PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
Welcome back for Term 2! I trust everyone had a safe and relaxing holiday break and already we have dived back into a busy term full of active learning. The Term 2 calendar is filled with unique and targeted learning opportunities and we are gearing up for a busy period of knockout sport.
STAFFING UPDATE
There have been some staffing changes that have been implemented since the start of the term. These staffing changes have made it necessary to make some minor adjustments to our timetable to accommodate new staff.
- I would like to congratulate and welcome Mrs Pina Ribbons to Balaklava High School who has won the position of Assistant Principal – Head of Middle Years for the remainder of 2024. Mrs Ribbons comes to BHS from Trinity College and has extensive knowledge and experience in school leadership. Mrs Ribbons will begin in this role from the start of Week 5. I would like to thank the following staff who are supporting the leadership team and backfilling the Assistant Principal role for the first 5 weeks of Term 2.
- 7 Year Level Management – Mrs Laura Hadley
- 8 Year Level Management – Miss Ashleigh Leonello
- 9 Year Level Management – Mrs Tanya Niblett
- Official congratulations to Mrs Kym Spartley and Mr Ash Parsons who will share Senior Leader responsibilities for the remainder of 2024 in Wellbeing.
- Mrs Spartley will be taking the lead with Wellbeing and Inclusion (Mon-Wed)
- Mr Parsons will take the lead with Wellbeing and Engagement
- Welcome to Mr Dylan Rolston Howard who was with us in Term 1 completing his final university placement. Mr Rolston-Howard is taking 7D Local and Global Perspectives and supporting 7BCL4 in Home Group, Empower and Passion Project.
- Welcome to Mrs Sophie Chapman who has joined our team after recently moving to Australia from England. Mrs Chapman is and experienced educator who will be taking on Year 7HCL1, 7LCL2, 7BCL4 & 7MCL5 Art, Year 7BCL4 HPE and supporting Year 9WCL3 Home Group and Empower.
- We also welcome Mr Lachlan Strudwicke has joined us to support in Tech and Art and will be a consistent TRT with us and Mrs Zoe Yates who has won an SSO position from the remainder of 2024. We welcome you both to Balaklava High.
- We also welcome the following 4thyear undergraduate university teachers to BHS this term, some of whom are completing their final placement.
- Patrick O’Connell (Uni SA) – Science and Agriculture
- Caitlin Hanson (Uni SA) – Health and Physical Education
- Archie Smith (Adelaide Uni) – English & Humanities
- Arden Lech (Adelaide Uni) – English & Humanities
- Miss Erica McGiffert is completing her final university commitments and will return to BHS in Week 7. This week we also farewelled Mrs Alison Parsons who is now on Maternity Leave and we wish Mr and Mrs Parsons all the best with the safe arrival of their first child. Miss McGiffert and Mrs Parsons classes are being covered internally.
It is a challenging time in education with the industry experiencing state wide staffing shortages. Please be assured that every effort is being given to ensure BHS has a full complement of staff to support our students to learn and thrive. I thank for your patience and understanding while we work through and consolidate our staffing.
ANZAC DAY
We are proud and privileged to live in such a beautiful and lucky country thanks to the sacrifices our brave men and women have made and continue to make. ANZAC Day is a time of reflection for the countless Australians that went to war, many of whom paid the ultimate price by losing their lives. This has allowed us to have the life and freedoms we ultimately enjoy today.
Thank you to our students and families who represented Balaklava High School at dawn services around our communities.
- Balaklava - Josh, Janna and Alex
- Port Wakefield - Bligh and Grace
- Port Parham - Seb
- Owen – Harvey
- Mallala - Hamish, Tess and Maylea
We also acknowledge and thank our staff, students and families who serve our community and represented a range of organisations throughout our communities.
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."
Lest we forget.
WELLBEING AND ENGAGEMENT COLLECTION
Over the next few weeks, we will conduct a Wellbeing and Engagement Collection with our students.
The WEC asks students’ about their views on wellbeing and engagement with school.
The WEC provides the government and schools with information to support improving and maintaining students’ health, happiness, wellbeing and relationships. It gives schools, the community and government an insight into what needs to happen to make sure students experience success and are provided with resources and opportunities to reach their full potential.
The wellbeing and engagement collection survey asks young people how they think and feel about their experiences, both inside and outside of school.
The survey is split into 4 key areas with questions relating to:
- emotional wellbeing
- engagement with school
- engagement in learning
- health and wellbeing out of school.
More information can be found by accessing the following link.
Key areas of the wellbeing and engagement collection survey (education.sa.gov.au)
CULTURAL EXCHANGE BACK ON THE AGENDA AT BHS
Okaeri (Welcome Back) Meidai Nakano High School
Balaklava High School has a proud history dating back to 1999 for providing a unique cultural exchange for Japanese students from Meidai Nakano High School in Tokyo. Together with other High Schools around the district, these Japanese students have been welcomed into our communities to integrate into Australian life and provide us with a unique and rewarding cultural experience.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 put a hold on this program back in 2020. However, in 2024, we are excited to announce IT’S BACK! This year we are proud to resume our cultural exchange and again host Japanese students from Meidai Nakano High School.
These Japanese students will be hosted by a student/family from within our school community. They attend school each day and are involved in an educational program with exposure to all curriculum areas and participate in excursions in our local community and throughout the Adelaide region.
The exchange program has a range of benefits and provides the opportunity for students to interact with peers from different cultural backgrounds, fostering cross-cultural understanding, empathy and appreciation for diversity.
‘We have had two Japanese exchange students which I believe was rewarding for them and us! We enjoyed learning about their culture as they did ours.’ Narelle Michael
Being involved in the Japanese exchange can broaden students' world views, becoming more globally aware citizens. Exchange students bring unique perspectives and experiences to classrooms, enriching discussions and enhancing the learning environment for all students. Exposure to different cultures also reduces stereotypes and prejudices promoting tolerance, empathy and understanding among students.
‘We had a fantastic experience hosting! We learnt a lot about the culture – food, transport, weather, compared money and talked about different technology. We learnt a lot about Japan and still keep in touch with our student who is now studying at University.’ Jo Michalanney
Last week an Expression of Interest email was sent to families. If you are interested in hosting a Japanese student or would like to find out more, please complete this EOI or contact Balaklava High School on 88620600.
