Over the past two weeks we have welcomed families into the school to discuss their children’s learning now and the future.  Student Led Conferences were very successful in allowing families to speak to their child and their teachers about goals they have set this year and how to go about achieving them.  It’s always best when these conversations occur with all key players present and we were very pleased to see all students accompanying their parents.  The following week parents of Year 10 and 11 students came to school to have the important discussions around their children’s future pathways by making subject selections for next year.  This is often somewhat daunting for students, especially the Year 10s, as they make the first decisions regarding vocational or general pathways.  As always, we have staff available to talk through these points and support students and their families with any questions that still remain around this.  Thank you to Josh La Grutta and Carena Brookes for organising these nights and to the staff who gave their time to meet with families.

Teenage Mental Health

Knowing how to approach the issue of teen mental health can be difficult yet it is something that is relevant to many of us at some point.  The following information is from ReachOut.com and is a prompt for our thinking as to how we might best be able to support our children and young people. Young people who may not be willing to acknowledge that they are struggling or you may be wondering whether the issue is serious enough for you and your child to get help. The good news is that there are many options for help and support depending on what your child’s needs are and what they are ready for. Getting help early will give your child the best chance of managing mental health problems before they become more serious.

Get help early

Most mental health difficulties first appear between the ages of 11 to 25, while the brain is going through a process of rapid development. Around 1 in 4 young people have experienced a mental illness by the time they are 25. It is important to look out for signs of mental health or emotional problems in your child from an early age. When mental health conditions are treated and managed early, the episode of illness is likely to be less serious and have a shorter duration.

Mental health conditions are generally episodic, which means that your child will likely experience periods of being unwell in between stretches of time where they function well. Learning to spot the signs and symptoms of your child’s mental health problems early will mean that you’ll have the best chance of managing the illness and getting them the help and support they need.

Unfortunately, only around 30% of young people who experience psychological distress actually get the help that they need. This can be due to a number of reasons, including:

• not accepting they may have a mental health difficulty
• not believing their problem is significant enough to warrant help
• being unwilling to disclose their problem because of the stigma attached to mental illness
• lack of belief that anything or anyone can help
• environmental factors like cost, distance, inflexible opening hours and long wait times
• close adults and friends not noticing or recognising the signs and symptoms and therefore not supporting the young person to seek help.

When to get help

Knowing when to get help for your child can be difficult. At times, the signs and symptoms of mental health problems can be similar to the ‘growing pains’ of being a teenager. It’s not always easy to tell the difference between ‘normal’ teenager behaviour and when there might be something else going on.

Mental health difficulties will surface differently for everyone. There’s no ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’, except in relation to your own child’s behaviour. As a parent, you have an important perspective; you’ve spent years with your child getting to know their patterns of behaviours and emotions and you’re well placed to detect when your child’s own ‘normal’ has changed. If the change is affecting your child’s life negatively and they’re not able to function effectively in daily life, it may be time to get help. Remember to trust your instincts, if you think there might be something wrong, it’s best to find out.

What to do next

There are many different types of help and one way is not necessarily better than another. Different approaches will work for your child differently and sometimes it’s a combination of approaches that works best.

The first thing to do is to have a conversation with your child and find out more about what’s going on. Things to remember when having a supportive conversation:

• take it seriously, actively listen to what they are telling you
• be positive in approaching the situation and support them to take a first step
• be your child’s greatest advocate in getting the right help for them
• be optimistic that you will get through this together.

Even if your child doesn’t open up at first, you’ll have shown that you’re concerned and willing to talk. Once you and your child have acknowledged there may be a mental health difficulty going on, it's time to look at support options. We can offer support to young people at BHS through our Wellbeing Coordinator, Lucy Thiel; Counsellor Ash Parsons; Middle School Assistant Principal, Michelle Pudney; Senior School Assistant Principal, Carena Brookes and a number of other staff.  However, there are also many other professional options such as talking to your GP, an external counsellor or CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Health Service) if you think it’s time for that extra support and advice.

As always, I am available to speak to parents about any issues or concerns or to discuss any aspect of their 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

Whilst COVID-19 has impacted so many elements of our lives, it hasn’t all been negative. Several Universities around Australia have offered alternate entries for current Year 12 students applying for courses in 2021. I’m very excited to announce that Rhiana Feltham took full advantage of this opportunity and has been accepted into a double degree in Business and Science at the Australian National University in Canberra. This offer also includes a scholarship and accommodation. Congratulations Rhiana!

The online SACE Information Presentation was conducted Tuesday 11^th August. The PowerPoint is now available on our website if you missed it.

2021 Subject Counselling for current Year 10 and 11 students took place on Wednesday 12th August. If you missed out on making an appointment, please contact me on 8862 0600.

Current Year 9 students will select their electives for 2021 in Pastoral Care during Week 5.

Carena Brookes

Senior School Assistant Principal

Netball

On Tuesday the 11^th of August our Year 8/9 and Open Girls Netball teams competed in the Lower North Zone Knockout Netball carnival at Kapunda. In wet and wintery conditions, each team competed strongly winning all games except for one and finishing the day ranked second overall. The girls represented the school proudly and showed excellent sportsmanship and skill. Big thanks to Mrs Ruth Stevens our bus driver and umpire of the Year 8/9 Girls, Aynara Lawless for umpiring the Open Girls team and Mrs Pudney for coaching the Year 8/9 team.

8/9 Football

Our Year 8/9 Boys footy team travelled to Clare Oval on Thursday the 30^th of July to play against Maitland Lutheran School in the Round 1 match of the Statewide Football Competition. The boys displayed some excellent football skills, teamwork and sportsmanship. They encouraged one another and worked well as a team to come away with a 150 point win.

Balaklava 24. 12 . 156 def Maitland 1. 0. 6.

Well done to coach Mr Parsons, Captains Macauley Smith and Jack May, Vice-Captain Jack Tiller and the team. Thanks to Josh Michael for assisting the coach and Mrs Pudney for working hard behind the goals.

The boys now progress to the next round against Thomas More College and Whyalla High School to be played in Week 7.

Open Football

On Tuesday the 4^th of August the Open Boys Football team competed in Round 1 of the Statewide Football Competition. Up against Clare High School, a combined Riverton, Eudunda and Burra team and the Central Yorke team the boys played three hard fought games across Clare and Blyth Ovals and came away with three wins.

Scores were:

Balaklava 6.6.42 def Clare 3.4.22

Balaklava 9.5.59 def R/E/B 0.0.0

Balaklava 11.11.77 def Central Yorke 1.2.8

Well done to coach Mr Ash Parsons, Captains Cooper Allen and Cody Redpath, Vice-Captain Jayden Hendry and the team.

The boys now play Edward John Eyre High School in the next round match in Week 7.

Alison Schahinger 

Sports Coordinator

Here at Balaklava High, we love Science and this week is Science Week and to celebrate, we delved into the Deep Blue, the theme for this year. We saw videos about careers connected to the ocean, including past student Lennae Donselaar (marine biologist), Sue Pratt’s daughter Ellie Pratt (marine biologist and dolphin expert) and Carena Brookes’ daughter, Tori Botha (marine paleontologist). Last term, Year 9 students created a virtual Science Week video to share with the Primary school, recording their favourite experiments. Thanks to Olivia Allen who spent hours compiling this video. This week we learnt about the blue economy, ocean acidification and the plastic pollution. We dissolved sea shells in acid, made sea creatures, studied ocean specimens under the microscope, researched ocean facts, created a deep blue display and helped prepare a Brain Break morning tea for staff. Whew, great work team.

Merridy Manuel

Science Teacher

Year 12 Chemistry class completing their Copper Electroplating Design Prac

As a small group we raise money to help young people in our local areas (Balaklava, Burra, Clare and Riverton) to achieve their dreams. Students need to be completing Year 12 in 2020 or have completed it in previous years and be under 23 years of age - more details are available on the Country Education Foundation website (cef.org.au).

WWW is part of the National group called Country Education Foundation (CEF).

We provide scholarships to undertake an apprenticeship, study at TAFE, University or other providers.

Each year we give out scholarships to students;

• Based on financial need.
• It is not based on academic achievement
• To help pay for accommodation, tools, study materials, fees etc

Applications open on September 1^st and close on 30^th October.

To apply go to cef.org.au

Register your information and then apply when applications open.

After the closing date shortlisted applicants will have an interview in early November and successful applicants will be notified and introduced to their mentor at a presentation evening.

For more information please contact

Lesley Squires

Secretary of WWW

jssquires@adsl.on.net

SEPTEMBERFEST of Parent webinars and workshops

Read about how to log in or register on http://web.seru.sa.edu.au 

• Tuesday 8^th September 2020 two separate webinars 11:00 to 12:00 Interoception Parent/Caregiver booklet and Student Support Services making connections

• Wednesday 16^th September 2020 at SERU from 11:00 to 12:00 a workshop on Post School Options for young people with disability
• Tuesday 22^nd September 2020 at SERU from 11:00 to 12:00 a workshop on Social Skills

Any questions on any of the topics to be presented can be forwarded to our mailbag at Education.ParentForumConference@sa.gov.au

Attention Basketballers

Are you interested in playing basketball Friday nights in Balaklava?  Why not play for Bulldogs Basketball Club?  We train at the Balaklava Courts on Tuesday nights and everyone plays in Balaklava on Friday nights.  We are calling for all junior and senior names to be submitted by Sunday 6th September 2020.  Season starts on 16^th October 2020.  Any queries, please contact Kirsty Williams 0419 180 502 or email bulldogsbasketballclub@outlook.com

BALAKLAVA TENNIS CLUB INC.

We are looking for Junior Tennis Players interested in playing tennis/doing tennis coaching in the upcoming season. If interested please contact Kirsty Ingram (Junior Tennis Co-ordinator) on 0428853220 ASAP. Alternatively contact Carol Cross (Secretary) on 0474310831.

A painting apprenticeship with a reputable Balaklava-based Painter and Decorator is available. Potential applicants that meet the following critiera is preferable:

• minimum of 17 years of age
• drivers license and own transport
• based in Balaklava or the surrounding area
• has an genuine interest in painting and enthusiasm for learning the many aspects of the trade.

For more information please call Terry on 0407077992 or email your resume to taredden@internode.on.net