Principal's Report
This year has been unusual in so many ways, not least of which is that it simultaneously feels like it’s been going for about 20 years yet it also feels like we’ve blinked and we are nearly at the end of Term 3. We have been very pleased to have our first excursion since COVID-19 restrictions when the Year 9 Geography classes joined with our Special Options class to head to Port Hughes and we have also had a number of school sporting events recently. We are very proud to announce that both our Year 8/9 Boys’ and Open Boys’ Football teams have made it to the state finals, which will be played before the end of term. We wish them well and hope they bring home the championship trophies.
Parent Survey
Each year we send out opinion surveys to randomly selected families, however, this year, for the first time, the Department for Education is issuing surveys directly to the families. When you receive an email or text with a link to the survey, I ask that you complete the survey honestly and in detail if they ask for a written response. The survey should take you less than 10 minutes to complete. If you didn’t receive a link, you can use the one below:
Information gained through this survey will be used to inform future directions in the school by acknowledging areas we are performing strongly in and areas in which we can improve. Results are presented each year in the Annual Report and at the Governing Council’s AGM. I thank families who have completed the survey in the past and those who will do so this year.
Presentation Evening
Each year we have a Presentation Evening at the Balaklava Town Hall where we acknowledge the graduating class of Year 12s, along with celebrating our academic and sporting winners and we showcase a number of musical talents. This year’s ceremony is booked for Wednesday 2nd December at 7pm. As COVID-19 restrictions are easing, but are still in place, we are looking at an appropriate format for this year as it is unlikely we will be able to have a large group of people gathering in the Town Hall. It is vital that we celebrate the Class of 2020 and we will do so in the best possible way. Once we are confident with the restrictions and format, we will inform families, however we invite you to put this date in your diary now. We also ask for your patience and understanding at this time.
Year 7 to High School
In 2022, high schools across South Australia will welcome Year 7s to the secondary setting. We have been planning for this for some time and are now looking at the structure of the curriculum we will offer them. We are also looking at what subjects our Year 8s and Year 9s study and see this as an exciting opportunity to do something different and make sure we are meeting the educational needs of all of our students. Next year will be busy with transition opportunities as we prepare for a double intake of new students with both a new Year 8 cohort and a new Year 7 cohort starting together in 2022. Middle School Assistant Principal, Michelle Pudney has been leading this work and we have engaged our staff, our feeder schools and students in this process. We will also be looking for the opinions of parents. Michelle has spent much of her year building positive relationships with our current Middle School students and their families and I urge you to contact her if you have any questions about Year 7s coming to high school or anything else Middle School related.
Holiday Break
The upcoming holiday provides the opportunity for our students to spend time with their families, catch up on some rest and relaxation as well as a chance for the senior students to balance study and periods of rest as they head into their final few weeks at school. Year 12 students will finish formal lessons at the end of Week 2 next term (although some classes, especially those with exams, may continue after this date) so I implore them to work hard through this final break as the end of their schooling is certainly near. I hope everyone has a good break and that we all come back school on the first day of Term 4 ready to finish the year strongly.
As always, I am available to speak to parents about any issues or concerns or to discuss any aspect of their child’s learning. I can be contacted at the school via Daymap, email Sonia.Pringle235@schools.sa.edu.au or phone 8862 0600 where you can speak to me directly or make a time to come and see me.
Sonia Pringle
Principal