As you will see throughout this newsletter, we have had a very busy last three weeks. I am very proud to hear, see and be involved in the great work that is happening at BHS. These are just a few things that have happened and I am sure there are many more that I have missed!

• It was fantastic to have the Japanese Exchange back up and running and the cultural links that enrich our lives. A big thank you to the Michalanney, Battle, Arthur, Murphy, Hahesy and Williams families for welcoming a Japanese student into their homes for 2 weeks, and also to Kev Kelly and Cherie Cmrlec for their organisation of this visit. Well done to Louise O'Halloran and her students who did an amazing job catering for the Japanese Farewell Dinner – it must have been good…..my kids ate everything!
• Tanya Niblett and the Library Team for another excellent community event with the Love, Crime and Wine Author Panel. I received nothing but positive praise from the people I spoke to on the night and the engagement they had with the authors. There were also plenty of activities to engage with for Book Week. 
• A shout out to Ash Parsons and Hudson Noack for their work with the Open Boys and Girls Knockout Basketball Teams, especially the boys who won their division. A great achievement.
• Our Ag students looked amazing as they headed off to the Copper Coast Show last Friday, especially with their new show team caps, kindly donated by the March family. The day was full of success with our students and animals receiving many accolades. We wish Holly Crighton and her team all the best for the Adelaide Show over the next few days.
• To Nicole Matthews and Anthea Ness for the amazing work with this year’s Operation Flinders Team. It is a huge task and not for the fainthearted. The group were super lucky to have you both as their support. Thank you!
• Carena Brookes and her team for a smooth and productive subject counselling process. 

Staffing News

We welcome Marc Padros Baciero to the team at Balaklava High School. Marc will be teaching 7-9 HPE and onsite Monday, Thursday and Friday. I am very appreciative that Marc has taken up this opportunity with us and I know you will make him feel part of the community at BHS.

Breakfast Club is back at BHS

Our student wellbeing and engagement data has indicated that less than half of our students consume a healthy breakfast on a regular basis. To increase awareness around the importance of breakfast and provide access to morning food options, we are bringing back Breakfast Club one day a week for the remainder of Term 3.

We know that sometime breakfast can be challenging, whether it be lack of time or resources or the fact that children don't feel like eating in the morning. However, it's important that they do. Their growing bodies need the nutrients and fuel to focus, maintain energy levels and perform to the best of their abilities in school.

Our first Breakfast Club was held last Monday 26^th August and it was great to see many of our students take up the opportunity to have a pancake or two and piece of fruit. We look forward to our next Breakfast Club on Wednesday.

Annual Parent Survey

Parents are invited to complete the 2024 annual Parent Survey, which is now open.  By now, you should have received an email or SMS from the Parent Survey Team with a unique link to participate in the survey.  If you did not receive an email or SMS with your unique survey link, contact education.ParentSurvey@sa.gov.au and include our school’s name in your email.

The survey takes less than 10 minutes and will help us understand:

• what we’re doing well
• where we can improve
• what's important to you.

It has been coordinated centrally and your answers won't identify you or your child and only collated feedback will be provided to us.  Information collected will inform school improvement planning and activities at the school.

We encourage all parents to complete the survey, which closes midnight Sunday, 8^th September (end of week 7, term 3) and to share the positives as well as areas in which we can improve.

Student Led Conferences

Student Led Conferences were held this week at Balaklava High School and Port Wakefield. Thank you to families who supported their child with the Student Led Conferences. It was great to look at student’s folio of work samples and hear some of the engaging conversations around goal reflections and setting of new goals for Semester 2.

I would like to acknowledge Hannah Marshall for her leadership in coordinating Student Led Conferences, particularly our ability to offer a night at Port Wakefield.

5 Steps to Study Success

We are approaching the time of year where our senior students are preparing for exams or are currently doing practice exams. It can be tricky to know how to most effectively study for an exam or test.  The following tips from Reachout.com are not only useful for senior students but also for younger students preparing for a test:

• Break your study up into manageable 20 or 30 minute chunks. No one can study for 6 hours straight and be effective.  Get some more info about setting small goals here.
• Talk about it or say it out loud. When you say something out loud, you'll find it much easier to remember it. Chatting with someone about what you're studying is even better.
• Remove the distractions. Put your phone on silent and out of reach and turn off pop-up notifications on your computer. Research shows that it can take up to 20 minutes to refocus on what you're doing once you've been distracted.
• Take breaks. If you plan your study chunks with breaks in between, having the time away can help you to come back refreshed.
• Get some sleep! Getting a good nights sleep helps your brain and body to rest and recharge. In fact, you'll do better at your exams and remember more of what you studied if you get a good nights sleep, rather than if you stayed up late studying.

Other things you can do include eating the right foods, perfecting your time management skills and knowing when to take a break from studying and getting some physical activity or social time in.

School Closure Day

A reminder that Governing Council has approved a School Closure Day next Monday 2^nd September  to support our young people to attend the Adelaide Show with their families.  Balaklava Primary School also has a closure day on this date and as such, buses will not run.

Enjoy your weekend and please feel free 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 derek.friedrichs447@schools.sa.edu.au or you can phone the school on 8862 0600 and ask to speak with me directly. Alternatively, I would be happy to discuss your needs in person – please pre-arrange this with the Front Office Team so that I can ensure I am available when you arrive.

Derek Friedrichs