Byron Breeze tERM 3 | wEEK 8 2025

Thank you to all the Year 7-10 students who jumped online on Monday to select their Term 4 sport.

Consent (and payment if applicable) will be emailed to parents and carers tomorrow, Friday 12 September. We would appreciate everyone's swift response as some sports, particularly Body Surfing, have waitlists. All payments are due by Friday 19 September.

Unfortunately, anyone who has not paid by next Friday will be removed from their sport and the position given to a student on the waitlist.

A friendly reminder for specific sports:

• Surfing - Each week, your child must have a Red Rash Shirt, as indicated in the online consent form signed by parents. The red shirt ensures group safety and clear identification of our students when in the water.
• Futsal and Basketball - Students who have chosen to 'leave from the venue' can stay at the Cavanbah Centre, but must pay the casual fee to the Cavanbah Centre to use the courts after our booking ends at 2:30 pm.
• Waivers for Circus, Trampolining, and Parkour - A signed Circus Arts waiver must be given to our school office before your child departs for Circus Arts. Circus Arts will NOT allow your child to participate without one. Please check your emails for the attachment (there are also printouts at the office). This waiver is separate from the general school consent.

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated as we strive to provide a safe and enjoyable sports experience for all students. Thank you for your support.

Mrs Kelley Caoyonan - Sports Organiser, PDHPE teacher and Year 12 Year Advisor

Year 11 exam block

Our Year 11 students head into their Preliminary exams next week

Best wishes to all of our Year 11 students as they head into their Year 11 Preliminary exams from next Monday. The Year 11 exam block will run for 2 weeks, from Monday 15 to Wednesday 24 September.

During this time, Year 11 students will only come to school for their exam and may leave again afterwards. They are reminded to arrive at their exam location a minimum of 15 minutes before the exam starts, and to allow plenty of time to find a car park.

Stay focused, do your best, and remember to take care of yourselves along the way! 💪

No PA announcements during exams

A reminder to our whole school community that when a major exam is in progress, our office staff are unable to make announcements over the PA system. If your child is leaving early for any reason we encourage you to follow our school's Early Leave Process by sending in a handwritten note at the start of the day and preorganising an Early Leave Slip for your child.

From the P&C

Calling for donations for our upcoming P&C raffle

Many thanks to the parents and businesses who supported our Trivia night on Wednesday. It was a great success, raising over $4,000 for the school. Don’t worry if you missed the event you can still get involved in our 2025 fundraising efforts.

We are seeking prizes, big or small, for our fundraising raffle, and we hope we can count on your generosity.

All donations will be acknowledged through the school’s contacts, social media, and the Byron Bay community.

This year our goal is to raise $15,000 to fund a much-needed audio-visual system for the recently renovated school hall. This will equip the hall with the technology it needs to better support assemblies, performances, presentations, and community events, making the most of the recent renovations.

If you can help, please let us know by end of term on Friday, 26 September.

For donations, questions, or suggestions, contact:

• Amanda Wasmer - P&C Fundraising Committee
• 📞 0499 259 950
• ✉ bbhspandc@gmail.com

Thank you for supporting our students at Byron Bay High School.

Kind regards,

The members of the Byron Bay High School P&C Association

From the Office

Chickenpox

We have recently had a number of reported cases of chickenpox in our school community.

In NSW, a child with chickenpox should stay home from school or childcare until all blisters have dried and scabbed over, which typically takes at least 5 days from when the rash first appeared. They are infectious to others from 1 to 2 days before the rash begins until the last blister has crusted over.

To help prevent the spread of chickenpox please encourage your child to cover their coughs and sneezes, wash their hands regularly, and avoid sharing personal items.

What are the symptoms

• Chickenpox begins with a sudden onset of slight fever, runny nose, feeling generally unwell and a skin rash.
• The rash usually begins as small lumps that turn into blisters and then scabs. The rash appears over three to four days. At any one time, the lesions of the rash vary in stages of development.
• Symptoms usually occur two weeks after exposure to the virus.
• Most people recover without complications, but sometimes the infection can lead to serious complications, such as pneumonia and inflammation of the brain. Rarely, the infection can be fatal.
• Persons who are previously vaccinated can still get chickenpox. If chickenpox occurs in a vaccinated person it is usually mild and less contagious than in an unvaccinated person.

How is Chickenpox spread?

• Early in the illness, the virus is spread by coughing.
• Later in the illness, the virus is spread by direct contact with the fluid in the blisters.
• The infection is highly contagious to people who have never had chickenpox or who have not been vaccinated.
• People are infectious from 1 or 2 days before the rash appears (that is, during the runny nose phase) and up to 5 days after (when the blisters have formed crusts or scabs)
• Chickenpox infection triggers an immune response and people rarely get chickenpox twice.

From the Careers Advisor

Southern Cross University Parent Information Sessions

Southern Cross University is excited to invite parents and caregivers to their upcoming Parent Information Evening at the Northern Rivers Campus (Lismore) on Tuesday, 23 September, from 5 pm to 7 pm.

This free event is designed to support families of Year 11 and 12 students as they explore pathways into university. The evening will include:

• Guidance on how to apply to university
• Insights into the ATAR and alternative entry options
• Information about scholarships, financial support, and accommodation
• An overview of student services and support
• A Q&A session with our Future Students team and Student Ambassadors
• Guests will enjoy canapés and refreshments, and have the opportunity to mingle with academics and current students in a relaxed and welcoming setting.

You can find full details and RSVP information here:

From Byron Shire Council

1000 Voices Byron Shire – Share Your Ideas, Shape Local Action!

Our school community has been invited to take part in 1000 Voices Byron Shire. A community-led initiative that invites everyone in the Shire to share their ideas, experiences, and perspectives on homelessness. Meaningful change begins with listening to those who live, work, learn and care in this community, including the families, carers, educators, and young people of our school.

Parents and carers are warmly invited to complete the survey. If you feel it’s appropriate, you may also support your child or young person to share their ideas.

The survey is anonymous, takes 10 minutes and all demographic questions are optional.

Together, we can shape real local action that truly reflects our Byron Shire communities. By listening to families, children, and young people, we ensure that what we plan, the services delivered, and decisions we make are guided by what matters most to those connected here.

Complete the survey online here:

Keen to know more or interested in supporting 1000 Voices? Reach out to Sarah Neeves, 1000 Voices Project Officer, on mobile 0437 155 108, or check out the webpage:

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What's on at The YAC

Safer Drivers Course for Learners

• Cost - $140 (free course for Concession Card holders)
• Date - Saturday 20 September, 10 am to 1 pm
• Where - Byron Youth Activity Centre (The YAC) - 1 Gilmore Crescent Byron Bay

To attend the course learner drivers need to:

• have a valid learner licence
• be under 25 years of age
• have completed at least 50 log book hours of on-road driving (excluding any 3 for 1 bonus hours)
• have included night driving in some of those hours.

​​​​​​​​Register for the Safer Driver course via the YAC website:

For more information, call 6685 7777 or email info@bys.org.au

Barista Courses

In the community

This one-day event brings together musicians from community bands across the region – including Ballina, Lismore and Tweed – as well as school students from across the Northern Rivers for a mass concert band workshop and public performance. It’s a fun and supportive opportunity for young musicians to experience playing in a large concert band setting alongside experienced community players. Music charts and morning tea/lunch provided. For more information, visit: