Welcome to Punchbowl Boys’ High School’s website.
It truly was another exciting academic year at Punchbowl Boys’ High School in 2019. The school worked proactively towards implementing the final year 2018-2020 school plan. The staff worked to establish the new learning spaces including a Learning Hub, Design Thinking Room, and the E-Sports Academy. These spaces allowed the school to develop holistic learning experiences for students.
All the learning spaces developed over the past few years including the HSC Room and Wellbeing Room have assisted students in developing the “Dream More (Engage), Learn More (Educate), Do More (Empower), and Be More (Excel)" philosophy.
These specialist rooms have provided students with the skills to be proactive lifelong learners. The learning spaces established in 2019, like the other three rooms refurbished in 2018, are exciting new learning areas designed to inspire students to make the most of learning and social opportunities at the school.
Staff within these learning spaces educate students in the skills required for our changing 21st Century world. These skills support our students as they make the transition to the community as dynamic critical thinkers with creative ideas.
The next stage of exciting new learning spaces will take place in 2020/21. The new spaces will include:
The Café
The Café will provide a new learning place for students to develop their hospitality skills, as they learn the skills required to work in and operate a coffee shop.
‘Cut Above The Rest' Barbershop
In order to cater to the learning needs of all students, the school will be establishing a barbershop to teach students fine motor, gross motor, communication, self-care, and business skills.
Future-focussed Technology Lab
The school will be redesigning their computer lab to prepare for future online assessment and also a new technology space to teach computer skills for a global society.
Improved Higher School Certificate Results
I would like to congratulate the Year 12 students on their improved HSC results compared to the 2018 cohort. There was an increase in students receiving grades in Bands Five and Six. There was a 38% increase in students achieving in the top two bands and a 64% increase in students achieving a Band 4. Over 80% of our students received University, TAFE and apprenticeship placements.
This Year 12 cohort has achieved many outstanding achievements over the years. This group has really embraced the school philosophy of Dream More (Engage), Learn More (Educate), Do More (Empower), and Be More (Excel) and has been a true asset to the school.
A high percentage of these students will be the future leaders within our society. Their ability to display hard work and resilience has been admired by many across the community.
Outstanding Community Partners
Punchbowl High School is very fortunate to have strong community partnership with a wider variety of stakeholders. A huge thank you to many of our community partners that support us in providing so many wonderful programs for our students during the year. Once again, the school coordinated around 300 outstanding academic and social programs for all stage groups to promote goal setting for students.
This has been a focal point for the school over the past three years as staff has worked in strong collaboration with the community to provide over one thousand programs.
The programs provided wonderful experiences for students to gain important skills from a number of experts in their fields, visit universities and TAFE campuses, complete courses with the NSW Police, partake in workshops with the Australian Business Community Network and visit a number of events around Sydney including Vivid and the Supanova Pop Culture Convention.
Programs for Term One include:
· Year Seven Orientation Program
· Year Seven The Elements of learning and Achievement lessons
· Aspire Program with the University of New South Wales
· Interfaith and Intercultural School Visit at Moriah College
· Athletics Carnival
· Swimming Carnival
· Cross Country Carnival
· Year 7 Welcome BBQ
· Empower Me! Whole School Assembly
· Year 12 Western Sydney University Conference
· Western Sydney Wanderers Football Clinic
· Year 7 Swimming Program
· Aboriginal Learning Mural in the Library
· Elements of Learning and Achievement Evening with Mr. Eddie Woo
· Sydney Comic Con- Pop Culture Excursion
· Mission Impossible Four- Social Excursion
· NRL game Bank West Stadium
· NSW Education Week
· Australian Business Network Community Lectures and Workshops
· WIZE Up! Program
· School Holiday HSC Study Programs
· University workshops at both Western Sydney and New South Wales Universities.
· Empower Me! Professional Learning Network Meeting
· Subject Selection Parent Information Night
· State Parliament Student Speech on Interfaith and Intercultural understanding
· Interschool visit with Moriah College and Wiley Park Girls' HIgh School
· Guest Speakers including Adam Newman to discuss setting career goals.
· Book Week
· Critical and Creative Thinking Workshops with Mind Wide Open
· New South Wales Police Visits and Workshops
· Wired for Wonder Student Conference
· The Elements of Learning and Achievement and Empower Me! Old Boys’ Day
· Communication Leadership workshop with league legend Wayne Pearce.
· Year 12 Graduation
· Year 12 Formal Evening
· Year 12 Barbeque
· NAIDOC Day Assembly
· Australian Business Community Network St George Bank Business Network
· Australia vs Canada basketball game excursion
· Youth Rock Final 320 Performance
· VET Rotary Awards
· PCYC Bankstown Police Program
· Elements of Learning and Achievement Days
· Empower Me! Days
· Empower Me! Network Meeting
· Community Iftar Dinner
· Christmas Community Dinner
· TEDX Sydney Conference and School Performance
· Inter-School Together For Humanity Workshops`
· Sydney VIVID Light Show Excursion for Year 12 students
· Sydney Story Factory
· University of Sydney The Craft of Writing Workshop
· Old Boys' Reunion
· Premier's Debating Challenge
· Australian Business Community Network Coding Course
· Guest Speaker Trevor Matthews CEO and Auditor
· Mufti Day Fundraising
· Sorry Day
· Deputy Principal's excursion to Hoyts Cinema to watch Spider Man: Far From Home
Leadership Communication with Wayne Pearce
Punchbowl Boys’ High offers many outstanding opportunities for students. One such opportunity is the Leadership Communication program with National Rugby League Legend and Professional Coach Wayne Pearce. Mr. Pearce runs three workshops for fifteen students on the importance of communication in leadership positions and creating a positive mindset.
Feedback from the students was extremely positive with many already using a number of the strategies they have learnt to set goals and communicate their ideas.
A huge thank you to Chester Hill Neighbourhood Centre who sponsored the program.
The Elements of learning and Achievement Evening with Special Guest Eddie Woo
The school held an Elements of learning and Achievement evening with world renowned teacher and mathematician, Mr Eddie Woo. This wonderful evening was attended by parents, caregivers, students, local primary school and staff. Mr Woo talked about the importance of attention, playfulness and collaboration in the learning process with a special focus on the numeracy pillar.
All members of the school community were truly delighted to be part of this experience with many students encouraged to Dream, Learn, Be, and Do More in the area of Mathematics.
Punchbowl Boys’ High School would once again like to thank Eddie for his time in sharing his knowledge and support of the Elements of Learning and Achievement framework.
TEDx Sydney
Our very own 320 band had the wonderful opportunity to perform at TEDxSydney in front of nine thousand people. The TEDx Sydney Conference is the leading platform of Australian ideas to the world. Therefore, the chance to perform at the conference was greatly appreciated by the school community.
Community Dinner and Visits
Time to bring the community together, the annual Iftar dinner has become a strong tradition in our school. Our school always looks forward to such events with many of our students, families, and community members. The school hosted over 260 guests including local member for Lakemba and former Punchbowl Boys' High School Principal Mr Jihad Dib, NSW Police, Wayne Pearce Rugby League legend, local primary schools, and Western Sydney University.
At the dinner this year the school invited Human Appeal to be part of the evening. Their attendance was an opportunity for the school to donate $3000 to this charity organisation. This generous donation from the school will support Human Appeal to build a number of water wells for highly disadvantaged communities.
The school also organised as part of giving back to the community a number of visits to local nursing homes to wish residents a wonderful Christmas period and New Year. These visits delighted many of the residents as they received a card and a small gift.
Old Boys’ Elements of Learning and Achievement Day
The school has established a strong relationship with ex-students over the past few years. This has led to guest speaker presentations and the Old Boys’ prize. Many ex-students have been keen to share the knowledge they have learnt over the years with present day students. The school successfully organised an Old Boys’ Elements of Learning and Achievement day.
The presentations delivered by almost twenty former students showed what was possible once they completed school. The day connected all members of the school community to the highly successful past of the school with many former students achieving outstanding achievements across a wider variety of fields.
2019 Old Boys’ Reunion
In 2019 the school had the opportunity to celebrate an Old Boys’ Reunion. This event allowed former alumni to share the rich history of the school and the many achievements of students who successfully transitioned to the community based on the strong foundation of attending Punchbowl Boys’ High School. Over one hundred former students visited the school as part of the reunion and shared many highlights of their time at Punchbowl Boys’ High.
As part of the day, Trevor Matthews and Michael Maude donated a school blazer and first 15s jersey from 1968. These two items will now be proudly displayed in the school hall.
I would like to thank Ken Scully, Trevor Matthews and Stephen Wilkes for organising the reunion.
Thank you
Finally, I would like to sincerely thank our parents, caregivers, and teachers for their contribution to the educational journey of all our students and for supporting them in achieving their academic and social outcomes.
