Wow, where did the last 11 weeks go? It’s hard to believe that we are at the end of Term 1 already. As I sit here and reflect on our start to 2024, I can’t help but feel great PRIDE for everything that we have achieved throughout the term. I’d also like to thank staff, students and families for the warm welcome I have received and how the community has embraced our new look team at BHS.

These are just some of the happenings that have taken place in a busy Term 1.   

• Year 7 Meet and Greet and Moonta Excursion
• BHS and Lower North Swimming and Athletics Carnivals
• Open Boy’s Cricket
• SAPOL Road Safety
• Restorative Practice training
• Elevate Program
• Student Led Conferences
• Governing Council AGM
• Student Council camp and Student Leader Induction Ceremony
• NAPLAN
• Open Night
• A range of curriculum-based excursions

A reminder to our school community that there is an early dismissal tomorrow for the last day of term. The school day will finish on Friday at 2:15pm.

Staffing

As announced to the BHS community yesterday, I am thrilled to be leading Balaklava High School for the next 5 years. It is a great privilege to lead a school, let alone one in the community that you call home. I look forward to continuing to strengthen our school and the quality of public education that is offered to our community.

I would like to congratulate Lucy Thiel who has won a position as Assistant Principal – Middle Years at Ocean View College starting in Term 2. Lucy has been an integral part of the BHS team over the past 10 years and she has brought a great range of knowledge, expertise and drive to our school community. Most importantly, Lucy has demonstrated an undeniable passion and dedication towards our students and their positive development. There has been much debate amongst students on who we will miss more, Eddie or Lucy, but we know that they will both be sorely missed at BHS and we wish them well for their future. I am currently working on a replacement for Lucy’s position and hope to have this in place early next term.

I must also congratulate and farewell (for now) Kimberly Walker who has won an Inclusive Educator position at Para Hills for the remainder of the year. This is a great opportunity for Kimberly to build her knowledge and understanding in the area of inclusive education and we are hopeful that we will welcome her back to BHS in 2025. I would like to congratulate Kym Adams and Ash Parsons who will step into this role and lead Wellbeing and Inclusion across the school for the remainder of 2024. 

I am excited to welcome Dylan Rolston-Howard to the Balaklava High team starting in Term 2. Students would be familiar with Dylan as he has just finished his final teaching placement with us. Dylan has impressed and excelled in his time here with us and we look forward to having him onboard for the remainder of 2024.

With a shuffle in staffing, there will be some timetable changes in Term 2 that will be communicated to families once they are finalised. Alison Parsons will be heading off on Maternity Leave from Week 3 and Erica McGiffert will be completing her final university placement at Thomas Moore College in weeks 1-6. During Term 2, we will also welcome four university students to BHS who are completing a placement with us. I’m looking forward to welcoming them to our school.

Student Induction Ceremony

Our student leaders were inducted on Tuesday 19^th March in a ceremony held in the Gym. I’d like to thank Tiarhn Carpenter who was our special guest on the day and shared her wisdom about leadership through her experience at BHS and also Richard Thomas and Kelly Schubert for their work in organising and leading Student Council.

I also spoke to staff, students and parent about my philosophy about leadership which I have shared below.

Good afternoon students, parents, staff and community members.

It’s with a great sense of PRIDE that we meet here today as a collective group for the 2024 Student Leader Induction Ceremony and celebrate the significance of student leadership. You will hear from our Head Students Josh and Janna shortly about their perspective on leadership, however, I would also like to share some of my own thoughts on this role and I think we share many of the same philosophies.

When we talk about leadership, we often think about those in positions of authority, however, leadership is not just about titles or control. It's about positive influence, about setting an example and about upholding the values and standards that define who we are as a school and wider community. Gone are the days when leadership in schools is confined only to the principal’s office or the staffroom. Today, we understand that leadership is not determined by your age or title but by actions and influence you have. This is my eighth week at Balaklava High School and already I have seen some amazing examples of leadership and positive influence.

Now, for those who know me well, you will understand that I’m very much a movie buff, so I have armed myself with some powerful movie quotes in my message today about leadership that have resonated with me throughout the years.

One of the last things that Uncle Ben says to Peter Parker in Spiderman is ‘with great power comes great responsibility.’ Indeed, as student leaders, your entrusted with the power to influence and shape our school's culture and future. However, positions of power and leadership are not about putting yourself ahead of others, nor are they for thinking you are better than others. It’s the selfless act of working alongside others to make them better; encouraging, coaching and mentoring others to be the best version of themselves. By doing so, you show true leadership qualities and make a positive impact on those around you. Coach Boone in Remember the Titans wisely said ‘attitude reflects leadership, captain.’ Your attitude towards your position must be one that leads by example, by demonstrating integrity, respect, and compassion in all that you do. This is what inspires others to do the same.

Each one of us has the power to make a difference, to contribute positively to our school community. Whether you hold a formal leadership role or not, you have the ability to influence those around you by your actions and words. In Terminator 2, Sarah Connor states that ‘the future is not set. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves’ and Galadriel in Lord of the Rings tells us that "even the smallest person can change the course of the future." You all have the ability to make a difference if you want to.

The values of leadership were powerfully expressed by former Australian Army General David Morrison when he said, "the standard you walk past is the standard you accept." These words hold profound significance for us as students, staff, parents and as leaders. They remind us that we are not passive observers but active participants in shaping the culture of our school. This message is echoed by the Dark Knight in Batman when he states ‘its what I do that defines me.’

So, student leaders, my advice and challenge to you is as follows. Represent our school with PRIDE and encourage your peers to live by these principals in the classroom, out in the yard, on the bus, in the online world and out in the community. Respectfully challenge others to improve and work alongside your peers to be better. Don’t walk past the standard that you are not willing to accept or doesn’t meet the culture we wish to create at Balaklava High School. You’ll find that your peers will look up to you not because you place yourself above them on a pedestal, but because you are there to lift them up when they are down. Your position as a student leader means treating others with kindness and empathy, and standing up injustice and what is right and holding ourselves and others accountable even when it's uncomfortable. Remember, ‘sometimes we face the choice between what is right, and what is easy’. ‘It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but it takes a great deal more to stand up to your friends.’ I’ll leave you with those two quotes from Albus Dumbledore and wish our student leaders all the best in your leadership journey throughout the year.

Student Free and School Closure Day

Governing Council have now approved our proposed Student Free Days and School Closure Day (Adelaide Show) for the remainder of the year. These are as follows;

TERM 2 – Student Free Day - Tuesday 11th June (Week 7)

TERM 3 – Student Free Day - Monday 22nd July (Week 1)

TERM 3 - School Closure Day - Monday 2nd September (Week 7)

TERM 4 - Student Free Day - Friday 1st November (Week 3)

Buses

During the start of Term 2, there will be a change to traffic conditions on Gwy Terrace as buses will be doing school drop offs in this zone while works are undertaken on the Balaklava Primary School bus lane.

No parking will be allowed from the High School traffic lights to the Horizon Christian School stop lights on Gwy Terrace. Bollards will be in place and traffic may be moving slower than normal.

More information will be disseminated to families in coming weeks and I would like to thank our Public Education colleagues over at Balaklava Primary School for the extensive work they are doing to coordinate this work and overall management of the buses.

Japanese Study Tour

Balaklava High School has had a long-standing relationship with Meidai and they are again seeking an opportunity for their students to spend time at our school in July by BHS hosting a study tour. 

I am seeking an expression of interest from any interested families to host a Japanese study tour student. Families receive financial support to host a student/s.

Families will receive an Expression of Interest email from the school this week. Please complete the form to register your interest.

Agriculture Committee

BHS extends an invitation to parents and community members to join our Agriculture Committee, either through active involvement in running our farm, contributions to our educational programs or simply through donation of resources or services.

Agriculture is not just a subject in our curriculum; it's a vital component of our rural community's identity and future. Your expertise, insights and support will help us create a dynamic agricultural program that equips our students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in the ever-evolving agricultural landscape.

By joining this committee or being involved in some way with our program, you have the opportunity to play an active role in shaping the agricultural education and experiences of our students and help prepare our them for diverse career paths in a crucial industry.

Thank you to those people who have already expressed interest in joining the Agriculture Committee. We look forward to having this up and running towards the start of Term 2.

Public Education Strategy

The new South Australian Public Education Strategy is a comprehensive framework designed to shape the future of education in the region. Its purpose is to ensure that all students in South Australia have access to high-quality education that prepares them for success in a rapidly changing world.

Overall, the South Australian Public Education Strategy is guided by a commitment to learner-centered education, quality teaching and leadership, partnerships and engagement, and innovation and excellence. Its purpose is to create a dynamic and inclusive education system that equips all students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions they need to thrive in a complex and interconnected world.

I will be working with all BHS stakeholders throughout 2024 to begin embedding the Public Education Strategy into our vision and practices. 

Year 12 Holiday Classes

I’d like to wish all of our staff and families a restful and enjoyable Term 1 holidays. Take care and we look forward to seeing you all back for a rewarding Term 2.

Derek Friedrichs

Principal

Balaklava High School