Bossley Park High School

Bossley Patk High School
File:Emblem.PNG
Location
Sydney , NSW Australia
Information
Type	Public
Motto	Focussing on Excellence and Success
Established	1988
Principal	Ian Parnaby
Grades	7–12
Number of students	1432
Colour(s)	Black and White
Website	http://www.bossleypk-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

Bossley Park High School (abbreviated as BPHS) is located in the suburb of area of Sydney's western suburbs. Bossley Park High School is a coeducational comprehensive high school serving the rapidly developing suburbs of Bossley Park and Abbotsbury in western Sydney. The school is made up of over 1432 students , each from Years 7 to 12, and is one of the largest school in the state. The school was established in 1988 and provides a functional and practical learning environment with access to facilities required for all facets of the curriculum. The school is known for its reputation and it is also one of the wealthiest school in the state.The school also remains popular for it's good quality of education and results.

Bossley Park High School also participates in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.

History

In pre-European times , the Gandangara tribe occupied the land.It was until 1863 that John Brown Bossley and his fmaily took up land grant and became the area's first English settlers.He named the property Edensor Park. Bossley Park High School is built on land that was formerly producing fruits, vegetables, flowers and poultry products, a site of almost seven hectares. Planning for the new school began in 1985 and White Industries Pty Ltd, was the company incharge for the construction. The contract price for the construction was almost $8,000,000, but, including the costs of the land and the furnishing of the buildings the final cost came to approximately $10,000,000. The school was established in 1988 with a small year 7 enrolment of 125 students.The first appointed principal was Mr Brian Jux who was then successed by Ian Parnaby who currently serves as Principal.

Facilities

As part of the school's ongoing asset acquisition program, the library, all computer rooms, the drama room and staff rooms were air conditioned. The schools rapid technology advance is faster than all schools up to 5 years in advance. The food labs were upgraded to industry standards to facilitate the vocational education and training course hospitality operations. A new concrete court was also laid so that students with physical disabilities had an area where they could play sports such as wheelchair rugby. In mid 2007, a shelter was built in order to shelter it from rain. The school is committed to providing quality programs for its students and staff. The recognition of individual differences, the need to challenge and extend abilities and the valuing of self-esteem in each person, are fundamental principles upon which the school operates.

Multiculturalism

Bossley Park High, as a secondary school in a multicultural community has high percentage of 68% of students that come from a non-english speaking background..They include: Arabic, Assyrian, Italian, Other Chinese, Spanish and Vietnamese. There are only a few number of students that are from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander backgrouds.

Curriculum

Departments

• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• Home Economics
• Languages including Italian, Spanish and Japanese
• Social Science
• History
• Performing Arts (CAPA) including Music, Photography, Visual Arts, and Drama
• Industrial Arts (Design and Technology)
• Personal Development, Health, and Physical Education
• Careers

Years 7

All year 7 students are placed in parallel classes, streamed into three academic bands. One of the classes is designated as a class for gifted students. The aim is to ensure stability, yet to provide the opportunity to assess progress in the first stage of the secondary situation across a wide range of curriculum areas. Courses include English, Mathematics, Science, Australian History, Australian Geography, Technology (Mandatory) in both the Home Economics and Industrial Arts areas, Agriculture, Music, Drama, Visual Arts, Personal Development Health & Physical Education, and one Language.

Years 8, 9 & 10

Study in the Junior School comprises a core of English, Mathematics, Science, Australian History, Australian Geography, Personal Development Health & Physical Education plus three electives. Because Year 8 is seen as a continuing facet of middle schooling, elements of the Year 7 curriculum in Technology and Creative and Performing Arts are retained and, electives are restricted to fifty hours of study during this year. The elective courses are studied for one hundred hours in each of Years 9 and 10. Electives in Years 8 to 10 include: Agriculture, Spanish, Italian, Commerce, Visual Arts, Drama, Dance, Music, Computing Studies, Food Technology, Fashion & Design, Industrial Technology: Timber, Metals, Engineering and Multi-media, Graphics Technology and Design & Technology. Media Studies, Sports Science, Tourism & Hospitality and Health Skills are offered as content-approved options.

Years 11 & 12

All courses in English and Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Earth & Environmental Science, Business Studies, Legal Studies, Economics, Geography, Agriculture, Industrial Technology courses, Engineering Studies, Spanish, Japanese, Italian, Music, Drama, Food Technology, Textiles & Design, Visual Arts, Design & Technology courses, Computing Studies, Software Design & Development, Aboriginal Studies, Ancient History, Modern History, Society & Culture, Community & Family Studies, and Personal Development Health & Physical Education. Board-deveoped, board-endorsed and content-endorsed courses include Photography, Ceramics, Visual Design, Computer Applications, Exploring Early Childhood, Japanese for Tourism, History for Leisure, Horticulture, Environmental Studies, Media Studies, Practical Writing Skills, Fundamentals of English, Work Studies, Drama & Theatre, Studies in Dance and Sport, Recreation & Lifestyle. Students are given opportunities for studying extension courses and courses at 3-Unit and 4-Unit levels, and even distinction courses as offered through the Open High School. To meet the growing demand for vocational experiences, the dual-accredited vocational courses of Hospitality Operations, Retail Operations, Information Technology and Metals & Engineering are available in-school, while links with TAFE campuses at Wetherill Park, Miller and Liverpool provide access to a wide range of courses at these institutions. Life Skills courses provide the opportunity for students with disabilities to complete senior schooling with accreditation.

School house

The students are put into a house depending on their last names. The houses compete against each other in sport, debating, trivias etc. There are four houses and they are:

• Edina - (last names from A to F) named after Miss Edina, first teacher of a provisional school in 1890.
• Gandangara - (last names from G to L) named after aboriginal tribe.
• Sartor - (last names from M to R) named after the occupants of a farm nearby.
• Tarburton - (last names from S to Z) named after the son of John Brown Bossley.

School song

Verse One
We Are a school called Bossley Park High
Where we learn and where we strive;
With our teachers to do our best,
Focussing on excellence and success

Chorus
Goodness is symbolised through
Our black and white colours.
We're always there to lend a helping hand to others.
Multi-cultural races harmonise to fill the halls,
So it's plain to see the place to be,
Is behind our Bossley walls.

Verse Two
Teachers and students working as one,
Through years of achievement,
To get things done;
In an environment of prosperity,
Bossley Park High is the place to be.

Back to chorus

See also

• List of Government schools in New South Wales