PRINCIPAL'S NEWS
Since our last newsletter we have had the senior Drama students’ production of The Marvellous Mellow Melodrama of the Marriage of the Mislaid Minor. This proved to be a highly engaging, entertaining and enjoyable performance that had the audience laughing with the quality pacing and delivery of our talented students. Congratulations to Miss Umapathysivam and the cast and crew on this excellent performance. The spotlight now turns to our Year 7 Performing Arts production this Friday, which will showcase the work of these young students under the guidance of Mr Jenner. These two examples are indicative of the quality work and experiences the students at Balaklava High School are involved in.
Mobile Phone Policy - AirPods/other wireless Headphones and Canteen Purchases
A reminder, further to the information sent home in a Term 1 newsletter, that Air Pods and other wireless headphones are not be used at BHS. Senior students wanting to listen to music in study are able to access Spotify though their laptops (students can set up a free account to do this) and they are required to have headphones with cords to connect to their laptops to ensure they are not linked to their mobile phones. As per the Department for Education and BHS policy, phones need to be ‘off and away’ during the school day. On rare occasions, Middle School students may also be allowed to use headphones and the same rules apply; however, if a class are required to use headphones for a particular activity they will be provided by the school for use in that lesson. Students will be reminded about this over the next couple of weeks and from the start of Term 3, they will be asked to remove wireless earphones and our Behaviour Support Policy will be followed for refusing to follow a reasonable instruction.
Phone use in the canteen – currently, some students are using their mobile phones in the canteen to pay for purchases. Further to our Mobile Phone Policy, and the need for phones to be ‘off and away’ during the school day, from the beginning of next term, students will not be able to pay with their phone and they will need to have a physical debit card to use in the canteen. Cash is always an option as are orders and payment via Qkr! which parents and students can do from home. Using Qkr! also reduces the need for students to line up and risk the canteen running out of food. Pre-orders ensure students get the food they are hoping for. From the start of Term 3, students will be refused service if using their phone for payments in the canteen.
Staffing Update
Tomorrow marks the end of Semester 1 and students will start a new timetable on Monday. For Year 12 students their subjects will not change, however for all other students this point marks the end of many subjects and the start of new subjects and potentially new teachers. It also marks the return of Mr James Mussared as he had completed his Master’s degree studies and returns to us as a full time teacher. We will also welcome back Mrs Karyn Von-Zieden after 6 months of Long Service Leave. We look forward to having these teachers return to BHS with all of the skills and knowledge they have to offer.
We also need to farewell Jamie Banwell at the end of this term, who has worked at BHS for the past seven years. During his time here Jamie has worked in the Special Options class, in the Enhanced Learning Hub and has run a number of small group programs such as Car Care. We wish him all the very best for his new job and we will miss his bright personality (and Christmas outfits!) and know that his new school will benefit from all he brings.
Student Free Days
Last Tuesday we had a student free day where all teaching and classroom based support staff completed the Keeping Them Safe: Child Protection Curriculum training/update. This is a mandated child safety and respectful relationships curriculum providing age and developmentally appropriate activities for children and young people from 3 years of age to Year 12 (age 17+). At BHS it is predominantly delivered through the Empower program but also occurs in other learning areas at times. After completing this training, we will review our Empower program and make any necessary updates.
Also, as this is our last newsletter for the term, a reminder that we have a student free day on Monday 24th July. Balaklava Primary School also has a student free day on this date and, as such, buses will not run that day. Term 3 will start on Tuesday 25th July 2023 and we look forward to welcoming your young people back then.
As always, I invite parents 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 Sonia.Pringle235@schools.sa.edu.au or you can phone the school on 8862 0600 to speak to me directly or to make a time to come and see me.
Sonia Pringle
Principal