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Term 3 has kicked off in a very positive and fast-paced fashion, with students engaging in a wide range of learning opportunities, experiences and events. The start of the term has been incredibly busy, reflecting the depth and variety of activities that continue to enrich our school community.
Some highlights so far include:
- Agriculture & Shows
- AG Club
- Northern SA Merino Competition
- Copper Coast Show
- Student Development and Leadership
- Youth Opportunities program — students showing growth and building connections as a group
- Students volunteering in the community — tree planting and basketball coaching/umpiring
- Recreational Boat Licence program for students and community members
- Camps, Excursions and Experiences
- Operation Flinders — 10 students, supported by Josh Benge and Kev Kelly, ventured to the Gammon Ranges for a unique outdoor experience
- Kangaroo Island Tourism Camp and other excursions
- Clare Connect Career and Immersion Day — over 60 Year 10 students engaged in career activities, perfectly timed with subject selections now underway
- Year 10 Work Experience
- Academic Extension & Programs
- Flinders University Extension Studies Program — students undertaking three engineering subjects over the next 18 months, fully funded, with online lectures, independent assessments and lecturer support
- Multiple RST (Rural Skills Training) Courses — including Agriculture Cropping, Machine Maintenance, Chainsaw Operation and Chemical Accreditation
- School Culture & Events
- Bullying. No Way! Week — initiatives to raise awareness, promote inclusion and empower students
- Science Week — Decoding the Universe theme
- Book Week — a variety of activities organised by the Library team
- Author Event – Love, Wine and Crime
- Poetry in Action performance
- Sport
- Knockout Sport competitions in basketball, football and netball
Staffing Update
Josh Jenner has reduced his role for the remainder of 2025, as he pursues an exciting PhD opportunity focusing on remote schooling, particularly exploring strategies for improvement and student retention. Good luck Josh.
The following changes to classes were made at the start of Week 4.
- Bethany Monserrat took over Year 8B HASS.
- Laura Hadley and Marc Padros are teaching Year 7A HPE
- Welcome back Billy Vincent who is covering our TRT needs throughout Term 3.
BHS Pride Moments
There have been some inspiring moments that have highlight the talent, creativity and commitment of our students and staff.
Focus on Ability Short Film - A highlight was the short film produced by Eboney, Seth and Hayley for the Focus on Ability Film Festival. Their film, Disabilities Do Not Define Us, explored the experiences of students living with disabilities or learning difficulties, challenging stereotypes and delivering the powerful message: “We are more than labels; we are without limits.” The film has been shared widely and we encourage everyone to view and vote in support of their outstanding effort.
If you haven’t seen it yet, take a moment to watch: Disabilities Do Not Define Us – Focus on Ability Film Festival
Visit from Penny Pratt - We were pleased to welcome Penny Pratt, Member for Frome, who visited the school on Thursday. Penny viewed the Focus on Ability short film and then met with Eboney Kenyon to talk about the film, before visiting a Year 7 class engaged in their Democracy in Action project. Penny was very impressed with the creativity and depth of learning, commenting on how the project brought civics and governance to life by allowing students to form political parties, develop policies, deliver campaign speeches and vote. We also had valuable conversations with Penny about regional growth and how Balaklava High School continues to position itself as a high-quality educational option for families.
Balaklava Eisteddfod Performances - Our Choir and Rock Band performed at the Balaklava Eisteddfod this week, delivering outstanding and moving performances that showcased our students’ musical talent. A special thank you goes to our Arts teachers for their dedication to music and the arts, and for the support they provide our students.
ABC Radio Interview - I was also invited by the Department’s Media Unit to speak with ABC North & West Radio about student volunteering. In the interview, I highlighted:
- Student participation in National Tree Day, including tree planting with Wakefield Regional Council.
- The importance of volunteering in building skills, confidence and community connections.
- The exciting $25,000 redevelopment of the Balaklava Croquet Clubrooms, which will transform the space into a multi-purpose community hub for both school and local events.
The start to Term 3 has been a clear reminder of how proud we can be of our students’ achievements, the opportunities they embrace and the positive way they represent Balaklava High School in the community.
BHS Commitment to University Pre-Service Teachers
Balaklava High School continues to play an active role in supporting the next generation of educators. This term we hosted 11 pre-service teachers. Hosting pre-service teachers brings many positive outcomes for our school and the education system as a whole. It provides our staff with opportunities to reflect on and share their practice, strengthens links with universities and ensures future teachers experience the benefits of working in a country school. Our students also benefit from the fresh ideas and enthusiasm PSTs bring into classrooms, while gaining a sense of pride in supporting and shaping the development of future educators. This has also proven to be a successful strategy to attain and retain teachers to our school.
I want to sincerely thank our teachers for the time and expertise they invest in mentoring and our students for the warm and supportive way they embrace pre-service teachers. Together, this work not only enhances our school community but also contributes to the long-term sustainability of the teaching profession.
Please feel free to contact me at the school if you would like to discuss any aspect of your child’s learning. I can be contacted via Daymap or email derek.friedrichs447@schools.sa.edu.au or you can phone the school on 8862 0600 and ask to speak with me directly. Alternatively, I would be happy to discuss your needs in person – please pre-arrange this with the Front Office Team so that I can ensure I am available when you arrive.
Enjoy the weekend.
Regards
Derek Friedrichs
Principal BHS
In Week 5 of Term 3, we celebrate SSO Week to acknowledge the outstanding work of our grounds staff, ICT team, library personnel, canteen workers, administrative staff, and classroom support staff. We are extremely fortunate to have a dedicated and passionate support team who pride themselves on contributing to the success of our students at Balaklava High. As a token of our appreciation, the support staff were treated to barista coffee and a delightful morning tea, which coincided with Book Week.
New Daymap Parent Portal - Daymap Connect
Daymap Companion gives you streamlined access to key information such as attendance, assessment results, Daymap Points, excursion details and school messages, all in one place. It’s available on both desktop and mobile.
Desktop: Via the BHS Website
Android: Download on Google Play
Apple: Download on the App Store
Daymap Connect and the old Daymap Mobile app will still work for now, but they will not receive any further feature updates. We strongly encourage families to download Daymap Companion to stay up to date with school events and student progress.
Accessing Your Account
Each parent receives a unique login and password for secure access.
You can access the portal via:
The Daymap Connect link: https://balakhs.daymap.net/daymapconnect
The Balaklava High School website: https://www.balakhs.sa.edu.au/
The Daymap Companion mobile app: Available on Apple and Android
If your account is new or has been inactive, click “Forgot Password” and enter the email address provided to the school along with your child’s student ID code (found on their Daymap portal or student ID Card). If you need more support or encounter an error, please contact the school.
Semester 1 Reports - On Daymap
Reports for Semester 1 will be available on the final day of Term 3 (Friday, 26th September 2025). These will be published to the Daymap Parent Portal.
If you haven’t activated your Daymap account yet, now is the perfect time to do so to ensure you can access your child’s report and stay informed for the rest of the year.
Poetry in Motion
On Tuesday the team from Poetry in Action visited Balaklava High School to perform three different shows. To the Year 7s and 8s they performed The Poet’s Quest, the Year 9s and 10s experienced Riots and Revolutions which tied nicely into their current Persuasive Speech unit. The Year 11s and 12s viewed Words of War which linked with the Year 12 English Literary Studies Class focus on War Poetry.
The students were all very engaged and expressed how much they enjoyed the performances.
It was amazing! They had clear diction and transitions from poem to poem and back to hosting. They had great audience engagement as well as voice projection.
Coline
The performance provided by Poetry in Action was an elegant mix of informative and entertaining. Not only did it tell the poems but it showed the experiences of the author through opposing views on what they believed the author was trying to communicate.
Pepper
The Poetry in Action show was really, really good because it is informative but in a funny way. There were comedic aspects to it that you wouldn’t expect and their acting and flow of words was crazy good.
Denise
I thought it was a very engaging performance. The actors were very professional and made the experience more engaging.
Riley
I really enjoyed the Poetry in Action, I quite liked it and think more people should see it.
Seb
The Poetry in Action was good, and funny.
Adawynn
Well done in booking those guys! They were amazing and I have never seen our cohort so engaged and attentive. The kids loved it! Absolutely amazing. And I loved it!
Mr Billy Vincent
The Poetry in Action team also expressed “how much we enjoyed performing at your beautiful school! It was such a privilege, and we loved our experience.”
Hannah Marshall
English & Literacy Coordinator
Making a Splash in HASS , 7B Explores Water in the World
This term in HASS, 7B have been diving deep into the theme of Water in the World. Students have been busy exploring just how precious and limited our water supply really is through hands-on, eye-opening activities.
To begin, students were given just one litre of water to represent all the water on Earth. From there, they had to divide it into six key water sources: oceans, glaciers, rivers, wetlands, swamps and lakes. The task sparked lively discussions, with students passionately persuading their group members about which sources deserved more or less water. The biggest shock of all? Discovering that a staggering 97% of Earth’s water is held in our oceans, leaving only a tiny fraction for fresh water sources we rely on every day.
To add some fun and creativity, the class also enjoyed a sink or float challenge designed and run by student Angus Berry. Angus crafted several different boat models, some built to float, others destined to sink. Before testing, students had to cast their votes on what they thought would happen, before putting the designs to the test in a lively experiment. A big thank you goes to Angus for sharing his creativity and running such an engaging activity for the class.
It’s been a fantastic start to the term, with students learning not only about water, but also about collaboration, problem-solving, and thinking critically about the world around them. Students are now hard at work crafting persuasive speeches on the theme of water, stay tuned to hear some amazing arguments and ideas!
Ashleigh Leonello
Student Support & Engagement Coordinator
Year 11 Food and Hospitality Students Serve Up Coffee and Treats
On Friday of Week 3, our Year 11 Food and Hospitality class put their skills into action by running the BHS Coffee Cart. In preparation for the day, students baked a range of delicious treats designed to perfectly complement freshly brewed coffee.
The class also applied their barista knowledge, preparing and serving a variety of espresso coffees for staff at BHS and BPS. This hands-on task gave them valuable real-world experience in customer service, food preparation and beverage presentation — while giving the school community a tasty start to the day.
Year 10 Food Technology Students Showcase Their Catering Skills
Our Year 10 Food Technology students have been busy putting their culinary talents to the test, catering for a school events this week. From preparing delicious dishes to presenting food with flair, students have gained valuable hands-on experience in what it takes to deliver a professional catering service.
Through this process, they have developed skills in teamwork, time management, problem-solving and food safety — all essential in both the hospitality industry and everyday life. Students prepared the dishes under time pressure, giving them a true taste of the catering world.
Congratulations to our Year 10s for their work and professionalism!
Louise O'Halloran
Home Economics / Food and Hospitality Teacher
In Week 3, we had the incredible opportunity to take part in Operation Flinders – an 8-day wilderness trek through the rugged northern Flinders Ranges. Together we covered more than 100 kilometres and clocked up over 129,000 steps as we hiked across rocky ranges, cooked our own meals, set up camp each night and supported each other through daily challenges. We faced steep climbs like Mount Rose, joined in team-building activities and discovered the value of persistence, resilience and trust. It was tough at times, but the experience created memories that will last a lifetime.
Special mentions go to Jake Dale, who won the Boomerang Award for the biggest turnaround and to Ethan Hallett, who proudly took home our mascot Pajero for being the most selfless camper. A huge shout-out also goes to Josh Benge for coming with us and to our amazing team leaders Marco, Paul and Vlad, whose encouragement and guidance helped us succeed “one step at a time.”
If you are in Year 9 or 10 in 2026 and are interested in taking part in Operation Flinders, please speak to Mr Kelly or Mr Parsons for more information.
Kev Kelly
Deputy Principal
On Thursday the 14th of August, our Op Flinders Team got back together to cook a BBQ for Bullying No Way Day and raise some much-needed funds to give back to Op Flinders. A gold coin donation was given in exchange for a crispy sausage. Throughout the week a number of students participated in random acts of kindness which were taken from various tear off posters to further create and promote a positive school culture here at BHS.
Ash Parsons
Wellbeing and Engagement Senior Leader
ELH/HPE Faculty Leader
Balaklava Eisteddfod
On the 1st and 2nd of August, the town hosted the 29th Balaklava Eisteddfod, with multiple venues showcasing a wonderful range of vocal, instrumental and band performances, including concert, stage and rock categories.
This year, we were fortunate to take both our Senior Rock Band and Choir to the event. Our Choir performed Seize the Day and Flashlight, earning an impressive 3rd place. The Senior Rock Band also took to the stage, performing Zombie by The Cranberries and Still Into You by Paramore in the Senior ‘B’ Band category. While they didn’t place, their performance was outstanding and gave our Year 12s the chance to live out a memorable dream on stage.
We also wish to extend our congratulations to three of our students who contributed behind the scenes: Isabelle Poole for assisting with announcing the Rock Band sections on Friday, Charli Dall for helping with the check-in process at the Balaklava Uniting Church, and Caitlin McLean for accompanying Balaklava Primary School during their performances.
From the Vineyards to the Plains
As some of you might have seen on Facebook, we are welcoming Nuriootpa High School (NHS) for their annual music tour on September 3rd. Our Senior music students will be participating in a workshop with the NHS band from recess until the end of the day. To help celebrate this and make Nuriootpa feel the love of Balaklava we are putting on a concert! The concert will be held at the Balaklava Town Hall from 5:30pm.
To book a ticket use the following link:
https://www.trybooking.com/DEPVR
Sarah Wensley
Music / English / Special Options Teacher
Science Week: Decoding the Universe
Science Week at Balaklava High embraced the theme “Decoding the Universe,” reminding us that science is everywhere: whether students were cracking codes on a screen, launching rockets into the sky, experimenting with laser cutting, or imagining new worlds through LEGO colonies on Mars. The week was a celebration of creativity, teamwork and curiosity, all wrapped up in space inspired fun. A big thank you to all staff and students for their enthusiasm and energy. Congratulations once again to our winners and check out the highlights below!
Daily Competitions
Each morning, a special code was posted on Daymap for students to crack. With over 100 entries across the week, the response was incredible. Students impressed with their problem solving and creative approaches, and the most impressive or original answers were selected as winners. Prizes included some pretty epic rewards, such as LEGO sets and other science-inspired goodies.
Our winners were:
Monday: Harmony Stokes (10A)
Tuesday: Isabella Kisbee (10B)
Wednesday: Annabella Christmas (8B) & Adawynn Hughes (12B)
Thursday: Elizabeth Pym (7B)
Friday: Caitlin McLean (8C)
In the Second Chance Draw, Francis Podiotan (8D) came away with the prize.
Junior School: Astronauts in Training
During Science Week, our Year 7 and 8 students stepped into the role of astronauts-in-training, planning their very own missions to Mars or the Moon.
The journey began with astronaut applications, followed by designing and building imaginative LEGO spaceships or colonies inspired by real-life spacecraft. Students then created posters to showcase their mission plans, designs, and reflections, highlighting the challenges they faced and the teamwork and problem-solving skills they used to overcome them.
The results were outstanding, filled with creativity, innovation, and big-picture thinking that captured the spirit of Science Week perfectly.
STEM Building Lunchtime Activities
The STEM building buzzed with energy every lunchtime as students explored hands-on science challenges. Highlights included making colourful binary bracelets, creating precision designs with laser cutting, launching bottle rockets into the sky and unleashing creativity through LEGO builds. These activities showed how science can be practical, fun and inspiring all at once.
Amber Buick
Mathematics / Science / ICT Coordinator
The Year 11/12 girls' basketball team played against Eudunda, Kapunda, and Berri at REX in Tanunda on Tuesday of Week 2. They began with an impressive 45+ point victory against Eudunda, dominating the court with Alexa leading the charge and scoring multiple fast-break points. Maylea played with fierce intent, and Jorja also showed great resilience. Lily and Zarlia excelled under the basket, while Kasey performed well at the arc. Despite their strong start, the team faced tough competition in their next two games against Kapunda and Berri, where they continued their brilliant work. They were in the game throughout but narrowly missed victory, falling short by under 10 points each time. The team, including Tess and Zoe, demonstrated excellent teamwork and determination, leaving a lasting impression with their spirited performances.
Girls MVP – Maylea Carpenter
The Boys began with the toughest game of the day against Kapunda and unfortunately got off to a slow start. An excellent fight back saw us level with Kapunda at various stages but ultimately fell short in the dying moments to go down by 7 (33-26). A draw against Berri (27-27) lifted the spirits of the team after seeing Berri beat Kapunda prior. Our last game was against our friends over at Eudunda and a win was finally secured (31-20). A competitive day by the boys and they represented BHS with great values!
Boys MVP – Jack Pike
Josh Jenner
PE / HASS / Aboriginal Education Teacher
Bench Ball Battle Brings Out the Best!
Last week, the Year 7 cohort turned up the heat with an electrifying bench ball competition that had everyone on the edge of their seats. The atmosphere was buzzing as homegroups went head-to-head, each determined to claim the top spot.
Far more than just a game, the competition tested teamwork, communication, aim and tactics. Students quickly discovered that the key to success was not only skill but also how well they worked together under pressure. With every throw, catch and leap onto the bench, the intensity built and the crowd roared louder.
In the end, it came down to a thrilling final showdown, with students giving their absolute all until the very last whistle. While only one homegroup could take out the win, every team walked away with a boost of confidence, new memories and stronger bonds.
The Year 7s proved that competition can be both fierce and fun and that the best victories come from working together.
Ashleigh Leonello
Student Support & Engagement Coordinator
End of Term 3 Fun!
Balaklava High School is ending Term 3 with a bang on Friday, 26th September! Join us for the 2025 Colour Run, grab your white shirts and friends for an afternoon of colour, fun and fundraising. Entry is just $5, with funds going towards more shaded seating at school.
The day will also feature the Lions Club Donut Van, the much anticipated staff vs. student football match and the brand-new sliming challenge—where the highest donation gets to pour slime on a staff or student volunteer!
So, get ready Balaklava High School, Student Council is bringing the fun once again with this years Colour Run! Don’t miss out on the fun, let’s celebrate the end of term together!
In the September/October school holidays, St Patrick’s Technical College are running TRY-A-TRADE programs as follows;
Automotive
Thursday 2 October 2025
10am to 2pm (arrive 9:50am)
Year 8 – 10 Students
Bricklaying & Tiling
Tuesday 30 September 2025
9am – 3pm
Year 8-10 students
Carpentry and Plastering
Thursday 2 October 2025
9am to 3pm (arrive 8:50am)
Year 9-10 students
Civil Construction (Interactive Industry Immersion)
Wednesday 1 October 2025
9am to 12pm (arrive 8:50am)
Year 8-10 students
Plumbing and Electrical -FULL, no longer available
Wednesday 1 October 2025
9am – 3pm
Year 8-10 Students
TRY-A-TRADE offers students the opportunity to participate in an industry program and gain experience, with hands-on practical activities – they are delivered by industry specialists in our trade facilities.
Students will be provided with an attendance certificate which can be used for VETRO evidence.
To register please visit https://stpatstech.sa.edu.au/try-a-trade/
The annual parent survey is underway and closes midnight Sunday 7 September. For more information please visit the department’s website.
This survey aims to get your views on:
- what we’re doing well
- where we can improve
- what’s important to you as a parent/carer.
Your answers won't identify you or your child and only collated feedback is provided to our school.
You should have already received a link to the survey via email or SMS. Reminder emails are currently being sent to you unless you have completed a survey or have unsubscribed.
Please take the time to complete the survey, this is valuable information for our school. If you cannot find the previously sent link, then please use this one:
<school to insert survey link from email sent Monday 18 August 2025 from education.ParentSurvey@sa.gov.au>
ADELAIDE PLAINS BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Calling all basketball players, junior and senior
Competition played on Friday nights in Balaklava from 17/10/25
Clubs affiliated are Balaklava, Bulldogs and Owen
Balaklava train on Wednesday nights in Balaklava – balaklavabbc@gmail.com
Bulldogs train on Tuesday nights in Balaklava – bulldogsbasketballclub@outlook.com
Owen train on Tuesday nights in Owen – owensecretary@outlook.com
Please email your name and DOB to the club you would like to play for by 5th September 2025.
We also hold a APBA Hoops program which will run during Term 4 for ages 5-10 years. No previous experience required. It’s a skills program. Please submit your name and DOB to apbasec@hotmail.com
If you would like more information, please contact APBA Secretary Kirsty Williams on 0419 180 502.
