The Higher School Certificate (HSC) results for Bellingen High School are the most significant overall results since 2001 when six students received a University Admission Index (UAI) over 90.
Principal Bob Stockton said: “It is hard to know where to start because there are so many success stories. At least the agony is over for the students and staff who have been impatiently waiting for the results.”
Suzanne Sherrington is well known to the town as an excellent flautist and member of the Jazz band. Suzanne scored a UAI of 99.65.
That is the highest score for any student in the Coffs/Nambucca schools district. Suzanne was also placed on the Premiers list for scoring Band 6 (more than 90) in 5 or more subjects. Only 4 schools on the North Coast had students on that list. They included Coffs Harbour Senior College, Byron Bay High School and Port Macquarie High School.
Mr Stockton said it was difficult to select highlights from Suzanne’s performance but she was the second student in three years at Bellingen High school in Extension 2 music to score 50/50.
Suzanne paid tribute to her music teacher, the tireless Annie Phelan.
Suzanne’s day was completed with a cheque for $1000 as dux and leading female student. This was made possible by Kelly Rees an ex-student and currently a barrister in Sydney who has supported this prize for six years. Suzanne has also been invited to audition for the Encore performances in the Opera House in 2009 and was lead flautist in the recent School Spectacular.
Four other students received the following UAI scores over 90: Megan Boyd 97.1; Daniel Eades 96.6; Kristie Lee Rhodes 95.3; and Jarrah Duckhs 92.2. Daniel also received $1000 from a local family who wished to remain anonymous as the highest scoring male student.
Mr Stockton added: “I would love to share some of the private success stories but because of their sensitivity they cannot be published. I would like all those students to know that the staff and I are thrilled with personal achievement at all levels. Not all personal bests have to have a high score associated with them”.
A familiar teaching face in the HSC results is Gerald Harding, the metal work teacher.
Most teachers are excited with one Band 6 in their class. Gerald produced six band 6 results in his class and he just keeps churning out superlative students. The average mark for the whole class was an outstanding 20.5 marks above the state average. We suspect that his 7 day working week and late nights are part of his success. Well done Gerald.
As previously indicated the results for this year have remarkable depth. Thirteen subjects out of 29 were above the State average. It should be appreciated that Bellingen High School is a comprehensive high school and achieves these results across a wide range of students. All general fees are voluntary and subject fees are minimal.
Further success was enjoyed by the Mathematics department. For the first time in many years Bellingen High was placed in the top third of the State Honours list for all schools both government and non government.
This was a fitting farewell present for teacher of Extension 2 Mathematics Karen Nelson. Karen has been promoted and will take up the position of Head Teacher Mathematics, Tamworth High School in 2009.
Ellen Cheney’s band 6 in English Extension 2 is also a welcome result after a series of near misses of band 6 at this level over the last few years.
Aiden Mc Govern’s Visual Arts major work has also been selected for Art Express which is a traveling presentation of the best major works in the HSC. Aiden’s work depicts landscapes. The school has acquired 4 of these beautiful images and they will be on display during Camp Creative January 12-16 at the school.
The full honours list of students who scored a mark of 90 or more in a subject is as follows:
Chemistry - Megan Boyd 93
Earth and Environmental Science - Jarrah Duckhs; 93 Kristie Lee Rhodes 92
Engineering Studies - Jarrah Duckhs 91
Advanced English - Suzanne Sherrington 92
English Extension 2 ( 50) - Ellen Cheney 48
Industrial Technology- Matt Buckley 96; Matt Gaite 96; Liam Potts 96; James Priest 95; Andrew Casey 93; Ben Cross 93
General Maths - James Brownlee 91
2 unit Mathematics - Kristie Lee Rhodes 96; Jarrah Duckhs 90
Mathematics Extension - 1 Megan Boyd 96; Daniel Eades 96
Mathematics Extension 2- Megan Boyd 91; Daniel Eades 90
Music Course 2 - Suzanne Sherrington 98; Ellen Cheney 90
Music Extension 2 (50) - Suzanne Sherrington 50; Ellen Cheney 45
Society and Culture - Suzanne Sherrington 95
“Congratulations to all the class of 2008 and to the class of 2009 it is your time now.”
A last bit of advice from Bob Stockton: “Not all of us will be mentioned in a newspaper article but every one of us has an opportunity to be measured as having done our best. If your best is 53 out of a 100 then you are also on our honour’s list”.
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