Wow! How did we get to this point of the year? As I sit here to write this report for the last newsletter of the year, I am filled with PRIDE for the achievements, growth and incredible efforts of our students, the persistence and expertise of our teachers, and the way we continue to develop who we are as a school community.

2025 Staffing

As our school community knows, staffing a school in a country setting continues to present many challenges. However, I am thrilled that we are in a great position going into 2025 with all of our staffing appointments finalised for next year.

I would like to welcome the following staff members to the Balaklava High School family for 2025.

• Donna Carpenter – Junior School Assistant Principal
• Liam Marshall – Design and Technology/Home Economics
• Lisa Dewhurst – Art/Design
• Lloyd Cook – English/HASS
• Seema Rani – Science/Maths
• Fran Pfitzner – Library CLA (Term 1)
• Sam Wright – Finance Officer
• Abhijett Kaur - B2 Wellbeing and Inclusion Leader

I'd like to welcome back the following staff from leave in 2024.

• Jess Daniels – Special Options
• Alison Parsons – HPE/Science (from Term 2)
• Josh Jenner – HPE/HASS

Congratulations to the following staff members who have won a permanent position or been converted to permanency at BHS.

• Sally McArdle – English/Special Options
• Adam Collins – Language
• Erica McGiffert – Chemistry/Science
• Holly Crighton – Agriculture/Science

Please see our full list of staff for 2025 in the table below.

Staff Farewells

As another year draws to a close, we must say farewell to staff at Balaklava High School.

Sam Budden is heading back to teach in Adelaide in 2025. Sam has had a wealth of experience at a range of schools in both metro and country regions. He has continued to develop his broad range of knowledge in 2024, undertaking more university study in conjunction with his teaching load. I will certainly miss the loss of an avid Crows comrade and we wish him all the best in 2025.

Pahul Modi will also be leaving us to pursue her next chapter in life in 2025. We have been fortunate to have Pahul’s services in Science/Mathematics over the past couple of years when filling positions has been difficult. We will certainly miss her mischievous personality and look forward to hearing about her future endeavours.

Michala Taggart will take up a new position at Mini Ivy Art Preschool in Woodville North in 2025. We have appreciated Michala’s broad range of artistic talents in the Art Department in 2024 as she has learnt to navigate a new educational landscape transitioning from America. Her bubbly personality and passion for Art will be missed, however, we know she will be fantastic in her new role. All the best Michala.

Nuwan Prasanna joined us at the start of 2024 in his first teaching experience in Australia. Nuwan has been a valuable member of the team teaching Science/Mathematics and has quickly established himself as a quality educator who is driven by continual improvement. We wish Nuwan all the best for 2025 as he moves to Playford College and closer to his family in Adelaide.

Steph Wyatt has been successful in winning a position closer to home in 2025. Steph has been a valuable member in our Admin team as our Finance Officer and we will miss her bubbly personality and bright smile. We wish her all the best for the future.

Deanne Bowden is regrettably heading back to Riverton and District High School in 2025 which is where a piece of Deanne’s heart lays. Deanne has certainly made an imprint on the fabric of our school in a short amount of time, developing genuine, caring and respectful relationships with staff, students and families. We will certainly miss Deanne’s expertise in the classroom and ‘good morning beautiful people’ as she walks through the door. All the best with your new role in 2025.

Kym Spartley has also won a permanent teaching position at Riverbanks College in 2025 which is much closer to home for her young family. I have known Kym for many years after completing my university teaching placement at Riverton and District High School and I feel privileged that our school could utilise her talents and expertise, especially stepping into our Senior Leader role. I know that many of our students will deeply miss Kym and the genuine care and passion she has for student wellbeing and inclusion. I know she will continue to shine bright at Riverbanks.

We wish you all the best in the next chapters of your lives and journey in education.

In addition to these farewells, we have a few staff taking leave in 2025.

• Alana Sharman is taking Maternity Leave for the majority of 2025 and we also congratulate her and her family on the safe arrival of their daughter Claire.
• Karyn Von-Zieden will be taking Long Service Leave in Term 1 2025.
• Bethany Monserrat is taking Maternity Leave for Semester 1 2025 and we wish her and her husband all the best with the birth of their first child.
• Barb Rogers and Di Taylor are taking leave for Term 1 2025.

Presentation Night

Last Wednesday evening, the school gymnasium was transformed into a vibrant hub of celebration for our annual Presentation Night. It was an amazing evening, showcasing the talents and achievements of our students throughout 2024. We were honoured to welcome Brianna Cleggett, a distinguished alumna of Balaklava High School, as our guest speaker. Brianna shared an inspiring message filled with valuable gems, insights and advice drawn from her dynamic and successful career since graduating. I know that her words of wisdom resonated deeply with everyone present.

Congratulations to all our graduates, performers and award winners. The evening was a testament to the dedication and accomplishments of our students throughout 2024. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their growth and success. A special thank you goes to Sarah Reusch, Cherie Cmrlec and their dedicated team for organising and ensuring the smooth execution of the event. Their meticulous planning and hard work behind the scenes made the night a resounding success.

For a complete list of award recipients, please refer to the section further in this newsletter.

Year 12 Results

Year 12 results will be released next Monday, 16th December from 8:30am. Students can access their results through the Students Online portal. Additionally, those who are eligible will receive an official certificate and a Record of Achievement by post. We are proud to acknowledge that many of our students have already embarked on exciting new paths, including employment, apprenticeships and early university entry. We look forward to hearing about their future successes and adventures.

For further details on accessing results, please visit the SACE Board's official website.

Bushfire Procedure

BHS is considered a low/medium bushfire risk site, therefore, on days deemed catastrophic, the school will remain open as closures based on the predicted forecast do not apply to us.  However, our bus runs are located in both the Mid North and Yorke Peninsula Fire Ban Districts, which means if a Catastrophic Day is declared in either district, all buses that travel through these areas will be cancelled.  We will inform parents of this information as soon as practicable after it is declared on the CFS website at 4pm the day before.  We will do this via a text message to parents/carers, Daymap and Facebook whilst Balaklava Primary School will inform bus families via Audiri (please download the app if you haven’t already done so).

As we may need to contact you urgently, it is vital that we have your most current details on our system.  Please keep us informed immediately if any of your contact details change throughout the year.  Please click on the brochure link for further information.  https://www.education.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/bushfire-and-your-childs-school-or-preschool-brochure.pdf  Parents can also call a parent hotline number (1800 000 279) to gain further advice when a catastrophic bushfire day is forecast.

Thank You and Merry Christmas

As we conclude the 2024 school year, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our entire school community.

Governing Council: Thank you to the members of our Governing Council for serving as a vital link between the school and the community. Your thoughtful consultation and sound advice have been invaluable as we strive to be the school of choice in our region.

Student Leaders: Our student leaders in 2024 have been exceptional. From House Captains and Music Captains to Head Students and Student Representatives, your hard work and dedication have represented Balaklava High School with respect and positivity. I wish our incoming Head and Deputy students for 2025 all the best and look forward to your achievements.

Leadership Team: To my Executive Leadership and extended Leadership team, your dedication and passion as educators are truly commendable. Your expertise and tireless efforts for the benefit of Balaklava High School are deeply appreciated, even if sometimes unrecognised.

Staff: Thank you to all staff at Balaklava High School. Your dedication and commitment make this school a special place to work. The countless hours you invest behind the scenes provide our students with rich opportunities to grow, learn and flourish.

Parents and Families: Your support and partnership in our educational journey are invaluable. Effective communication and collaboration can lead to blossoming partnerships. I encourage increased involvement to enrich our students' educational experiences. Together, we can continue to improve and make this the best school possible for our community. We look forward to growing our connection with our families through a Parents' and Friends' Committee in 2025. Stay tuned next year for more information. 

Students: Most importantly, thank you to our students. You inspire, challenge and impress us with your uniqueness and brilliance. For those departing, I wish you all the best in your future adventures.

As I mentioned at Presentation Night, change has been a constant theme this year, and our school community has embraced it with open minds. As John F. Kennedy wisely said, “Change is the law of life, and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” We look forward to consolidating these changes in 2025 to build on the strong foundation we’ve created. The school community has allowed myself as a new principal and my staff as a new team, space to grow and develop together. I am excited about the future of Balaklava High School and what we can achieve together!

In closing, I wish you all a Merry Christmas. May this time be filled with family, joy and moments of reflection on another fulfilling year.

Regards

Derek Friedrichs

Balaklava High School Principal

As the school year draws to a close, we reflect on an incredible journey through Auslan in 2024. It’s been a year of creativity, collaboration and deep learning as we explored the vibrant world of Auslan and Deaf culture. From posters to videos and games, our students have been busy bringing the language to life.

One of the highlights this year was creating our own videos. The students had a fantastic time filming and editing these using Canva—not only did they learn new Auslan phrases, but they also got a crash course in digital creativity! Seeing everyone come together to practice their signing on camera, sharing stories and refining their editing skills was truly inspiring. The laughter, teamwork and pride in their finished projects showed just how much fun learning can be.

In addition to all our creative projects, we also delved deeper into the culture of the Deaf community, discovering the unique experiences, challenges and triumphs of Deaf individuals in Australia and around the world. This exploration has not only taught us language skills but has also broadened our perspectives, encouraging empathy and respect for diversity in communication.

We’re so proud of the effort and enthusiasm our students have brought to Auslan this year, and we look forward to continue to use and explore this beautiful language in the future. Thank you to all the students and families for their support and engagement—it’s been a wonderful year of learning and growth.

Adam Collins

The Year 11 Biology class celebrated the end of the year with a trip to the University of Adelaide where they met some amazing Evolutionary Biology PhD research students for a private tour of their research labs and also conducted a thin layer chromatography test to determine why spinach is green. The day was completed with an SA Museum and State Library visit.

This term, 7B has been diving into the fascinating world of Civics and Citizenship, with a focus on the three levels of government and their roles and responsibilities. Students explored the democratic process in Australia, including elections and the responsibilities of voters.

The class was divided into political parties, each tasked with creating a party name, logo and campaign poster. Collaboration was the key as students worked together to craft persuasive political speeches aimed at winning the support of their peers.

The highlight of the term was our Week 7 Mock Election Day, where political leaders participated in a lively debate, sharing their visions and convincing voters to back their party. The event concluded with students experiencing the voting process firsthand, casting their ballots in a simulated election.

A huge congratulations to The Eddie Party and their political leader, Claudia Cowan, for their victory in the 2024 Leo Valley Election!

This hands-on experience gave students an engaging and practical insight into Australia’s democratic system, fostering teamwork, public speaking and critical thinking skills. 

Ashleigh Leonello

The Improver and High Achiever Awards celebrate the hard work, dedication, and remarkable achievements of our students here at Balaklava High School. Today we will highlight those who have excelled academically and those who have shown significant improvement in their studies.

Our High Achievers are students who have consistently demonstrated excellence by maintaining an overall GPA at or above 85% in their end-of-semester report. Their commitment to academic excellence is truly commendable.

Our Improvers are students who have shown tremendous growth by improving their end-of-term report GPA by more than 10%. Their determination and effort to enhance their academic performance are inspiring to us all.

Our Year 8s recently headed off to the Adelaide Botanic Gardens for the annual Maths Trail. Here, Maths is put into a real world setting to enable our students to connect their learning with life outside school. It also gives them the opportunity to discover a part of our Capital they have not experienced before, with its flora, fauna and glass art of Dale Chihuly all in the same tranquil setting.

Congratulations to the class of 2024

Top Performers for 2024 in Stage 2

Agricultural Production: Kiara Cowan & Brooke McArdle

Biology: Madison Litzow Business Innovation: Kiara Cowan

Creative Arts: Alexander Evans

Design Technology & Engineering: Alexander Evans

English: Kiara Cowan

English Literary Studies: Janna Mojares & Madison Litzow

Essential English - Modified: Kyesha Hansen & Adriana Donley

Food & Hospitality: Alexander Evans

General Mathematics: Madison Litzow

Mathematical Methods: Janna Mojares

Media Studies: Emma Hamdorf

Music-Solo Performance: Sarah Davies

Music-Ensemble Performance: Sarah Davies

Physical Education: Janna Mojares

Physics: Alexander Evans

Psychology: Taylah West

Research Project: Tess Rana

Visual Arts-Art: Sarah Davies

Workplace Practices: Chase Grimwood

Academic Award Winners

Year 7	Alexa Arthur	Alana Baumann	Harvey Cay	Claudia Cowan
	Ilka Gangell	Grace Guthberg	Ella Hahesy	Matthew Haley
	Amber March	Francis Podiotan	Molly Pratt	Logan Shepherd
	Oscar Tiller	Wayne Urmenita	Halle Young	Mason Zerk
	Noah Renton-Moore (Dux)
Year 8	Aleisha Baker	Erin Boobyer	Caitlyn Cox	Taylor Harkness
	Jasper Hughes	Aliyse Lomman	Tori McMillan	Shania Murray
	Isabelle Poole	Maya Shepherd	Alexa Young	Brianna Young
	Tahlia Zerk	Ruby Lemon (Dux)
Year 9	Steele Harbrow	Emily Kirkland	Tyler Toholke	Charlotte Branson (Dux)
Year 10	Karl Arevalo	Mia Arthur	Gemma Cook	Mackensey Dale
	Tayla Dale	Bodhi Darby	Caesar Guden	Theodore Halkias
	Nathanial Jeromin-Dickinson	Angus Lemon	Liam March	Charlie Milway
	Katelin Newton	Megan Payne	Tully Pratt	Natalie Ritchie
	Scarlett Smith	Jedd Taylor	Macy Tiller	Tameika West
	Matilda Williamson (Dux)
Year 11	Kasey Battle	Riley Beckel	Joseph Futterleib	Cooper Jagiello
	Lucy Pym	Tess Rana	Jorja Schutt	Addyson Slater
	Zarlia White	Sebastien Hughes (Dux)
Year 12	Kiara Cowan	Sarah Davies	Alexander Evans	Rachel Feltham
	Emma Hamdorf	Madison Litzow	Janna Mojares	Taylah West
	Bligh Wilson

Year 7 Academic Award Winners

Year 8 Academic Award Winners 

Year 9 Academic Award Winners

Year 10 Academic Award Winners

Year 11 Academic Award Winners

Year 12 Academic Award Winners

WAKEFIELD REGIONAL COUNCIL 2023 DUX: Olivia Allen

Presented by Mayor Rodney Reid

WAKEFIELD REGIONAL COUNCIL LEADERSHIP AWARDS:

Janna Mojares & Joshua Michael

With Principal Mr Derek Friedrichs

VALEDICTORIAN AWARD: Alexander Evans

With Principal Mr Derek Friedrichs

HOUSE SHIELD: Ross - Captains, Sebastien Hughes & Brooke McArdle

With Principal Mr Derek Friedrichs

PHYSIO PRIME SPORTS GIRL OF THE YEAR: Janna Mojares

PHYSIO PRIME SPORTS BOY OF THE YEAR: Jai Thompson

Presented by Ms Susan Copeland

HOUSE CHAMPION AWARD: Tahlia Zerk

Presented by Ms Susan Copeland

YEAR 10 ADF LONG TAN LEADERSHIP & TEAMWORK AWARD: Matilda Williamson

Presented by Mr Tom Venning

YEAR 12 ADF LONG TAN LEADERSHIP & TEAMWORK AWARD: Janna Mojares

Presented by Mr Tom Venning

YEAR 10 ADF FUTURE INNOVATORS AWARD: Angus Lemon

Presented by Mr Tom Venning

YEAR 12 ADF FUTURE INNOVATORS AWARD: Madison Litzow

Presented by Mr Tom Venning

DES ROSS PRIZE FOR LITERACY - Madison Litzow

Presented by Mrs Hannah Marshall

ALISON AWARD

Runner-ups: Bligh Wilson, Brooke McArdle, Janna Mojares, Sarah Davies

Winners: Georgia Renton, Madison Litzow

BALAKLAVA COURTHOUSE GALLERY VISUAL ARTS AWARDS: Sarah Davies

Presented by Ms Nancy Harrington

BALAKLAVA COMMUNITY ARTS PERFORMING ARTS AWARD: Bligh Wilson

Presented by Mrs Sally Cowan

BALAKLAVA EISTEDDFOD SOCIETY PERFORMING ARTS AWARD: Sarah Davies

Presented by Mrs Bronwyn Cottle

 

PLAINS PRODUCER VET PATHWAYS AWARD: Riley Hannaford

Presented by Mr Jarrad Delaney

ELDERS PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AWARD: Kiara Cowan

Presented by Ms Holly Crighton

BALAKLAVA BETTA HOME LIVING IMPROVEMENT AWARD: Eboney Kenyon

Presented by Mr Jeff Karklins

APEX CITIZENSHIP AWARD: Bligh Wilson

With Principal Mr Derek Friedrichs

ROWAN RAMSEY SCHOOL COMMUNTY AWARD: Sally Cowan

WOOL, WINE & WHEAT AWARD: Madison Litzow 

Presented by Mrs Ro Wood

AMPOL BEST ALL-ROUNDER AWARD: Janna Mojares

With Principal Mr Derek Friedrichs

SHAMUS LIPTROT MEMORIAL AWARD: Janna Mojares

Presented by Mr Derek Friedrichs

FROME STUDENT SERVICE AWARD: Sebastien Hughes

With Principal Mr Derek Friedrichs

Thank you to our sponsors:

Ampol	Greene Eden
Agfert Balaklava	M & P Liptrot
Australian Defence Force	Nutrien Ag Solutions
Balaklava Apex Club	Penny Pratt MP
Balaklava Betta	Physio Prime
Balaklava Community Arts	Ross Family
Balaklava Courthouse Gallery	Ashley Smith
Balaklava Eisteddfod Society	TADS Balaklava
Balaklava Transport	Terry Redden
Daisy Lane Flowers	Terry White Chemmart
Elders Rural Services	The Plains Producer
Employment Directions	Wool, Wine & Wheat
Foodland Balaklava

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

GUEST SPEAKER: Brianna Cleggett

With Principal Mr Derek Friedrichs

MCs:Tess Rana & Sebastien Hughes

Student Helpers: Molly Payne & Halle Young

Performing Artists: Bligh Wilson & Sarah Davies

Balaklava High School Staff who contributed to the organising of this event

Congratulations to Caitlyn Toholke for representing School Sport SA at the School Sport Australia 12 Years and Under Cricket Championship in Adelaide. Finishing third is a fantastic achievement! It's great to hear that the team not only excelled in cricket but also learned important lessons in sportsmanship, teamwork, and resilience.

On Monday of Week 8, selected Year 7, 8 and 9 students ventured to Adelaide for the Success Camp. We started off with a morning tea baked by Mrs Hadley and Mrs Marshall on the banks of the River Torrens, before crossing the bridge to Adelaide Oval. 

At the Oval students were provided with an immersive tour of the facilities, including the famous scoreboard. Some were even able to spot a couple of cricketers preparing for the upcoming test match. 

A hot day, students were eager to get back to West Beach to go for a dip in the pool after a Subway lunch. With its amazing facilities, students spent the afternoon exploring West Beach Caravan Park with some venturing with Mrs Marshall in the rain to the mini golf course. Here students showed off their golfing skills. 

A dinner of yiros fed all the students, with Mason Zerk eating at least 5, quite impressive for his size. After dinner, students walked down to the beach to enjoy the sunset with Mrs Hadley and received a surprise visit from Miss Leonello. A lovely evening after a fun filled day. 

Success Camp.mp4

On Tuesday, we headed to The Beach House, where students had the entire place to themselves to roam freely and give the water slides a crack. But the highlight of the day was the West Beach Adventure Park where students were able to try a high ropes course, a free fall and a giant swing. 

A big thanks to Dave Cmrlec for coming along to drive the bus and providing nuggets of wisdom from his many years of experience. 

Hannah Marshall

The Tourism and Café Culture Studio classes joined forces in week 8 for an exciting gingerbread baking and decorating session, and what a success it was! Students began by learning the fundamentals of gingerbread dough preparation, exploring techniques to achieve the perfect balance of flavour and texture. Once the dough was ready, they worked collaboratively to roll, cut, and bake gingerbread pieces, creating an array of festive shapes such as stars, houses, trees, and traditional gingerbread people. 

The decorating session brought out the students’ artistic flair, with icing, sprinkles, and candies transforming the baked gingerbread into colourful masterpieces. Some students opted for classic holiday designs, while others experimented with more modern and creative themes, showcasing a wide range of imaginative ideas.  This activity displayed students creativity, sparking plenty of smiles and festive cheer. Many of the gingerbread pieces were later shared with friends and staff, spreading the joy even further. The decorated gingerbread creations showcased the students' artistic talents and brought a festive atmosphere to the classroom. Merry Christmas from the Tourism and Café Studio students.

Louise O'Halloran

As 2024 draws to a close, we want to take a moment to celebrate the outstanding efforts of our students and thank the families and community members who have supported Vocational Education and Training (VET) at Balaklava High School this year.

Congratulations to all students who have undertaken a VET qualification or short course in 2024. Your hard work and commitment to developing industry-specific skills and qualifications has been inspiring. We are proud of the effort you’ve put into pursuing your pathways and future careers.

Plains Producer VET Pathways Award

A special congratulations to Riley Hannaford, who received the Plains Producer VET Pathways Award at Presentation Night. Riley’s dedication to his traineeship and his learning journey has been exemplary. We would also like to thank his employer, Viterra, for the incredible support they have provided Riley throughout his traineeship.

STEM Pathways Scholarship Success

We are delighted to acknowledge three of our Year 10 students—Caleb Hammond, Lachlan Bull, and Lincoln Cowan—on their success in winning a Department for Education STEM Pathways Scholarship. In 2025, these students will undertake the Certificate II in Engineering Pathways course at BHS. This exciting opportunity will provide a strong foundation for their future careers in STEM industries and we look forward to seeing their achievements.

Looking Ahead to 2025

• VET Course Fees: A reminder to families with students undertaking VET courses in 2025 that course fees will apply. Detailed information about course enrolments, fees, payment options, and the Commitment to Pay document will be sent home during the school holidays. Please keep an eye out for this important information.
• Year 10 Work Experience: For families with students in Year 10 next year, Work Experience Week will take place in Term 3, Week 1 (21/7/25 to 25/7/25). We encourage families to be proactive in sourcing placements early, as these experiences are invaluable for students’ future career exploration and pathway planning.

Thank You and Best Wishes

Finally, a huge thank you to all families for your ongoing support of VET and student pathways in 2024. Your encouragement and support has been instrumental in the success of our programs and our students.

We wish all Balaklava High School families a safe and happy break and look forward to an exciting 2025!
Luke Clark
VET Coordinator

The Balaklava Racing Club is offering an exciting apprenticeship opportunity for your students through the Balaklava Racing Club.

We are offering an apprenticeship in Horticulture/Track Management.

Train in the Resourceful Adolescent Parent Program

Help teenagers build resilience & develop positive mental health

Zoom Training Event

RAP-P (Parents)
28^th May, 2025

8.30am to 4.30pm (AEST)

Please see attached flyer for registration and program detail 

The Resourceful Adolescent Program (RAP) was developed to build resilience and promote positive mental health in teenagers. The program specifically aims to prevent teenage depression and related difficulties.

The Resourceful Adolescent Program consists of three components that promote the individual, family and school protective factors respectively: 1.The RAP-A program for adolescents is a school–based program for 11 to 15 year olds that aims to improve the coping skills of teenagers 2. RAP-P for parents’ targets family protective factors such as increasing harmony and preventing conflict. 3. RAP-T for teachers aims at assisting teachers to promote school connectedness, a protective factor that has recently been shown to be very important in teenage mental health. (RAP-A and RAP-P also have adaptations that meet the specific needs of indigenous and autistic communities).