2020 has been a year like no other as it has simultaneously felt like it has gone in the blink of an eye yet also like it has taken a decade to pass.  I would like to thank families for their support this year as we have navigated changes to how we deliver our learning programs, managed student absences early in the pandemic and then the recent statewide hard lockdown.  I also appreciate the patience shown by students and families when we have been forced to cancel or postpone events as a result of government COVID restrictions.

Our annual Presentation Evening is normally held at the Balaklava Town Hall each year but it has sadly succumbed to the restrictions surrounding COVID.  We attempted to split the event, move location and change the date, however we finally had to make the very difficult decision to have it at school on the last day of term without family and friends in the audience.  We absolutely acknowledge the distress this has caused for families and it is important that you know the decision was not made lightly.  We will film the event and send families a link so they can view it at their leisure and we will also ensure that we take many photos to document the occasion.

The Year 12 Formal has been moved two or three times this year in terms of date and venue and we have now decided to hold it on the school grounds next Wednesday 9th December.  Students will still have a sit down, fully catered meal with Event Photographers in attendance to capture the celebrations and we expect it to be a night to remember.

I would like to thank the organising committees of each of these events who have dedicated a significant number of hours in preparation only to have to then deal with a number of new stressors this year due to ever-changing COVID restrictions.

Year 8 and 9 students are currently working on their Reflection of Learning presentations (formerly known as Authentic Assessment) ready to deliver them next week.  These presentations allow students an opportunity to reflect on their learning across the year and to share these achievements with others.  We wish them well with their preparations and panel members look forward to hearing about successes and challenges they’ve encountered this year.

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 SkoolBag (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 see the attached brochure for further information.  Parents can also call a parent hotline number (1800 000 279) to gain further advice when a catastrophic bushfire day is forecast.

Staffing for 2021

Our staffing for 2021 is quite settled but we do have a couple of new appointments joining us.  As mentioned earlier in the year, Mrs Alana Sharman (Coordinator:  Maths/Numeracy/STEM) will join our staff in a leadership role and we are also very pleased to welcome Miss Kym Spartley to our team from Riverton and District High School.  Kym has a wealth of experience in both teaching English and counselling students.  Mr James Mussared will also return to BHS in a part time capacity as he continues the study that he started whilst on leave this year.  I am very confident that we have a strong teaching team with dedicated leaders to continue to move our school forward in 2021 and beyond.

Farewells

At this time of the year we also have a number people to farewell, although this year, the number is small and there are some that I won’t say goodbye to now as we are hoping they will be reappointed for next year.  We know for certain that the following staff members are leaving:  Rebecca Crowe joined us earlier this year and she has offered much to our site through her work as an English teacher and with her Year 8 homegroup.  Rebecca has accepted a position for next year at Playford Collegeand they will benefit from her joining them.  Melissa Cloney has been with us for the past two years both as a TRT and a teacher in our Special Class and in English.  We know she will enjoy being home with her new son Devin and we hope to see her back as a TRT in the future.  Ryan Bernhardt has been our Pastoral Care Worker for a number of years and has supported students and a number of families during this time.  He has provided a valuable link between our school and the local churches, which we have appreciated.  To all staff members leaving we thank them for their time here and wish them well for whatever the future holds.

For the past two years that I’ve been at Balaklava High School I have appreciated the work of our Governing Council, ably led by Chairperson, Andrew Parker and I acknowledge the work they do regarding the governance of the school and I value their questioning to clarify how or why we do things at BHS.  I thank the broader school community for their support this year and I look forward to continuing these positive relationships next year.  I wish you all an enjoyable, relaxing and safe break with your families and friends and I look forward to seeing many of you back at school on Wednesday 27^th January 2021 ready for another year of learning.

Sonia Pringle

Principal