Byron Breeze tERM 4 | wEEK 5 2024

About Sophia's artwork

• Title - Memento vitae: Part I
• Expressive form - Painting
• No of pieces - 7

Artist's statement - Inspired by the practice of surrealist artist Firda Kahlo and Australian contemporary artist Kate Bergin, my body of work reimagines the concepts of the traditional Dutch still life vanitas and the fleetingness of life. Approaching the end of my final school year and envisioning my future, the thought of leaving home feels like the rug is being pulled out from underneath you, undermining your sense of security and replacing it with the unknown.

These seven panels move in chronological order, traversing from birth/childhood to adulthood, each embedded with symbolic references that are significant milestones, memories or experiences.

A sense of chaos is evoked by the right side of the work by the drapery being seemingly tugged away at the opposite end, highlighting the confrontation and uncertainty one faces as they move out into the world. Each symbol encapsulates memories, experiences and emotions which I have attached to certain objects or animals over my lifetime. My subject matter represents how rich my life is in terms of love, comfort and memories which have played a role in shaping my life. Ironically, throughout the process of creating this arrangement of objects the development of my fear and anxiety associated with leaving behind this period of my life has been replaced with a sense of immense gratitude for the opportunities that are opening up to me, facilitated by the abundance of love in every aspect of my life which have nurtured and sheltered me throughout my journey to this new phase.

About Juniper's artwork

• Title - Monstrous Girlhood
• Expressive form - Graphic Design
• No of pieces - 5

Artist’s statement - There are many fears and experiences intrinsic to being human: Grief is all-consuming or neglected; the never-ending pursuit of what we “should” be; the ever-fading present and the important bonds we share. Though these experiences are not unique, we are often made to believe that they are only reserved for a certain few.

Often the feelings of young girls are minimised; men discuss girls gossip, men are righteous, girls are petty, men are rational, girls are presumptuous. This work is an outlet for the thoughts that plagued my mind on restless nights and long showers. Thoughts that are widely echoed by my peers but seldom discussed.

As these concepts are labelled universal they are mostly expressed through an older masculine perspective. I wanted to offer a fresh take on these concepts by reframing them through a younger feminine perspective. The girl creatures that infest every work are like the id, they are childish in both appearance and behaviour, they are pure beings of expression. I had been doodling similar creations in the margins of notebooks for years but never truly brought them to life. I enjoyed their exaggerated features and their warped anatomy; they became my strange muse.

About Frankie's artwork

• Title - Dad (the trophy room)
• Expressive Form - Drawing
• Number of pieces - 7

Artist Statement - I adore my Dad. His skin is painted in tattoos that break down his identity. My work has reproduced the ink on my Dad’s skin into five realistic graphite drawings, and two ink horizontal drawings that are personal symbols that link our family through ink, creating a deconstructed, symbolic portrait of my Dad.

He uses the artform to document his careers, family bonds, childhood, ideations of success and explore his compulsive and addictive personality.

The works progress in chronological order of his life from the butterfly representing his Grandmother to adulthood with his car. Using graphite enabled me to reinterpret his simple line tattoos and produce the illusion of three dimensional forms. I was influenced by CJ Hendry’s oversized, hyperreal drawings as it aligned with my own style, enabling me to bring to life my dad’s story and our permanent connection.

... Another OnSTAGE nomination for Drama! ...

Adding to the success of the OnSTAGE Individual performance nominations awarded to Lexi O and Vinnie M, we are pleased to announce that Juniper S has received a nomination for her exemplary Individual Project: Costume Design in Drama.

Individual Project options are marked later in the year to the Individual Performances, meaning nominations are announced in mid Term 4 rather than Term 3.

Juniper’s outstanding directorial vision saw her create a design concept that transported a 17th century French comedy into Mid-west America in the 1980s, seamlessly synthesizing the key characters and issues of deception, hypocrisy and blind faith of the original play in an innovative and original modern interpretation, communicated through her excellent final renderings, sketches and rationale.

Congratulations Juniper!

Christmas Hampers

Our Student Representative Council is collecting donations for Christmas hampers

Byron Bay High School SRC is committed to assisting the community group The Kindness Project put together Christmas hampers for families in need in our local community. The good humans at Bunjum Aboriginal Corporation will distribute the hampers to 50 families this Christmas.

Over the next few weeks we will be collecting donations to put towards these hampers.

Students can drop their donations into the school office prior to Wednesday 11 December.

Please ensure that all food items are non-perishable and within its used by date. Gift items should be new (or like brand new) as these items will be given to children as presents and all toiletries should be new and unopened.

Some ideas for donations are as follows:

From the NSW Teachers Federation

A message from our NSW Teachers Federation Representative

Dear Parents, Carers, and Community Members,

We stand together—parents, carers, teachers, principals, school support personnel, and the broader community—to advocate for the future of public education. Our mission is simple but powerful: securing full funding for public schools to ensure every child has every opportunity to succeed, now and for years to come.

The needs of our children are growing, but government funding has not kept up.

Our principals and teachers are providing outstanding education but are increasingly asked to achieve more with fewer resources. This strain has contributed to unsustainable workloads, leading to teacher burnout and an escalating shortage of experienced educators. Now, with 98% of public schools funded below the Schooling Resource Standard—the minimum required funding—change is critical.

Investing in public schools means investing in our children, our teachers, and the success of our community. Fully funded schools would allow us to:

• Provide one-on-one or small group tutoring for students needing extra support.
• Increase support staff to reduce teacher administration loads, giving educators more time to focus on high-quality lesson planning.
• Reduce class sizes, ensuring each child receives the attention and support they need to thrive.

This year is pivotal. Federal and state politicians are deciding if our public schools will finally receive the resources they need. By 2028, we want every public school to meet the Schooling Resource Standard, and we need your help to ensure that goal is achieved.

Please join us at the upcoming BBHS Parents and Citizens Association (P&C) meeting on Tuesday 19 November at 7 pm in the school library.

Together, we’ll discuss the potential impacts of increased funding and share how you can help advocate for this essential cause.

A better future for every child is within reach, but we need a unified community voice. By showing your support, you join thousands of Australians calling for a better education for every child. Together, we can make a difference and secure the full funding our public schools deserve.

In partnership, E. Pietens - NSW Teachers Federation Representative - Byron Bay High School.

P&C 2024 fundraising

2 weeks left to purchase your tickets!

We have a long way to go to reach our $15,000 target! Please tell your family and friends about our fantastic fundraising raffle. Together we can raise vital funds for our school. Let's do this...!

There is a huge prize pool valued over $16 000, with 40 fantastic prizes to be won!

Tickets are only $5, or less the more you buy! Click on the link below to purchase your tickets.

The raffle will be drawn on Friday 29 November. We thank you for your support and wish you good luck!

Trivia Night - Register now!

Get ready for a night of fun, laughter, and friendly competition, hosted by the fabulous Mandy Nolan. Join us on Wednesday 27 November at 5 pm at the Byron Bay Golf Course.

Test your knowledge on a variety of topics and see if you have what it takes to be crowned the Trivia Champion. Bring your friends and family for a night you won't forget! We look forward to seeing you there!

Please visit the Trivia Night Eventbrite page for more information and to register your spot. Get in quick as this event has sold out in past years!

Byron Bay High School P&C Association - proudly supporting our children's education

Wednesday Sport

Weeks 5 to 10 arrangments

We would like to remind parents and students that the Wednesday Sport Program will continue each week until the end of Term 4. Students will participate in their regular sports choices until Week 8. In Weeks 9 and 10, we will be holding a special Sports afternoon, organised by the school.

Regular attendance in the Wednesday Sport Program is expected as part of the NSW Department of Education's Sport and Physical Activity Guidelines.

Physical activity is a mandatory part of the school curriculum for all students in Years 7–10. Therefore, students are required to participate in these sessions and cannot be excused for personal recreation or private sporting activities during this time, unless they are part of an Elite Sporting Program and have received approval for an exemption from the Department and Ms Marcus, our school Principal.

We also encourage families to schedule any medical or dental appointments outside of school hours whenever possible. If an appointment must occur during school Sport time, students should submit a handwritten note from their parent or guardian to the Deputy Principal before 9 am on Wednesday mornings. For ongoing medical appointments on Wednesdays, a medical certificate will need to be provided to the front office for our records.

Sport provides students with a valuable opportunity to improve their health and wellbeing, build connections with peers, and develop important social skills outside the classroom.

We ask for your support in encouraging your child to actively participate in Sport and make the most of this valuable program.

Mrs Kelley Caoyonan - PDHPE teacher, Sports Organiser and Year 11 Year Advisor

Year 10 Work Experience

Our Year 10 students have begun their Term 4 Work Experience program. We are so grateful to our local partner primary schools, Byron Bay Primary School and Bangalow Primary School for taking on this amazing cohort and giving them the opportunity to see what life as a Primary School teacher is really like.

It has been a true joy to observe these students engaged in activities and building relationships with the primary school children. We also have many other Year 10’s out in the community undertaking experiences in other fields of work.