Bridgewater High School News (Jordan River LF)

The new name for the schools to replace Bridgewater High are:

Jordan River Learning Federation Senior School (years 9-12) [9-11 in 2011] and
Jordan River Learning Federation Middle School (years 5-8) [6-8 in 2011]

See below for information about the background to the new Jordan River Learning Federation. There is also information on the BASMLF pages of the Department of Education website.

Learning Federation: keeping updated

Reports by Andy Bennett, manager of the Learning Federation, are published in the Brighton Community News:

New name reflects single learning organisation (October 2010)
Building program a hive of activity (September 2010)
New facilities welcomed at Herdsmans Cove Primary (August 2010)
Good progress on early years education aims (June 2010)
Federation will lead to range of outcomes (April, issue dated March 2010)
Buildings progress at learning sites (March 2010)
Work starts on new Bridgewater education campus (December 2009)
Building begins on first phase of Learning Federation campus (November 2009)
Learning Centre sees the Big Picture and builds on three Rs (October 2009)
Work progresses on Brighton's primary schools (September 2009)

For earlier reports, see The new Learning Federation below.

Latest media releases:

Tenders for Science Centre and Gymnasium at Bridgewater (Acting Minister for Education and Skills, Lisa Singh, 13 September 2009)

For earlier media releases, see the BASMLF website background page.

A Trade Training Centre has been built on part of the old Bridgewater High School site. For information about Trade Training Centres see the Australian Government's Trade Training Centres in Schools Program. (This replaces the old Australian Technical Colleges Program.)

Archive
The reports below are maintained for interest and archival purposes only

Learning Federation website invites feedback

The Bridgewater and Southern Midlands Learning Federation's website is now operating.

The BASMLF website includes a feedback page to encourage people to ask questions and make comments.

The BASMLF website address is www.education.tas.gov.au/basmlearningfederation

- Dated 8 August 2009

Premier opens MDT centre

Premier and Minister for Education and Skills David Bartlett opened Bridgewater High's new Materials, Design and Technology centre on 15 July.

ABOVE: BASMLF manager Andy Bennett and Premier David Bartlett in Bridgewater High's new MDT facilities

The facilities include a purpose-built workshop, a new computer design studio and improvements to a related classroom and teacher resource areas.

“The redevelopment was initiated to replace the loss of the MDT facility in the fire at Bridgewater High’s former site in late 2007," Mr Bartlett said.

‘It is the first expenditure of funds under the $30 million Bridgewater and Southern Midlands Education Renewal program."

You can read full details in Mr Bartlett's media release.

The new Learning Federation

The name of the new Learning Federation is Bridgewater and Southern Midlands Learning Federation.

The Learning Federation will provide the area with an integrated and collaborative approach by schools and other services such as health.

The Learning Federation is the outcome of the state government's acceptance of recommendations of the report by BASMERT (the Bridgewater and Southern Midlands Education Renewal Taskforce).

A report of progress to December 2008 was published in our school newsletter, Info, on 19 February 2009.

The Learning Federation's manager, Andy Bennett, was appointed early this year.

Updates by Andy Bennett have been published in the Brighton Community News:

BCN March 2009 - p. 3
BCN April 2009 - p. 2
BCN May 2009 - p. 2
BCN June 2009 - p. 2
BCN July 2009 - p. 3
BCN August 2009 - p. 3

The name "Bridgewater/Brighton Learning Federation", used in the first five of the above reports, was the working title of the BASMLF.

The BASMLF (Bridgewater and Southern Midlands Learning Federation) will have a website designed to provide easy access to information and to obtain feedback from students, parents and other members of the community.

- Dated 22 June 2009. Updated 9 August 2009.

BASMERT recommendations:

Premier announces decisions

The Premier, David Bartlett, today (29/8/2008)announced the government's decisions on the future of education in our area, following consideration of recommendations from the Bridgewater and Southern Midlands Education Renewal Taskforce.

Mr Bartlett assured the community that a new educational facility would be built on our old school site at McShane Road.

The new facility would provide for grades 9 to 12 and adult learning.

The current Bridgewater High School site at Eddington Street, which early in 2008 was converted from the former Bridgewater Primary building into a high school, will be further converted to become a grade 5 to 8 middle school.

The recommendation to build a middle school in Brighton will be subject to more consultation with the Brighton community.

Read the media release in full

The full details of Mr Bartlett's announcement are contained in his media release, "New Direction for Education in Bridgewater".

A fact sheet (28K Word document) is also available.

Mr Bartlett said the decisions announced today set the future direction for education and training provision in the Bridgewater and wider Southern Midlands community.

(The Taskforce's original recommendations are contained in BASMERT's Report to the Minister (301K Word document) which is available on the BASMERT website.)

ABOVE: Mr Bartlett speaks to the media at the old school site

- Dated 29 August 2008. Updated 1 September 2008. Links updated 15 August 2009.

Past news items:

BASMERT Taskforce's new website

The website of the Bridgewater and Southern Midlands Education Renewal Taskforce is now at http://www.education.tas.gov.au/dept/infrastructure/basmert/

In Google, simply type: basmert

Taskforce finalising recommendations

BASMERT's sixth update indicates it is still finalising its recommendations for the Minister for Education.

Some Bridgewater High School students have presented the results of a survey of students to the Taskforce.

You can read Update No. 6 in full on the BASMERT website.

(Update: the recommendations have been completed and passed to the Minister - see the new website.)

- Original date 18 April 2008. link updated 15 August 2009.

BASMERT's report deadline looms

The Bridgewater and Southern Midlands Education Renewal Taskforce has only two more meetings before the end of March when it must provide a report with a recommendation to the Minister for Education.

BASMERT's fifth update mentions that at the next meeting the results of a survey of students in the area by a class of Bridgewater High School students is expected to be presented.

For the full update, see the temporary BASMERT website. BASMERT will soon have its own website. A link will be provided at the temporary site. Update: see Community Updates on new site.

- Dated 24 March 2008. Updated 15 August 2009.

BASMERT's information gathering almost over

Collection of information by the Bridgewater and Southern Midlands Education Renewal Taskforce is almost complete.

A survey of parents is still to be undertaken and one more Focus Group is still to be held.

See their fourth update for a report on the previous two meetings.

BASMERT has to provide a report to the Minister for Education by the end of March.

- Dated 2 March 2008. Link updated 15 August 2009.

BASMERT hears from the experts

The Bridgewater and Southern Midlands Education Renewal Taskforce benefited from the knowledge and experience of world-renowned expert in school management and school design Professor Brian Caldwell at its meeting on 7 February.

BASMERT is the taskforce set up by the Minister for Education, David Bartlett, to produce options and recommendations following our school fire.

The taskforce also received information from University of Tasmania Associate Professor Natalie Jackson, a specialist in demography, the study of population characteristics and changes.

For a report of the meeting see BASMERT's third update on the BASMERT website.

- Message dated 25 February. Links updated 15 August 2009.

BASMERT: Public consultation workshop held on 20 February

The Minister's taskforce looking at educational options for the area following our fire held a Public Consultation Workshop on Wednesday 20 February.

People had a chance to hear what BASMERT has been doing, find out what kinds of educational options there are and give their opinions.

The two-hour session was held at the Hilltop Granton.

Information distributed before the session is on the Bridgewater and Southern Midlands Education Renewal Taskforce website.

- Dated 9 February 2008. Updated 21 February 2008. Link updated 15 August 2009.

BASMERT produces its second community update

The second update from BASMERT, the Minister's taskforce looking at options after the fire, is now available.

It reveals that 73 local people have been selected at random and invited to take part in discussions about the future of education in the area.

There will also be a public workshop for up to 100 people, likely to be held in the second half of February.

Local councils have given their views to the taskforce.

You can see the second update on the BASMERT website.

A printed version is available locally. The update has been reproduced on the back page of a special issue of Bridgewater High School's newsletter, Info. See details below.

- Dated 1 February 2008. Updated 20 February 2008. link updated 15 August 2009.

After the fire
SUMMARY

Old stories and photos Timeline Minister's statements BASMERT

A fire at Bridgewater High School on Tuesday 23 October 2007 led to the relocation of classes and demolition of the building.

From 1 November until the end of 2007, grade 7 and 8 students were located at Geilston Bay High School, and grade 9 and 10 were located at Claremont College.

From the beginning of 2008, the school became whole again, with all Bridgewater High School grades located at the Bridgewater Primary School site. Bridgewater Primary School students and staff were relocated to Green Point Primary School.

This temporary arrangement will last while BASMERT - the taskforce created by the Minister for Education - recommends what kind of replacement school should be built, and where, and while building takes place. The taskforce has been seeking the community's views and information from experts, as reported in BASMERT's December, January and Mid-February updates. A special public workshop was held.

Considerable building alterations were undertaken for the location of Bridgewater High at the Bridgewater Primary site and for the co-location of the two primary schools at Green Point Primary.

The start of the new school year was delayed slightly (for students only). Students in all three schools - Bridgewater High, Bridgewater Primary and Green Point Primary - returned on Monday 18 February 2008.

Old "after-the-fire' news stories and photographs are now located on a separate page.

OLD NEWS BELOW

(OLD NEWS ITEM)

TERM 1 2008 DELAYED

Bridgewater High School students will return to school on Monday 18 February 2008 instead of this year's general Term 1 commencement date for Tasmanian high schools of Thursday 14 February.

The delay of two school days is to enable staff to complete final preparations for the holding of high school classes at the Bridgewater Primary School site.

(Students at Bridgewater Primary and Green Point Primary will have the same delayed start to 2008, both schools commencing at Green Point Primary School on Monday 18 February 2008.)

During the holidays, builders will be making significant changes to Bridgewater Primary to provide classrooms for high school practical subjects such as Science, Home Economics, MDT and Art.

- Dated 14 December 2007. Updated 20 December 2007.

SEE ALSO First day

Corks needed

Our Phys. Ed. department's supply of corks is lost forever as a result of the fire.

Phys. Ed. staff would appreciate receiving any corks that people no longer have a need for.

The corks are used for a fun competition in our Aquatics Carnival which involves students diving into the water to retrieve as many corks as possible.

- Dated 17 February 2008

(OLD NEWS ITEM)
Still to get your school magazine?

Any students who are still to receive their school magazine can now collect it from the new Bridgewater High School site at Bridgewater Primary.

But you first need to phone 6263 7131 to arrange for a time to go in. (Grade 10 students can also collect their reference if necessary.) Dated 18 January 2008.

Post-out on Friday

On Friday 1 February, we posted an envelope to parents, containing:

invoices and details of when levies can be paid (by those not on STAS),
information about uniform sales, including a uniform price list, and
validation forms (containing personal information such as who is to be contacted if a child becomes unwell).

If you believe you need to update us with your current address please phone the school office on 6263 7131during office hours.

- Message dated 9 January 2008. Updated 3 February 2008.

Uniform

We have posted out a uniform price list