participation, and especially to the Manta Rays for their well-earned victory.

Stay tuned for more House events and competitions next term. Let’s keep the momentum going and continue to support your House teams as they strive for victory!

Mr Jarvis-Spinks
Teacher – Health & Physical Education
and 2IC HOSS Year 9 & 10

Empowering Students Through SEL

Our SEL (Social, Emotional, Learning) Program is currently being implemented for our Year 7 and 8 students. Under the guidance of our dedicated Student Support Officer, Mandy, this initiative is working towards making an impact on students’ personal development and interpersonal skills. 

The SEL Program is designed to enhance students’ self-awareness, emotional regulation, and ability to form positive relationships. By focusing on these areas, the program aims to equip students with the tools they need to thrive both academically and personally. 

Adding an extra layer of warmth and support to the classes is our beloved Companion Dog, Peanut. Peanut’s visits have become a highlight for the students. His presence not only brings joy, but a calming effect.

Student Services Team 

Important message from Community Health Nurse

ANAPHYLAXIS - CHECKLIST FOR PARENTS OF STUDENTS AT RISK

To ensure our records are up to date and given recent student presentations with allergic or potential anaphylaxis symptoms, an important reminder of the following:

• Tell the school administration if your child has been prescribed an adrenaline autoinjector (i.e. EpiPen), has experienced anaphylaxis, has any changes in allergies, and/or any other health care needs that may affect anaphylaxis management.
• Make sure you give the school an adrenaline autoinjector, which is clearly labelled for your child.
• If old enough, make sure your child carries an adrenaline autoinjector and knows how to use it. Show his or her friends, brothers and sisters if they are old enough to understand.
• Provide an ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis completed and signed by your child’s doctor. Update the plan (including a photo of your child) when the adrenaline autoinjectors are renewed (usually every 12-18 months). Action Plans are available from www.allergy.org.au
• Help the school to develop an Individual Health Care and Risk Minimisation Plan for your child.
• Educate your child about how to avoid known allergens (triggers).
• Remind your child to immediately tell someone if she/he feels sick.

Michelle Dragicevich 
Community Health Nurse

E.A. Appreciation Week 2024

Belridge Secondary College recognised this important week by hosting a special morning tea to thank our Education Assistants for all their hard work and dedication in helping support our students. To all our E.A.’s - may you be proud of the work you do and the difference you make.

Year 7 AEP - To The Moon

At the end of July 2024, the Year 7 AEP Science students travelled to WA Boola Bardip Museum with Mrs Green and Ms Oncken to view the ‘To The Moon’ exhibit and explore the remaining galleries.  Participation in the trip enhanced the learning of the topic Space and the Solar System and will contribute to student preparation for the AEP Showcase in Term 4 (Monday, 4 November 2024).  Students were immersed in the human fascination with the moon through historical to modern day popular culture, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ perspectives, STEM technologies involved, international collaborations and a virtual reality tour in space, inside and outside of the International Space Centre. 

Needless to say, this excursion was out of this world! 

Claire Green
Teacher – Humanities & Social Sciences and AEP Coordinator

Year 8 AEP - ABCN Innovate Program

Session 1: Wednesday, 21 August 2024

Mr Winch's Year 8 STEM AEP students travelled via public transport to QV1 on St Georges Terrace, Perth for their first session of the ABCN Innovate Program. Students were introduced to STEM careers of the future, built their STEM skills, collaborated on becoming global change makers and worked with STEM industry experts throughout the session, sharing ideas and experiences. The competitive edge of students and mentors shone when tasked with designing and building a car prototype powered entirely by wind.

Claire Green

Teacher - Humanities & Social Sciences and AEP Coordinator

Young Geographer of the Year Competition 

Congratulations and well done to Taryn Lohf, Year 10 student, for her participation in the 2024, GAWA's Young Geographer of the Year competition. Taryn created an information poster, researching the new Ocean Reef Marina development analysing the strategies being used to manage environmental change, improve human wellbeing and links to liveability. Great work, Taryn!

Claire Green
Teacher - Humanities & Social Sciences and AEP Coordinator

Year 12 Outdoor Education Camp

What a fantastic few days! The forecast wasn’t awesome, but the weather Gods decided to keep the days nice for us. Night-time was a little soggy though. 

The first day was a 16km hike from Dwellingup town to Nanga Mill on the Bibbulmun and the Munda Biddi tracks.  With pack weights ranging from 11kg to 22kg the students soldiered on and made it to camp in 4 and a half hours.  Shelter and food were the top priority on arrival. We spent the evening chatting around the campfire, making s’mores and laying under the stars. 

On Day 2 we split into two groups with canoeing and navigation activities. The fastest time ever on the navigation course was achieved at 20 minutes. Canoeing on the Murray River was students’ first experience of paddling on moving water and tackling rapids. Of course, it is always a good laugh when the teacher’s canoe ends up capsizing. Another night of chatting and campfire games and a brief shelter in the bus from a passing storm.

Day 3 began with packing up, where the teamwork shone in everyone helping. We moved on to Treetops Adventure Park, Dwellingup and ventured to new heights up in the trees, navigating and conquering some fun challenging courses and pretending to be spider man!

This is where we come to an end. Well done Year 12’s - you are nearly there. Camp is a great way to wrap-up nearly six years of high school. We hope to see you next year when you become our helpers.

Tiffany Collins, Josh Hollows and Jarrad Timu
Teachers - Health & Physical Education

Year 10 - Let's Cook!

Year 10 Outdoor Education students recently participated in a practical cooking session using Trangia’s at school. The class focused on learning how to operate these portable camping stoves safely and efficiently, which are essential for outdoor adventures. Their meals were planned out, incorporating their understanding of the importance of nutrition and meal planning in a wilderness setting. This hands-on experience is a vital part of their curriculum, serving as both an assessment and a way to equip them with practical skills for future expeditions.

Enjoy Life - Eat Cake!

On Tuesday, 26 August 2024 our Elite Dance students held a cupcake fundraiser during recess and lunch breaks.  An amazing $726 was raised, which will go towards purchasing dance costumes and competition entry fees for the Elite Dance Program. Students collaborated to make an amazing array of cupcakes – which was impossible to resist!  Thank you to all who supported this important event.

Fashion Design Success!

A HUGE congratulations to Year 8 Fashion student - Zoey Croucher - for placing third in the Junior Design category Wool4School 2024 competition with her entry ‘Cottage In The Woods’.  The criteria for this year’s competition was to take inspiration from the earth’s natural elements – earth, water, fire, air. This is an international design competition and a wonderful achievement for Zoey.

Zoey Croucher (Year 8)
3rd Place National Wool4School Competition 2024

Belridge Secondary College’s Specialist Fashion Design Program success in this competition speaks volumes having had finalists in the Wool4School competition every year for the past six years, as well as receiving teacher awards/recognition.  This annual student design competition encourages budding designers to use Merino wool for innovative thinking and creative design. Find out more about our Fashion Design program and how to apply here:

https://belridgecollege.wa.edu.au/specialist-programs/sfd/

Selection of entries in the Junior category, 2024: 

Fashion Design - Millinery Task 

Our talented Year 9 and 10 Fashion Design students have created headpieces inspired by song lyrics. They used an array of millinery techniques to manipulate fabrics and materials and bring their ideas to life. 

Kristie Wintle - Fashion Design Teacher

Save the Date!

Hospitality Food Hall

As part of their final unit, Year 12 Hospitality students were assessed this term by an external VET Assessor on Wednesday, 28 August 2024.  To complete this, students organised and ran a Food Hall style lunch service for staff.  The focus of the final unit was ‘Customer Service Skills’.  Delights on offer were a range of sandwiches made fresh to order and espresso coffees, milkshakes, and iced coffee - what a treat!

Congratulations to all students on the successful completion of your Certificate II in Hospitality.

Numeracy Week

During Term 3, Week 7, the school celebrated its love of all things numbers with Numeracy Week. One of the most popular activities was the students taking on each other (and in some cases the teachers!) in mental math questions at break times. It was fantastic to see so many students getting involved in the task.

For those who entered the guess the lollies in the jar competition, we can announce the following winners:

Year 7	246 lollies won by Emily Burgess (7.06)	Guess of 245
Year 8	288 lollies won by Jake Thompson (8.06)	Guess of 286
Year 9	289 lollies won by Kaja Kabelka (9.07)	Guess of 287
Year 10	279 lollies won by Aidan Callanan (10.05)	Guess of 277
Year 11 / 12	3327 lollies won by William Hyder (12.06)	Guess of 325

We also ran a competition for who could recite the most digits of Pi. In a staggering result, Josh Pronk (Year 12) was successfully able to recite 162 digits of Pi - a fantastic effort!

Congratulations also to Bridget Piestrzeniewicz (Year 9) and Bodhi Mack (Year 7) for reciting 100 digits and Riley Smith (Year 8) and Kiriana Ngatai (Year 7) for reciting 45 and 50 digits respectively.

Well done to Joshua Finlayson (Year 12) who was able to recall 25 digits of the less well-known value of 'e'.

A big thank-you to the members of the Numeracy Committee and staff in our  Mathematics Learning Area for their efforts during the week to bring the numeracy activities to the students. But most importantly, thanks to the students for their active participation. We look forward to what next year will bring.

Wayne Anderson
Head of Learning Area - Mathematics

Your Library

As part of our College library collection, students and staff have access to online graphic novels, comics and manga provided by Comics Plus. This means that students can access and read titles anywhere they are, as long as they have internet connection. 

These texts offer students a chance to interact with storytelling in a more user-friendly format, enabling them to build an understanding of vocabulary, syntax, and storyline through illustrations, structure and order of scenes, and the placement of characters. A lot of times there will be graphic novel adaptions of classic texts that will support engagement with what is being covered in class. Some posters have been made of some current titles that can be read online. 

An app is also available to download for ease of access. If you have any questions,  or need details on how to access this free resource, please feel free to come see me in the Library. 

Sarah-Jane Lang
Library Officer

Celebration of Reading - Coming next term!

Due to the very busy nature of Term 3, which includes numerous theme weeks, sports carnivals, and days to raise awareness for very important causes, the decision was made to move Book Week celebrations at the College to next Term.

Term 4, Week 4 will see the launch of the Belridge Celebration of Reading, to include lots of activities for staff and students, and of course, the dress-up day and photo booth.  Book Week costumes will be on sale now this event now passed - so head to the shops or go online to see if you can grab a bargain and join in the fun next term!

Joanne Baker
HOLA - English 

Student Council 

At Belridge Secondary College, the Student Council truly outdid themselves in their enthusiastic support of the Fight Cancer Foundation’s Footy Colours Day. This national fundraising event, held every September, rallies Australians to unite in support of kids battling cancer, and our students were eager to contribute.

On the day of the event, the school was awash in a sea of vibrant team colours as students donned their favourite footy jerseys and apparel. The Student Council encouraged everyone to get involved with a gold coin donation, transforming a regular school day into a festive celebration of community spirit and generosity.

The excitement didn’t stop at just wearing colours. Students had the chance to further express their support with some fun extras—coloured hair spray and face painting added a splash of creativity and joy to the occasion. The atmosphere was electric, with DJ Steel and the Belridge Beats playing a range of teams sporting tunes and everyone coming together not only to show off their team spirit, but also to make a meaningful difference for a great cause.

Overall, the event was a huge success, reflecting the strong sense of community and compassion within Belridge Secondary College. The Student Council's efforts in organising and promoting the Footy Colours Day played a crucial role in raising awareness and funds for the Fight Cancer Foundation, demonstrating the power of collective action in the fight against cancer. 

Thank you to everyone involved in supporting our cause. 

Raised funds so far: $361

Jodie Grieve
Student Council Coordinator

 

Geography Field Trip  

On Thursday, 15 August and Wednesday, 28 August 2024 respectively the Year 12 ATAR and Year 11 General Geography students undertook fieldwork in Perth's Central Business District (CBD) and Inner Mixed Zone (IMZ).

The students departed from Edgewater station at 08:45 and made their way (via train and CAT bus) to Claisebrook Cove. It was here the students observed and recorded the features that makes this area one of the most desirable inner-city locations surrounding Perth but also evidence of East Perth's industrial past, culminating with a field sketch of Optus Stadium from the picturesque Victoria Gardens.

Departing Victoria Gardens (again on CAT bus) the students then headed to the cultural hub of Northbridge, Perth. Students made their way through Yagan Square and then along James, Lake, and Aberdeen Streets, witnessing the sights, smells, and sounds of the diverse food scene, independent retailers, and a thriving arts and entertainment scene.

Next, Boola Bardip, across Wellington St, through a maze of arcades to end up in the financial core of WA, St Georges Terrace. It was here students observed and recorded various urban processes, as well as appreciating Perth's global position in the resources sector before making their way through London Court and into the Hay St Mall for lunch.

During lunch, which gave students free-range of the malls, they were able to observe and make note of all the factors that make this area the retail centre of Perth, including undertaking some retail therapy of their own. Once lunch concluded, we made our way to the Perth Underground and headed back to the suburbs.

A special thanks to both classes for their exemplary behaviour on the day.

Ryan Stevens
Teacher of Humanities & Social Sciences

Year 12 ATAR Geography students fieldtrip 2024

Year 11 General Geography students fieldtrip 2024

Powering Careers in Energy (PCiE) Exploration Day

As part of the PCiE course, students have the opportunity to visit CHEVRON for a day to interact with industry professionals and students from other schools to further develop their understand of the LNG sector.

On Thursday, 5 September 2024, students visited the CHEVRON building in Perth where they interacted with volunteers who provided students with an idea of the operations and career options at CHEVRON. Students were mixed into groups with students from other schools, forming networks and working together to experience different aspects of the LNG chain through a series of hands-on activities.

Belridge Secondary College students represented our school with distinction and received some positive feedback from volunteers regarding their behaviour and participation throughout the day.

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the staff at CHEVRON Australia and Australian Earth Science Education for their time and efforts in providing students with such an enriching day of exploration.

Lucius Chen
Head of Learning Area – Technology & Enterprise 

 

Year 9 & 10 AEP Excursion to Canberra, 2024

Students from Belridge Secondary College recently undertook an education tour of the national capital, Canberra from 4 to 9 August 2024. Students were given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage, and democracy. The Australian Government recognizes the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government contributes funding to our school to the amount of $510 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion. The staff and students at Belridge Secondary College are very grateful for this financial support, as for some families, this would not have been able to happen without the funds provided. All information for this financial support can be found at: https://www.pacer.org.au/

I would also personally like to thank Mrs Green, Mr Macdonald and Mr Richardson for attending the Canberra AEP Trip with me. Their efforts throughout the week made it so enjoyable for myself and the students attending. We are very grateful for the their time away from their families to create a great experience for the Belridge Academic Extension students. 

Some of our Year 9 students have generously shared their experiences of the trip below. Enjoy the read!

Ms Linto
HOLA - Humanities and Social Sciences

Sunday, 4 August 2024

"To start our trip in Canberra, first we had to get there! We took off at around half past 4 in the morning, landing in Sydney at about 12 noon, where we got to stop and eat lunch, with some of us getting a bit lost on the way to the bus. The drive was really long, or it certainly felt like it. We finally arrived to camp at about 6pm, and settled in.

Monday, 5 August 2024

First on our agenda was Australia’s Parliament House. The architecture inside and out was really interesting, boasting its twenty-two-kilogram flag on top of the building. The flag is larger than the size of a double decker bus. The two Houses of Parliament inside were massive, which we got to see from the glass press boxes, about 30 feet above the floor. Next, we had the opportunity to view the Governor General’s residence. It had some really nice gardens, and a great view of Molonglo River. They showed us the dining hall, which had a 60-odd foot table, which took over a year to carve. The most interesting thing we got to see was the Governor General’s Rolls Royce, Phantom IV, painted in a deep blue colour. We then reboarded the bus, and went up to the top of Mount Black, then to the AEC, which is housed in the back of Old Parliament House. They gave us a short talk about voting, and how to register to vote, and then we went back to the camp. Finally, we went indoor rock climbing, which we were stoked about! They had a cool inverted section, where you actually climbed, while hanging from the roof.

Tuesday, 6 August 2024

First up on Tuesday, was Geoscience. We got to look at some awesome rocks, and add a layer of sand to the tubes, which have layers of sediment from every school that has ever visited, going back almost 25 years. We got to see a seismometer and make it register all of us 42 students jumping up and down on the floor.  Afterwards, we visited the National Arboretum, which is a vast garden with lots of nice trees. Next, we visited the war memorial, which had some very interesting war memorabilia, like a MIG-15, and a P-51 Mustang, which both would have witnessed the theatre of war, and the walls with all the servicemen and women names, that passed away at war.The War Memorial was a definite favorite for many students on the trip.  After this was a drive up to the top of Mount Ainslie, which had a nice view and lines up perfectly with the Parliament Houses, which was amazing to see. Finally, we visited the National Museum, which had some really cool installations, like a steel beam, bent over itself by Cyclone Tracy, some sick surfboards from the Olympics, and one shaped and painted by an Aboriginal shaper, covered in traditional art, and some of the whaling guns from Albany’s whaling station.

Wednesday, 7 August 2024

The first stop for the day was the tour of the Old Parliament House, which was really interesting. The architecture inside blows the doors off new Parliament House, sporting enormous, intricate carved wooden walls within the two Houses and large illustrious chandeliers. Next off was the National Art Gallery. There was some beautiful art hung in the building, but we didn’t stop to look, as we were on a tour, and had to follow along with our guide, who explained to us what she thought the artworks meant. One of the pieces of art - the NGA - is a $75 million Jackson Pollock artwork, that raised many questions about the value and purchasing of Art by the Government. The Botanical Gardens were probably the highlight of my trip. It was absolutely beautiful. There was a long rainforest trail, sunken about 15 feet below ground level, which wound its way approximately 150 feet through an artificial ravine. It felt like stepping from Canberra, into northeast Queensland’s rainforests. We then drove through the embassy district of Canberra, which seemed to go on forever. Interestingly, The United States’ embassy, was built entirely on a foundation of American soil, shipped over expressly for the construction of the embassy. Finally, we visited Canberra’s deep space satellite array, which assisted as the final visual checkpoint for Apollo 11, followed by the satellite in Carnarvon, WA. Here we got to see how we can support the work of NASA by helping them analyse the billions of images they are taking of space by going onto a website and picking a few photos to examine.

Thursday, 8 August 2024

In the morning our first stop was Questacon, which had some fun exhibits like the drop test, and the massive Tesla coil. Next up was the AIS, which had some things from the Olympics, like jerseys, bikes, and surfboards, used in Teahupo’o. They had some interactive things upstairs, such as skiing simulators, and a skeleton sled simulator, which were really fun. Penultimately, we went shopping at Canberra’s Canberra Centre, where some of us got some nice clothes from the skate shop and talked to one of the owners about Canberra’s up and coming skating scene. We went and got some awesome jorts from a surf shop - weird for a place with no waves, right? Finally, we were off to the CIT for a silver service dinner, where we enjoyed cured salmon, and some great duck. Students received awards for fun and positive things they had done during the trip.

Friday, 9 August 2024

We left for Sydney early, arriving around 12 noon. First stop was a quick trip to Bondi Beach. Then we headed off at Mrs. Macquarie’s chair, built for her to watch the inbound ships coming into the harbour, opposite the Opera House, where we walked to for our tour. You can’t appreciate how big it really is until you are standing right next to it. It was a real miracle of Australian design, in my opinion. The sheer magnitude of concrete involved is immense, even more than was required to build the entire Sydney Harbour Bridge. What was probably the best part (for me at least) was Bondi. I was super stoked to see the surf breaks, and also be standing at the place where surfing was introduced to Australia, in 1915 by Duke Kahanamoku. We didn’t get to see it, but the board he shaped while in Sydney is displayed in the Sydney Surf Life Saving Club. Drawing our amazing trip to a close, we got back to Sydney Airport, had dinner, and then flew back to Perth."

Note: We would also like to acknowledge Ashleigh Cove in Year 9, who presented  a talk on the trip to the Wanneroo Rotary Club at their recent meeting. It is great to see students share their learning with the local community.

The Belridge House Athletics Carnival, originally postponed due to poor weather, successfully took place on Thursday, 29 August 2024.  In the lead up to the big day, PE staff organised and managed various pre-carnival events during recess and lunch, which saw an excellent uptake from students.

The carnival itself ran smoothly, with strong numbers and a great atmosphere throughout the day. Students displayed exemplary behaviour, making it fun and enjoyable for staff and students. Several records were broken, and many personal bests achieved, this all resulting in many points being accumulated for each House.

This was evident in the prestigious BELRIDGE BOLT, with the best 8 girls and 8 boys separately competing against each other over 100m. Results as follows:

This is the third year in a row that Sophie Williams has won the Belridge Bolt - amazing result!

A big thank you to our Belridge community for supporting this event and to the PE staff, teaching staff, and Darren, our Gardener all for their continual support.

In the final standing, congratulations to MARLINS who claimed first place with 3891 points, second place to SHARKS with 3374 points, closely followed by MANTA RAYS with 3358 points.

Time was a factor, due to the high number of athletes competing, therefore at the end of the day students only found out about the overall House winner. On the day students accumulate individual points which tallies up for the title of Champion and Runner-up for each age group.

Congratulations to the 2024 winners of the Champion Boy and Champion Girl for each year group: 

Our Champion Boys and Girls will be presented with medallions in year assemblies.

House Champions for each year group will receive trophies.

Alas, Manta Rays did not win a year group this year, but across the board they performed admirably gaining points for their House, and with such a close finish. Manta Rays - your time will come...

Paul Bennett
HOLA Health & Physical Education

Photo credits - Ms Jodie Grieve (Media Teacher)

Netball Multicultural Carnival

The Multicultural Carnival, held on Friday, 16 August 2024, is a prominent event on the Netball WA calendar, celebrating the rich cultural and linguistic diversity within our community. This annual, school-based competition, organised by NWA, is a day dedicated to promoting participation, fostering netball skills, and encouraging sportsmanship among players from various ethnic backgrounds. The carnival emphasises the importance of cultural diversity in Western Australia, with a requirement that each team has always at least five players on the court who either have one or more parents born overseas or identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

Belridge Netball Academy is proud to have over 65% of its students coming from multicultural backgrounds, making this event particularly significant for our teams. This year, our players showcased their talent and resilience, achieving remarkable results as a school.

The following teams were overall winners remaining undefeated over the day:

These teams demonstrated outstanding skill and teamwork and were far too strong for their competition on the day.

Our Belridge 5 (Year 8) Team and Belridge 1 (Year 10) Team had notable performances. Belridge Team 5 narrowly missing out on a trophy due to a 1-goal difference, affected by a scorecard discrepancy. Belridge Team 1 lost on percentage by a slim margin of 2.5%, reflecting the highly competitive nature of the event.

Belridge Team 7 (Year 7), despite a valiant effort and winning 4 of 5 games, lost their last game by 7 goals to a strong Atwell side, securing a commendable 2nd place.  Belridge Team 6 (Year 8) faced tough competition and unfortunately lost 3 games, but their determination was evident throughout.

The Multicultural Carnival was not just about winning but about embracing and celebrating our diverse community. We are incredibly proud of all our Teams for their hard work, dedication, and the spirit they brought to the carnival. Congratulations to everyone involved, and we look forward to more successes in the future.

Janneke Markovic and Tarryn Hunt
Netball Coordinators
Teachers – Health & Physical Education

Specialist Netball Enrolments 2025

Trials for prospective students commencing Year 7 in 2025 - who wish to be considered to join our Specialist Netball program - have now been rescheduled to  Thursday, 17 October 2024 - register your place here: 

Belridge Secondary College Shines at High Schools Cup Volleyball Competition!

On Friday, 16 August 2024 Belridge Secondary College participated in the exciting High Schools Cup, an interschool volleyball competition open to all public and private schools in the State. The event was a fantastic showcase of athleticism, teamwork, and school spirit, with four teams representing our school: two Year 12 teams and two Year 11 teams.

All our students played with incredible energy and demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship throughout the competition. 

Year 12 Boys: Our Year 12 Boys team finished second in their pool, showcasing great determination and skill, and ultimately secured fifth place overall in the highly competitive B Division.

Year 12 Boys – Xander Glamuzina (Captain), Reece Jolliffe (Vice Captain),
Jayden Rotham, Sahaj Bhamrah, Kye McFarland, Ryan Andrews, Charlie Williams,
Coen Davies and Lachy Scott

Year 12 Girls: The Year 12 Girls team were unstoppable in their pool games, topping the group to advance to the major semi-final. Despite their best efforts, they narrowly lost in two sets but left a strong impression with their performance.

Year 12 Girls – Lily Allen (Captain), Olivia Brice (Vice Captain), Madelen Williams,
Taya Hynes, Olivia Williams (Year 11), Madelin Gibbs and Charlotte Cove (Year 11)

Year 11 Boys: The Year 11 Boys team also had a stellar run, going undefeated in the pool stage and reaching the major semi-final. In a nail-biting match, they fought bravely but fell just short, losing in three intense sets.

Year 11 Girls – Matilda Leahy (Captain), Ella Newbury, Molly McLeod,
Maddy Belsham, Rylee Herangi, Charlotte Mensing and Larissa Wade 

We are incredibly proud of all our students for their hard work, determination, and display of true sportsmanship. Congratulations to all our players for representing Belridge Secondary College so well - we look forward to even more success in future competitions.

Brent Jarvis-Spinks
Teacher - Health & Physical Education 

The following events are organised and supported by the College’s Career Practitioner, Mr Ashley Mouritz, as part of our Year 9 Career Program. At the end of each event students are reminded of the importance of making informed career related decisions and to continue to seek out resources they can use to develop a suitable and meaningful individual career pathway on completion of their secondary studies.

Year 9 ‘The Reel Thing’ Career Taster

A group of energetic and creative Year 9 students recently attended North Metropolitan TAFE's Northbridge campus on Wednesday, 14 August 2024 to participate in the Pinhole Photography career taster. Accompanying students were Ms Grieve, the College’s amazing photography teacher and the College’s Career Practitioner, Mr Mouritz.  The excursion was part of the Year 9 Career Taster Program, designed to provide students with opportunities to explore careers and pathways of interest. All attendees were excited to attend TAFE for the day and experience what life as a TAFE student studying an arts-based course would be like.

Students spent the day touring the Creative Arts studios at TAFE, created a pinhole camera and developed their photos in one of the photography dark rooms. Students also enjoyed spending time in the photography studio, taking and capturing a range of still and motion photos. Year 9 students from West Coast Secondary Education Support Centre (WCSESP) were also present and engaged in the day. It was great to see how well students from WCSEP and Belridge Secondary College worked together to produce some amazing images. The excursion was a great success, with all students involved providing positive feedback regarding the enjoyment and direction that the event provided them with. Thank you to Miss Grieve for capturing some great photos of our students engaged in the day.

Mr Ashley Mouritz
Career Practitioner

Skills West Career and Employment Expo

On Thursday, 25 and Friday, 26 July 2024, a group of Year 9 students and Years 11 to 12 Career and Enterprise students recently attended the annual Skills West Career and Employment Expo, held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event is WA’s biggest career and employment based event, with over 140 exhibitors providing training and employment information. The Expo hosted over 140 organisations and employers, which allowed students to directly network with a wide range of training and employment providers. Attendees also got the opportunity to:

• Gain free career advice;
• Enjoy the daily Career Seminars;
• Learn how to write a winning resume;
• Talk with key organisations at the Construction Training Fund’s Construction Hub;
• Speak with members of the Australian Defence Force;
• Experience the Try a Skill Interactive Displays; and
• See the WA WorldSkills Regional Competition

Students benefitted from directly sourcing tertiary course information from a range of TAFE, university, and private training providers; as well as directly network with some of Australia’s well-known government and private employers. Students confidently asked for information, advice, and accessed resources.

Thank you to Arts and Photography teacher extraordinaire, Jodie Grieve, who also accompanied me and captured some great images of students involved in the day.

Mr Ashley Mouritz
Career Practitioner

Year 9 ‘Song Factory’ Career Taster 

On Friday, 21 June 2024 eight creative and talented Year 9 students recently attended the ‘Song Factory’ career taster at North Metropolitan TAFE’s Leederville campus. All attendees were excited to attend and experience what life as a TAFE student, studying a music-based course, would be like.

During the day students had the opportunity to tour the state-of-the-art music facilities, including recording studios and live stage set up, that TAFE students studying Certificates and Diplomas in Music have access to. They also had the opportunity to plan, rehearse and perform an original song in the professional recording studio. It was great to see the high level of enthusiasm and teamwork displayed by all attendees. Students also benefitted from exploring career pathways related to screen and media, including music performance, stage directing, broadcasting, sound and lighting coordinating and production coordination.

The highlight of the day was students getting to see a live band perform onstage. Year 12 Belridge Secondary College student, Charlotte Wood, who is currently completing a Vocational Education and Training (VET) program at Leederville, in combination with her secondary studies, was lead vocalist for her TAFE based band, Left Hook. Charlotte and her band were really excited to perform for Belridge students, and the show highlighted what a great experience studying Music at TAFE would be for students in the future.  

Mr Ashley Mouritz
Career Practitioner

‘Get Into Resources’ Mining Exploration Day

On Thursday, 27 June 2024 forty Year 9 and 10 students recently attended the annual ‘Get Into Resources’ mining exploration day, held at North Metropolitan TAFE’s East Perth campus. Attendees all volunteered to attend the excursion, as the event is designed to expose students to training and employment opportunities in the mining and resources sectors. Students participated in a range of hands-on and information-based sessions, that provided them with insight in this field. Students were also informed of the many job opportunities and multiple VET and university pathway options they can pursue to gain employment in the industry. Highlights of the day included:

• Students getting to hear real life stories from a range of people employed in the resources sector.
• Students networking with training and employment providers during the career expo.
• Students using teamwork to engineer an efficient ‘egg drop’ mechanism
• Students having a go at the drilling and shot firing mining simulators and
• Students taking away a range of freebies from employers such as the Gold Industry Group, BHP and Rio Tinto.

At the end of the event students were reminded of the importance of making informed career related decisions and to continue to seek out resources they can use to develop a suitable and meaningful individual career pathway on completion of their secondary studies. Unsurprisingly, many attendees have plans to pursue employment in the resources sector.

Mr Ashley Mouritz
Career Practitioner

Calling ALL students! We need a design for our front and back covers for the 2024 Yearbook and need your artist flair and imagination to make this happen. There will be a prize for the winning entry and the winner's design will be immortalised along with our 2024 memories forever!

Entries close Term 4 - Week 1 on Friday, 11 October 2024. Designs can either be digital, hand drawn or painted. 

Previous Yearbooks can be found in the College library if you are looking for inspiration. 

Student please see Daily Notice for full details and criteria.

YOUR DESIGN MUST BE INCLUDE:

Size: A4
Designs can either be digital, hand drawn or painted. 

A4 Front Cover must include:
The school logo / Belridge Secondary College / 2024 Yearbook

A4 Back Cover must include this text:
Belridge Secondary College / 08 9408 8000 / Email: belridge.sc@education.wa.edu.au / 17 Gwendoline Drive, Beldon, WA 6027 / www.belridgecollege.wa.edu.au

Please email Mrs Harris - nicola.harris@education.wa.edu.au for the school logo if you wish to enter.

ENTIRES TO BE HANDED IN TO FRONT OFFICE OR EMAILED TO MRS HARRIS BY THE CLOSING DATE - GOOD LUCK! 

Our final tours for the year are scheduled in Term 4 on Tuesday, 3 December 2024 at 9am. Bookings can be made via SCHOOL INTERVIEWS or QR code below. 

The school's bank details are as follows:

Belridge Secondary College
BSB: 066 040
Account No. 1990 6002
Ref: Student Name/Year/Description
i.e. John Smith Y8 Camp 

Your Voluntary Contributions Really Do Count...

Thank you to all that have paid voluntary contributions for this year, or set-up payment plans.  Your contributions enable our teaching staff to enrich students' programs with vital educational resources for the classroom.

We appreciate that many of our families are feeling the squeeze, but if you are able to contribute even a small amount - every dollar really does count. 

Could you use an extra $500?