2024 Start to School

We look forward to welcoming students back after the summer holidays. We have a staggered start as our students return to school. Please see the table below for specific information on the first two days of school and the times different year levels will start. 

Year 7, 11, and 12 will start on Tuesday 30th January.

Year 8, 9 and 10 will start on Wednesday 31st January.

Assemblies

In the first couple of days, all students will participate in year level assemblies. All year levels will be introduced to our Vision at Box Hill High School.  BHHS’s vision is ‘Box Hill High School is a learning community that foster resilience, a passion for lifelong development and a commitment to impacting the world in positive ways.’

Students will be introduced to the people in the school where they can seek help and support from during the year.  The first people they can seek support from are the sub schools’ team and the wellbeing support team.

In the assembly, the sub school team will be very clear with students about the expectations at BHHS.

• Uniform expectations
• Behaviour expectations
• Learning expectations
• Community expectations

During the assembly, students will be encouraged to get involved in the school community.  There will be many opportunities throughout the year for student to build connections with the school. The key opportunities in Term 1 are joining lunchtime clubs, volunteering for class captain, representing their house in the swimming sports and cross country, and the school production which will be showing in early Term 2. 

Year Level Themes

In the assemblies, all students will be introduced to the year level themes and students will have a focus on developing the attributes and skills linked to these themes. 

Year 7 Positive Relationships: Our goal is for year 7 students to feel happy to come to school.  To develop a sense of connection to the school community with the support of their teachers and peers.  To create a positive start to school through transition activities. For all students to feel safe and encouraged in their classrooms to pursue their learning and challenge themselves.  To understand that it is alright to make mistakes, as this as an opportunity to learn and grow. To establish new respectful relationships with peers, student mentors, and teachers. To have an identity and a focus on self-compassion and self-care. To have a sense of belonging.

Year 8 Gratitude: Our goal is for year 8 students to foster a sense of gratitude in their daily lives and for them to be empathetic to what others value too. Create a general state of kindness and appreciation of difference within their community.  For students to be aware of and challenge negative bias in themselves and others and apply that when reflecting on their learning

Year 9 Resilience: Our goal is for year 9 students to be able learn strategies to improve coping with challenges and disappointments that arise and begin to understand that change is a part of living.  To have the confidence to tackle solving problems and take risks and to not see failure as only negative.  For students to value the importance of making connection throughout their community as a vital strength in building their resilience

Year 10 Focused Attention: Our goal is for all year 10 students to be able to learn and consistently practice mindfulness to develop focused attention. For students to lead mindfulness sessions and demonstrate the benefits of focused attention based on research.  It is hoped that students will find this strategy invaluable in their world that is increasing with academic pressure and an inescapable social media environment.

Year 11 Strengths and Purpose: Our goal is for all Year 11 students to have a greater understanding of their strengths so they are aware of how they can contribute in the world.  This will come from the identification and exploration of their personal attributes, values, academic strengths, talents, interests, and passions.  Year 11s will be encouraged to develop a moral purpose by which they can start shaping their future.  A better understanding of themselves and their strengths will hopefully improve their intrinsic motivation to work towards their goals and to make more thoughtful and informed decisions that are aligned with their values.

Year 12 Healthy Mind and Body: For Year 12 students to find balance in their lives and to be consolidating the healthy foundations for good mental health during what can be a stressful year but more importantly for life beyond school. Developing a toolkit for students to feel confident in self-regulating their mental or physical condition and responding in effective ways to perform at an optimal level.  It is crucial that our students can leave school with the skills to manage stress and identify strategies that strengthen their wellbeing to achieve overall greater life satisfaction.

Uniform Expectations

Students are required to be in full school uniform every day unless there is an approved ‘free dress’ event.  If there is a reason that a student is unable to be in full school uniform, a note from the parent/carer is required by the Sub-school and a uniform pass will be provided for the day.

Students are permitted to wear the full BHHS sports uniform to school if they have a sport or HPE class scheduled on that day.  Full school uniform is to be worn on all school excursions and sporting events unless otherwise notified.

In 2024, we have introduced some extra uniform items that can selected to be worn as part of the school uniform.  We have introduced a puffer jacket for winter, tracksuit pants and shorts with inbuilt leggings.   More information on uniforms can be found at the end of the newsletter.

Schedule for the first two days of 2024

Start of Term 1, 2024

Please note, Year 8, 9 & 10 are not required at school on this first day.  If Year 10 students have a VCE class timetabled for this day, they are NOT expected to attend their class.

By Shareen Bottrell

Assistant Principal