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- Principal's Report
- Annie Jnr
- Remembrance Day
- 'The Country' Art Exhibition
- Year 9 Agriculture
- Students Celebrate Dairy Creations
- Where Are They Now?
- Year 9 Science
- ABBA Coming to Balaklava Performing Arts!
- Hand Made Fishing Lures
- Ordering a Graphics Calculator
- A Huge Thanks
- Presentation Night
- Library News
- Community News
No matter which industry our students enter after leaving school, there are a collection of skills that are transferable to every job including: confidence, creative thinking, improvisation, collaboration and imagination. These skills are foundational in the Arts. At Balaklava High School, we pride ourselves on our arts education in performing arts through Drama and Music and the visual arts through Art and Design and these two areas have been on display recently with the art exhibition, The Country, at the Balaklava Courthouse Gallery and the production of Annie Jnr, The Musical being delivered in spectacular fashion over two nights at the Balaklava Town Hall. You will read articles about these events further in this newsletter but I want to make mention of the staff members who work behind the scenes to make such events possible.
I would like to thank our Art and Design teachers; Thomas Fregona and Chelsea McCormack for their passion for their subjects, their desire for their students to succeed and their hard work in bringing the art exhibition to life. I also thank and acknowledge the work of Suri Umapathysivam and Melanie Evans and the rest of the crew who brought Annie Jnr to life in two extraordinary performances, which left the audience enchanted and wanting more. It takes a large amount of extra effort to stage such events and I thank all staff members involved in showcasing our talented students in such diverse ways.
External School Review
All government schools are externally reviewed every 3 years as part of the Department for Education’s continuous school improvement process. The purpose of an external school review is to support us to raise achievement, sustain high performance and provide quality assurance to build public confidence in government schools. We have undergone our external school review this week and I will share its findings with the school community once we have received the official report.
I thank all students, parents and staff members who were involved in the process by provided honest responses to the review team’s questions. They found some very good practices occurring in the school and have also provided us some direction on areas in which we can improve. We anticipate getting the final report before the end of the year and I will share those details once I have them.
Relay for Life
This weekend we will send our largest team to Clare for the Cancer Council’s Relay for Life event, which seeks to raise money for cancer research and to remember and support people impacted by cancer. I acknowledge and congratulate all of the 89 students and 9 staff members who are participating and I also thank the organising team, particularly Luke Clark, for their hard work in coordinating this very large team. I anticipate the relay will be a highly successful and positive experience for all involved.
World Challenge
The following weekend is also significant as 13 students leave for their month long World Challenge expedition to Malaysia and Borneo, accompanied by staff members Lucy Thiel and Neil Richards. This highly demanding and challenging program will see students complete two treks in the Cameron and Kelabit Highlands as well as undertaking community engagement. Particpants will also have an opportunity to spend some time with the orangutans, which is something most of us won’t ever get to experience. I congratulate these 15 people for accepting this challenge and wish them all the very best on this potentially life changing opportunity.
Our staffing for 2020 is nearly complete and I look forward to being able to announce all of our appointments in the next newsletter, as well as listing those staff members who are leaving us to take up new opportunities.
As always, I encourage parents to contact me at the school with any issues or concerns or if you would like to discuss any aspect of your child’s learning. I can be contacted at the school via Daymap, email Sonia.Pringle235@schools.sa.edu.au or phone 8862 0600 where you can speak to me directly or make a time to come and see me.
Sonia Pringle
Principal
'Annie Jnr' was a student led musical that Balaklava High School presented at the Balaklava Town Hall to the community in Week 4. 'Annie Jnr' rehearsals began at the start of Semester 2 during school time. Students took on roles traditionally undertaken by a teacher, which allowed the students to make artistic and creative choices that they may not have had a chance to before. The students worked extremely hard in the days leading up to the performances with many students stepping up to the challenges faced and problem solving as they went. The shows were well received with approximately 300 in attendance including the Mayor of Wakefield Plains Regional Council, Rodney Reid and State Member for Frome, Geoff Brock MP. A huge congratulations to all the students involved with 'Annie Jnr' both on and off stage.
Miss Suriya Umapathysivam
On Monday (November 11) members of our school joined in remembering the people who have died in wars across the generations at the Remembrance Day service at the Balaklava Triangle. Our music students formed part of the Combined Schools Band, comprising of students and teachers from Balaklava High School, Balaklava Primary School and Horizon Christian School. This band provided a strong lead for the community singing the significant hymn ‘Abide With Me’ and the National Anthem. Our BHS Vocal Ensemble sang a moving rendition of the famous war poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ while returned soldiers, community members and representatives from each school laid wreaths at the War Memorial.
Our 2020 student leaders Joseph Mojares and Ira Pagadut represented our school, laying the wreath and handing out poppies to community members before the service began. Students from each school took part in leading a prayer as part of the service with Charlie Evans speaking for BHS. It was an honour to be part of this important day of Remembrance within our community and we are very proud of all the students who took part. They represented Balaklava High School with pride and kindness. Thank you to all those involved and to Chris and Suri for helping transport the music equipment.
Melanie Evans
Ms Buick's homegroup has been studying Ag this term. They are currently looking after the turkeys and also the new layer chicks that will be the flock that lays eggs for the BHS next year. Students are weighing the layer birds each week and making notes about how they change. They have noticed the change in feathers as well as size. Earlier in the term students cared for two dairy calves.
After a fun and flavoursome three months, students from Balaklava High School have won $250 for their school and been chosen to have their dairy creation featured in Great Ocean Road’s 2020 calendar.
The team from Balaklava High School along with more than 1,330 students from 72 different schools spent the semester whipping up a storm in the kitchen, thanks to the Great Ocean Road – Careers made here - Cheese Your Own Creation programme.
12 creations were announced as programme winners, each receiving $250 for their school and inclusion in this year’s calendar. Student prizes will be presented to students from: Balaklava High School, Urrbrae Agricultural High School, St Michael’s Collegiate School, Clarence High School, Prospect High School, Camperdown College, Cathedral College Wangaratta, Melville High School, Goulburn High School, Busselton Senior High School, Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School and Tom Price Senior High School.
“We have been really impressed by the creativity and imagination of the students,” Tracy Wong, Great Ocean Road Senior Brand Manager, said.
The programme was offered as a curricular activity within the school’s Food Technology classes. Students and teachers were provided with supporting resources and curriculum for the duration of the programme.
“It’s a great opportunity for students to have fun while learning important life skills like cooking, and getting to know more about the wide range of career opportunities in Australia’s vibrant dairy industry,” Tracy said.
“The programme not only showcases dairy products and their nutritional value, but it also highlights the importance of the industry to regional economies – so when students see dairy products on their supermarket shelf, they can make the connection back to where dairy comes from in their local community.
Well done to Eliza Loy and Miranda McLean who won the competition and to all the other participants.
Sarah Mayer
Home Economics
Name: Kane Williams
After graduating from BHS in 2010
After taking a gap year in 2011 I moved to Adelaide and started studying a Bachelor of International Tourism at Flinders University, I majored in Event Design and Management. Whilst studying I worked in hospitality and was lucky enough to transfer to Brisbane for 6 months working alongside head office trainers in their flagship restaurant.
In 2015 I left the hospitality field and joined Apple Inc working in Adelaide.
Initially working part time, I was also balancing part-time event work. I was contracted to co-ordinate an educational event for World Environment Day in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.
When I was offered a Full-Time position with Apple, the chance for stable income (after being a student) was too good to pass up.
September 2018 bought around big change for my career path, leaving Apple and taking a risk with a temporary Management contract.
Current job role:
I am a Store Manager for Lush Cosmetics. A cruelty-free and vegetarian cosmetic company, originating from the United Kingdom, most famously credited with the invention of the bath bomb and recently celebrating their 30th anniversary.
Lush has always ensured that from concept to production its products are free from animal testing. The brand is also responsible for driving the movement towards naked, or packaging-free, products. Currently I am co-managing the Rundle Mall Lush Store, which is the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere!
Our team consists of a diverse 35 people and as their manager I am responsible for overseeing the day to day operations of the business.
Highlights of your current job/career:
This role has taken me interstate multiple times, traveling to Sydney twice, Perth, and most excitingly to the United Kingdom! In July 2019 all managers across Australia were flown to Liverpool in the UK for a week of networking and development with store managers from across the globe.
While traveling is an amazing perk of the role, the biggest highlight of my current job is the strong value Lush places on their impact on the world and environment. Every day we raise funds via Charity Pot for not-for-profit organisations and regularly have campaigns for causes like preventing the expansion of the ADANI coal mine in Queensland.
Recently students across the world protested for Climate Action, Lush decided to close all of its stores around the world for the period of the protest. My store closed our doors, turned off our lights and marched alongside others during the busiest four hours of our day to stand in solidarity with all students.
Looking back on your time at BHS, did BHS help with your career pathway?
I love my job, but if you told me 10 years I ago I would be working in retail, I would have laughed.
This is not a career path I had in mind when I was thinking about my future, I regularly remember the sentiment from BHS teacher, “you’ll most likely have 7 or more jobs in your lifetime, so don’t stress!”. Well, Reuschy, I think I’m well past 7 now and I’m still trying not to stress.
BHS taught me a lot about myself, my values, and set me on a pathway towards exploring the world outside my hometown.
My resilience coming out of high school set me up for success at both University and beyond.
Anything else you would like to add about your time at BHS?
During my five years at BHS it felt like a rollercoaster, ups and downs, changes and growth that helped shape me into the person I am today.
I had some great teachers and made some great friends while at BHS. I’ve come so far since and I feel like a different person to the kid I was then but I am thankful for my past experiences.
You can’t make a diamond without pressure.
As part of our topic on acids and bases, we made an indicator from red cabbage. An indicator is a chemical that is a different colour in acid or base. We then used our indicator to determine whether household substances, like shampoo and conditioner, were acidic or basic. Lemon juice was the most acidic substance tested turning a red pink colour and bicarb soda was the most basic, turning blue. We then linked the colour change to pH, a scale that measures acidity.
Merridy Manuel
Science Teacher
A massive thanks to the amazing people at Virginia Woolworths for their weekly food donation. The donations have helped provide food for our Special Options – Food and Hospitality class and Enhanced Learning Hub. Each week Woolworths Virginia have provided a food donations to help our students with life skills and teaching how to create meals. Without kind donation programs like this, this program couldn't run.
Thankyou very much to the team at Woolworths Virginia!
Jamie Banwell
SSO
BALAKLAVA HIGH SCHOOL
Invites you to the
2019 PRESENTATION NIGHT
On Wednesday 4th Dec, 7pm
In the Balaklava Town Hall
Guest speaker, 2005 old scholar Scarlett Schumacher
All welcome
Citizen of the Year Awards 2020 nominations close Friday 22 November 2019.
BUT we are still looking for nominations for Young Citizen of the Year (16-30 yrs old).
Can you think of a young person who dedicates their time and expertise throughout town – or who champions a special cause close to their hearts?
How to nominate?
It is easy to do via the Citizen of the Year website (www.citizenoftheyear.com.au). When you’re ready, send it through to admin@wrc.sa.gov.au or bring it into the Council Office in Balaklava for processing.
Why nominate?
These awards allow us to acknowledge those local young heroes, whose hard work and community spirit make the Wakefield region a great place to live, work and play. Also, it’s a great opportunity to advertise your organisation or group.
If you have any questions I’d be happy to answer them and have a chat. Contact Nicole Alberton, Communications Officer, 8862 0817.
