OUR VISION
Byron Bay High School delivers a collaborative learning environment where students achieve excellence through our connection with community and land, creating holistic leaders of the future.
Term 1 2025
Week 8
- Fri 21 Mar - Harmony Day | Mufti clothing day
- Fri 21 Mar - Year 12 SLR beach fitness
- Fri 21 Mar - Open Boys and Girls Touch Football Trials | Tweed Heads
Week 9
- Sun 23 Mar to Sat 29 Mar - Year 12 Heron Island excursion | NEW DATES
- Mon 24 Mar - Year 9 PDHPE Swimming Program | classes 9PEJ, 9PEI, 9PEG
- Mon 24 Mar - Year 10 PASS beach fitness
- Mon 24 Mar to Thu 27 Mar - Country as Teacher camp
- Tue 25 Mar - North Coast Swimming Carnival | Kempsey NEW DATE
- Tue 25 Mar - Year 9 PDHPE Swimming Program | classes 9PEA, 9PEY, 9PES
- Tue 25 Mar - P&C Parent Information Evening | 6:30 pm, PAC | NEW DATE
- Thu 27 Mar - Year 9 PASS beach fitness
- Fri 28 Mar - Year 8 PDHPE Swimming Program | classes 8PEJ, 8PEA, 8PEL
- Fri 28 Mar - Year 10 PASS beach fitness
- Fri 28 Mar - Year 7 Vaccinations | NEW DATE
- Fri 28 Mar - Boys Bill Turner Cup and Girls Bill Turner Trophy | BBHS
Week 10
- Mon 31 Mar - Year 8 PDHPE Swimming Program | classes 8PEU, 8PEM, 8PES
- Tue 1 Apr - Year 12 SLR beach fitness
- Tue 1 Apr - FNC Open's Boys and Girls Soccer | Grafton
- Tue 1 Apr - Donut Day | Year 12 Fundraiser
- Wed 2 Apr - Year 9 Outdoor Education Brunswick River paddle
- Wed 2 Apr - Safer Driver Course 2
- Thu 3 Apr - Year 9 PDHPE Swimming Program | classes 9PEA, 9PEY, 9PES
- Fri 4 Apr - Whole School Cross Country
- Fri 4 Apr - Year 12 SLR beach fitness
Week 11
- Mon 7 Apr to Wed 9 Apr - Year 9 Emu Gully Adventure Camp
- Mon 7 Apr to Wed 9 Apr - Year 10 Emu Gully Challange Camp
- Tue 8 Apr - Year 8 PDHPE Swimming Program | classes 8PEJ, 8PEA, 8PEL
- Wed 9 Apr to Fri 11 Apr - Year 7 and 11 Camp | Tullabugera
Special visitors come to Byron Bay High School
Last Friday, we had some distinguished visitors pay a visit to our school, including NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car, NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar and Member for Ballina Tamara Smith.
The purpose of their visit was to check in on schools whose children and their families faced the challenges of Tropical Cyclone Alfred and also the flooding events in 2022.
Ms Marcus showed the guests around our school, showcasing the great things we are doing at Byron Bay High School. The Deputy Premier and Secretary were highly impressed with the quality of learning and the range of programs our school has to offer. Some discussion was also had regarding the covered learning area (COLA) and upgrades that our school needs.
A big thank you to our guests for their time and commitment to supporting Byron Bay High School and Public Education. We thank them for their genuine interest in our school.
SRC news
Harmony Day Mufti - tomorrow, Friday 21 March
Tomorrow, Friday 21 March, we will be celebrating Harmony Day, a special event where we come together to recognise the diversity within our school community. We encourage students to wear casual clothes in orange, red, or yellow and a bring a gold coin donation, which will be collected by the SRC.
Please ensure that students wear appropriate casual clothing for a school day. Clothing should be sensible, and avoid offensive logos or language, and wear fully enclosed footwear (no crocs, thongs or slides).
All funds raised will go towards providing resources for schools in Vanuatu, a country some of our students had the opportunity to visit last year.
Q&A parents and carers session
Connection, communication and school life at Byron Bay High School
If you are looking to strengthen your connection with your teen(s), better understand how Byron Bay High School operates and feel more connected with the parent community please join us for our 2025 Q&A session for parents.
The Byron Bay High School Wellbeing and Executive teams will form the panel for this forum.
- Tuesday 25 March, from 6-8 pm
- In the Byron Bay High School Performing Arts Centre (PAC)
This is a FREE event. Please let us know if you are coming and register your attendance at:
If you would like to submit a question anonymously ahead of the event, please do so via the online form:
There will be an opportunity afterwards to informally chat with panel members and other parents over tea, coffee and cake.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Regards, The BBHS Parents and Citizen Association
Year 12 conquer the Overland Track!
The final installment ……
The final chapter in an incredible journey was completed as we successfully tackled the Overland Track in Tasmania. What started as a vision in Year 7 —to create opportunities for students to challenge themselves, disconnect from technology, and reconnect with their peers and inner selves— has now become a reality.
This adventure was about building resilience, teamwork, perseverance, and achieving something that few teenagers get the chance to experience.
Along the way, our group has conquered the challenging camps at Emu Gully, hiked the breath-taking Three Capes Track, and now added a 6-day, 5-night self-sufficient trek through the Tasmanian wilderness to our growing list of achievements.
A team of 11 students, along with Mr Horn and myself, embarked on this epic hike, facing a mix of weather conditions — rain, mist, sunshine, and even temperatures as low as -2°C. Each student carried a backpack averaging 21 kilos, packed with all the essentials: mattresses, tents, stoves, sleeping bags, clothes, food, and water.
Throughout the journey, we experienced highs and some lows, shared songs, bodily noises (we had 9 boys and 2 girls) and laughter (a lot of it!), braved a swim in the icy waters each day and most of us saw a wombat. Most importantly, we supported each other every step of the way to get each other through.
This experience will be a lifelong memory for these students, myself and Mr Horn, and everyone should be incredibly proud of their achievement. Well done to all!
Mrs Kelley Caoyonan - Sports Coordinator, PDHPE teacher and Year 12 Year Advisor
BBHS students get set to perform at the Bluesfest
Our 18th consecutive year of performing!
2025 will be the 18th year that our home grown Byron Bay High School talent has performed at the Bluesfest, Australia’s premier contemporary Blues & Roots music festival. The Bluesfest has been a major part of our local community since 1990, and they've showcased music from around the world every Easter long weekend. It has also been a wonderful avenue to showcase up and coming talent from our local region through the annual High School Showcase.
This year we are proud to announce that BBHS' very own solo artist, Year 9 student Heidi K who won last year's BBHS Battle of the Band, and also the newly formed Year 12 Band of Tess K, Ryan T, Indio S and Jasmine A will be representing Byron Bay High School in the Bluesfest High School Showcase. Please come along and support our performers as they rock the Bluesfest stage on Saturday 19 April, between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm.
A massive thanks to Ian Davies who has worked with Bluesfest management for the past 18 years to include local high school talent in this showcase!
Over the years, Byron Bay High School has had a long-standing representation at Bluesfest. Our very own Stan Walker was our first student showcased. Stan went on to win the 7th season of Australian Idol in 2009!
Here's a trip down memory lane, with a few old articles (from when The Byron News newspaper was still in print) and also a few photos from more recent years!
Pi Day Competition
Congratulations to all the competitors who participated in our annual Pi Day competition last Friday. It was a fantastic event, with some students impressively recalling Pi (π) to an incredible number of digits! In the end, the student who recited Pi correctly for the longest was Danni.
Danni has been crowned the the Pi Champion for 2025 and has won a free pie of her choice from the canteen!
Congratulations to all the students who participated and celebrated the magic of mathematics with us.
Ms Phoebe Kiddle - Maths teacher and Year 8 Year Advisor
Distance Education news
NSW School of Languages
On Monday 17 March, Year 9 student Texas P travelled to the NSW School of Languages in Sydney to participate in an Indonesian Lesson Day. This was part of his Indonesian course which he studies via Distance Education.
The day was organised by his teacher Christin and he was able to participate in activities with 8 other students from across NSW who are also studying remotely.
Ms Robyn Ellis - Teacher Librarian and Distance Education Coordinator
CAPAL news
'Undertow' performance from Shock Therapy Arts
Last Friday, students in Stage 5 Drama were joined by Cape Byron Steiner students in our Performing Arts Centre (PAC) as audience for the visiting theatre company Shock Therapy Arts who performed their moving contemporary theatre production 'Undertow'. In Shock therapy’s words,
"Undertow is a powerful and impactful piece that explores themes of resilience, mental health, relationships, empathy and identity.
It is an honest and powerful look at the hidden forces, beneath the surface that move us and determine the choices we make and the actions we take. Centering around a high school community, the show follows a group of individuals, from a range of backgrounds, all dealing with their own unique challenges".
If you'd like to find out more about 'Undertow' please visit the Shock Therapy Arts website:
Our students were mesmerised by the performance and thoroughly engaged in the following Q&A session with actors Hayden Jones and Sam Foster. Shock Therapy Arts and their work are directly relevant to the work our Year 9 and 10 Drama students are currently immersed in. Year 9 are exploring the dynamics of acting duos on stage in Australian Contemporary theatre (and studying a text that Shock Therapy produce) and Year 10 are in the midst of devising their own Production with a wellbeing focus.
The actors stayed a little longer to chat with Year 10 about their process and strategies for developing effective theatre and we are embedding these approaches into our own Year 10 SPOTT project - Supporting Positive Outcomes Through Theatre.
Ms Simone Museth - Relieving Head Teacher CAPAL
English news
The Writers’ Room
Does your child love to write? Are they someone who can’t help but put their thoughts, ideas and imagination into words on a page? Do they wish you had someone supportive with whom to share their writing? And, are they keen to hear and be inspired by the work of others? Then this is the group for them!
To encourage writers of all ages, the English Faculty will be adding to the BBHS tradition of supporting passionate writers by running a writing group, The Writers’ Room. The group will meet on Fridays at lunch time, every ‘even’ week, in Room 7. They can share writing of any genre or form, or merely come along to listen and be inspired. Poetry, song lyrics, short stories, plays, speeches … all are welcome!
Sport news
Open Boys FNC Soccer Trials
Our Open Boys Soccer team has had a very successful start to their 2025 campaign!
With a blend of youth and experience this year, the boys have united as a team to easily win both games at the recent knockout competition. Our first game was a clinical 11-1 win against Mullumbimby High School, with goals spread across the board. Backing up against Murwillumbah High School in our 2nd game, saw our boys prevail again, with a 12-0 victory, in trying conditions.
The team displayed strong performances in both games, with all players contributing to the scores.
Byron Bay High School is well represented in the Far North Coast (FNC) squad with the following being selected:
- Harry R
- Ryan T
- Cooper B
- Atticus M
- Sam R
- Leo L
- Lucas K
- Nash M
- Valentino L
The team are all keen to continue their winning ways and proceeding further into the Combined High School competition. Our next game is against Kingscliff High School.
Mr Damian Bisogni - Learning Support teacher and team supervisor
Open Girls FNC Soccer Trials
We are thrilled to announce the successful trials for the Open Girls Far North Coast (FNC) team held at Ballina Coast High School last week! It was a fantastic day of competition - our girls showcased their skills and teamwork, achieving an impressive victory against Murwillumbah High School, with a score of 18-0. Their hard work and dedication truly shone through, and we are incredibly proud of each player.
We are also excited to share that 7 talented players from Byron Bay High School have been selected to represent the Far North Coast. Congratulations to the following students for their outstanding performance:
- Hayden A
- Poppy B
- Mia H
- Polly J
- Eloise K
- Eden C
- Isabel D J (Reserve)
We look forward to our next round of competition against Ballina Coast High School, and we encourage everyone to come out and support our girls as they continue to strive for excellence on the field.
Go Byron Bay!
North Coast CHS Rugby Union
Congratulations to Year 12 student Indigo S who recently trialled for the North Coast CHS Rugby Union Women's Team and was selected!
Indigo has worked extremely hard the past year and this is a well deserved selection. She will represent Byron Bay High School as part of the North Coast team at the NSWCHS State Championships in Newcastle on 12-15 May
Save the date for the BBHS Cross Country Carnival!
Our school's cross country carnival will take place on Friday 4 April, from Period 3.
All students are expected to take part in this whole school carnival. Students can complete the course by running, jogging or walking along the beautiful Tallow Beach with friends. More details will be sent to parents and carers soon. Please keep an eye on your email inbox!
Mrs Kelley Caoyonan - Sports Coordinator, PDHPE teacher and Year 12 Year Advisor
Year 9 Scholar recognised for academic excellence
Byron Bay High School student awarded prestigious scholarship
We are thrilled to announce that one of our outstanding Year 9 students, Naomi B, has been awarded the prestigious Harding Miller Scholarship. This remarkable achievement reflects Naomi’s exceptional academic potential, dedication to learning, and commitment to excellence.
As part of this honour, Naomi will attend the upcoming Harding Miller Scholarship Award Celebration in Brisbane. The event, held at the State Library of Queensland, will provide scholars with the opportunity to connect with fellow recipients, engage with Harding Miller staff and mentors, and take part in a range of activities, culminating in the official award ceremony.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Naomi Booranawat on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to following their continued success.
Mr Drew Minton - Year 9 Year Advisor
ASX Schools Sharemarket Game
Byron Bay High School students clean-Sweep the early leaderboard!
Byron Bay High School students have made the best possible start to the 2025 ASX Schools Sharemarket Game. Close to 100 students have bought shares on the Australian market with their $50 000 of virtual funds in the early days of the game and the early results have been extraordinary.
While BBHS students currently occupy all three top positions on the national leaderboard after the first three days of trading, the results on the NSW leaderboard are even more striking. All ten of the top traders in NSW are Byron Bay High School students at this stage of the Game!
While most of our students are currently making profits on their share investments, the most important aspect of the Sharemarket Game is that students are gaining knowledge and skills that will help them in their future lives. We wish our student traders every success with the performance of their share portfolios over the coming weeks and we are very proud of their achievements.
National leaderboard - overall rankings
NSW leaderboard rankings
Mr Dale Stevenson - HSIE teacher
Careers news
For students interested in studying Music at Griffith University
Griffith University's Music Audition & Tertiary Preparation Workshop (TPW) has been designed to ensure participants confidently approach theoretical and practical aspects of the audition process for entrance to a tertiary music institution.
This years program will be offered both in-person, at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University Brisbane City (South Bank), and online.
Participants will learn about requirements for tertiary study entry, improve their audition and interview skills, update their theory and aural knowledge and learn methods to overcome performance anxiety. Performance practice sessions, with Queensland Conservatorium staff, will enhance their preparation for upcoming auditions through personal performance feedback and observations.
For more information and the full schedule visit:
UCAT & Medical Entry
Important information for Year 12 students!
Registrations and bookings to sit UCAT ANZ 2025 are now open! The UCAT ANZ 2025 testing will take place between 1 July and 5 August 2025.
UCAT stands for University Clinical Aptitude Test. It is a computer-based test which assesses a range of mental abilities identified by universities as important to practicing in the fields of medicine and dentistry. IUCAT is one of 3 main criteria used by most universities in Australia and New Zealand to select students into high demand health related careers such as medicine and dentistry (the other two criteria being performance in final high school exams and interviews).
The first time a candidate is eligible to sit the UCAT is during their final year of school, that is, Year 12 (in Australia) or Year 13 (in New Zealand). Candidates can repeat the UCAT yearly and the testing is only conducted once a year.
Students who are considering a career in medicine or dentistry please make careful note of the UCAT 2025 important dates:
UNSW Law Admission Test (LAT)
LAT Plus, is Australia’s leader in Law Admission Test preparation for students who are sitting the UNSW Law Admission Test (LAT). The LAT Accelerator Program, which has helped many students strengthen their critical thinking and persuasive writing skills which are key components for success in the LAT.
Designed and led by lawyers who are UNSW alumni, this program provides expert guidance tailored to the demands of the exam. Please refer to the flyer below for more information.
Year 6 to 7 Transition
Enrolling for Year 7 2026
If you are interested in enrolling your child at Byron Bay High School for Year 7 next year, please take note of the 2-step process for enrolment:
- Complete an online Expression of Interest through your child's primary school (now open)
- If your child's Expression of Interest is successful, complete an online enrolment form and provide the necessary documentation within 14 days of receiving the confirmation email.
ANZAC Day March
Byron Bay RSL sub-Branch ANZAC Day March and Commemoration Service - Friday 25 April
The Byron Bay RSL sub-Branch invites all BBHS students and staff to participate in this year’s ANZAC Day March and Commemoration Service on Friday 25 April, from 10:30 am to approximately 11:40 am.
BBHS teachers Mrs Sergi and Mrs Farrar will meet all students who will be participating in the March at Apex Park at 10:10am. Students and staff will march together and arrive at the Byron Bay War Memorial, near the Recreation grounds, where the Commemoration Service will begin.
After the Service, veterans of the Byron Bay RSL Sub-Branch invite all participants to join them at the Byron Bay Services Club for a soft drink.
We look forward to seeing our school community participate in this important event on our nation's calendar. Please join us as we show our respect for the service men and women who have served our country in all conflicts, wars and peacekeeping operations.
- Wear - full Byron Bay High School uniform
- Meeting place - Apex Park (across the road from the Beach Hotel), from 10:10 am, with the March stepping off at 10:30 am sharp.
- Collection point - Students will need to be collected from the Memorial Gates at the completion of the Service (Cnr Marvell and Tennyson Streets)
Please be aware there will be road closures in Byron Bay on the day - Tennyson Street and Marvell Street intersection between 4.30 am and 5.30 am (for the Dawn Service). Then again at approximately 10:45 am, when the parade reaches the gates for the main service.
Madelyn Sergi and Sammi Farrar - Student Representative Council Coordinators
Year 7 vaccinations
NSW School Vaccination Program 2025
NEW DATE Friday 28 March
The new date for the Year 7 (and Year 8 catch-ups) vaccination clinic is Friday 28 March. All existing consents received for the original postponed date will be carried over to this new date. If you have not yet granted your online consent and you would like your child to be vaccinated on 28 March, please access the NSW Heath online portal in the original email provided below.
If you do not have internet access or you are unable to complete your consent online, our school office has some paper consent forms available.
The following vaccines are offered free of charge to all Year 7 students (boys and girls) at school:
- diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine (1 dose)
- human papillomavirus (HPV) (1 dose)
Year 8 students who missed being vaccinated last year are eligible to register for catch-up vaccinations on 11 March.
Vaccinations will only be provided at school if a parent/carer has granted their consent to NSW Health.
If you ARE NOT granting your consent for vaccinations, please DO NOT contact the school to let us know. The school does not coordinate the School Vaccination Program. NSW Health nurses from the School Immunisation Team, North Coast Public Health Unit run this program and will attend on the day with a list of the students who have parent/carer consent. Only these students will be vaccinated.
To grant your online consent, please access the NSW Health portal:
Safer Drivers Course
Additional course at Byron Bay High School
Wednesday 2 April, 1:30 to 4:30 pm
The Byron Bay YAC is offering a Safer Drivers Course for Year 11 and 12 students on Wednesday 2 April. The course will be held at Byron Bay High School and comprises of theoretical and practical training for young learner drivers.
Learner drivers gain 20 bonus logbook hours on completion of the course, and it includes two 1-hour in-vehicle coaching sessions.
To attend the course Learner drivers, need to:
- have a valid learner licence
- be under 25
- have completed at least 50 logbook hours of on-road driving (excluding any 3 for 1 bonus hours)
- have included night driving in some of those hours.
Cost: $140 - includes Modules 1 and 2 (exemptions are available for Concession Card holders).
Module 1
- Venue: Byron Bay High School (run by the Byron Youth Service)
- Date: Wednesday 2 April
- Time: 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Module 2
Consists of a driving lesson, which will be organised during Module 1.
To book your child’s place in this course, please use the link below:
At the YAC
Credits:
Created with images by Achira22 - "Summer beach concept - Soft wave of sea on empty sandy beach Background with copy space." • 2B - "A hand pushes the cruise control button on a steering wheel"