Balaklava High School eNewsletter

This year has been unusual in so many ways, not least of which is that it simultaneously feels like it’s been going for about 20 years yet it also feels like we’ve blinked and we are nearly at the end of Term 3. We have been very pleased to have our first excursion since COVID-19 restrictions when the Year 9 Geography classes joined with our Special Options class to head to Port Hughes and we have also had a number of school sporting events recently. We are very proud to announce that both our Year 8/9 Boys’ and Open Boys’ Football teams have made it to the state finals, which will be played before the end of term. We wish them well and hope they bring home the championship trophies.

Parent Survey

Each year we send out opinion surveys to randomly selected families, however, this year, for the first time, the Department for Education is issuing surveys directly to the families. When you receive an email or text with a link to the survey, I ask that you complete the survey honestly and in detail if they ask for a written response. The survey should take you less than 10 minutes to complete. If you didn’t receive a link, you can use the one below:

https://educationsa.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eJ3AXNw9lsJQcdL?RID=CGC_8uq2nqZuMGfLsnB&Q_CHL=email

Information gained through this survey will be used to inform future directions in the school by acknowledging areas we are performing strongly in and areas in which we can improve. Results are presented each year in the Annual Report and at the Governing Council’s AGM. I thank families who have completed the survey in the past and those who will do so this year.

Presentation Evening

Each year we have a Presentation Evening at the Balaklava Town Hall where we acknowledge the graduating class of Year 12s, along with celebrating our academic and sporting winners and we showcase a number of musical talents. This year’s ceremony is booked for Wednesday 2^nd December at 7pm. As COVID-19 restrictions are easing, but are still in place, we are looking at an appropriate format for this year as it is unlikely we will be able to have a large group of people gathering in the Town Hall. It is vital that we celebrate the Class of 2020 and we will do so in the best possible way. Once we are confident with the restrictions and format, we will inform families, however we invite you to put this date in your diary now. We also ask for your patience and understanding at this time.

Year 7 to High School

In 2022, high schools across South Australia will welcome Year 7s to the secondary setting. We have been planning for this for some time and are now looking at the structure of the curriculum we will offer them. We are also looking at what subjects our Year 8s and Year 9s study and see this as an exciting opportunity to do something different and make sure we are meeting the educational needs of all of our students. Next year will be busy with transition opportunities as we prepare for a double intake of new students with both a new Year 8 cohort and a new Year 7 cohort starting together in 2022. Middle School Assistant Principal, Michelle Pudney has been leading this work and we have engaged our staff, our feeder schools and students in this process. We will also be looking for the opinions of parents. Michelle has spent much of her year building positive relationships with our current Middle School students and their families and I urge you to contact her if you have any questions about Year 7s coming to high school or anything else Middle School related.

Holiday Break

The upcoming holiday provides the opportunity for our students to spend time with their families, catch up on some rest and relaxation as well as a chance for the senior students to balance study and periods of rest as they head into their final few weeks at school. Year 12 students will finish formal lessons at the end of Week 2 next term (although some classes, especially those with exams, may continue after this date) so I implore them to work hard through this final break as the end of their schooling is certainly near. I hope everyone has a good break and that we all come back school on the first day of Term 4 ready to finish the year strongly.

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

Year 8 Ambassador Visit to Owen Primary School. As part of our Year 7 to Year 8 transition program, past students return to their primary schools to talk about their experiences of starting high school and share some of their work. Today Sarah, Edwina and Bella returned to Owen Primary School to speak to the current Year 7s.

At Balaklava High School, we are keen to have student participation in projects within the school. Recently, we offered two Traineeships to our students, one being a Traineeship working in the Canteen which has been taken on by Louise Reichelt, a Year 10 student. Louise works in the Canteen each day for 2 hours and as part of the Traineeship, is undertaking a Cert II in Kitchen Operations which is being funded by the school. Louise has been working for five weeks now and has become an integral part of our Canteen staff. Lisa has trained her well and they are becoming a well-oiled team.

A second Traineeship was offered working with our Groundsman, Chris Nolan. Alex Ricks has taken on this position and works each Monday. Alex will undertake a Cert II in Horticulture which is also funded by the school. He is becoming invaluable as Chris’ “side-kick” and you will see them working around the school together, or Alex will undertake tasks Chris has allocated to him.

Last year we implemented an IT Traineeship which Mitchell Couley is undertaking each Friday. Mitchell is currently in Year 12 and fits his studies in Cert II in Electronics, his day working with Michael Mazzone our IT Tech and juggling his Year 12 studies. Mitchell is to be commended on his dedication and we would be at a loss without his work in our IT Department.

All of these students liaise with their teachers to ensure that their studies are not affected by undertaking these positions and we meet with them to ensure that they are managing to balance all the requirements of their study and their commitment to the Traineeship.

It is pleasing to be able to have our students take on roles within the school which benefit them financially and provide an insight into a future pathway, and which also benefits the school.

Ruth Stevens

BUSINESS MANAGER

Mrs Lowe’s Year 8 Agriculture class have been learning all about Poultry. They have managed to successfully incubate and hatch 4 Plymouth Rock chicks. So cute!!

Last week the Year 12 Agricultural Production class visited Andy Barr's "Gate End" property west of Pinery. Andy showed the students the innovative frost management strategies he is trialling. He has sown a legume blend of peas, beans, lentils and chick peas as well as a wheat crop using three different varieties. By blending varieties, he will have plants in each paddock flowering across an extended period, hopefully having some of them avoiding frost damage. Very interesting to see this clever idea in action.

Students in Miss Mayer's Year 8 Home Economics class have been learning about healthy eating. This week they focused on their drink choices as they looked into the serving sizes of common drinks and how much sugar they contain. The students were shocked to see the amount of sugar in some of their favourite drinks. Check out the photos to see how much sugar each drink has in a glass. I think water might be the best option from now on...

Congratulations to Edwina Marshman who competed in the Lower North Cross Country event at Burra last week. She is the fastest senior girl with a time of 16:54.

Football

Balak 8/9’s through to the big dance! Amazing day at Crystal Brook oval in knock out footy. Two wins and now on to the state grand final!

Well done to our captains Macauley and Jack who were outstanding all day and led from the front.

Thank you to staff helpers Jamie & Mr Jenner who assisted Coach Parsons for the day. A special mention to senior students Lachlan Wright and Braedyn Cocks who umpired all games.

Balaklava 8.12 60 def St. Thomas More 1.2 8
Balaklava 13.11 def Whyalla HS 0.2 2

Best players:
Jake Humphrys
Jack Tiller
Jaden Brownlie
Billy Aston
Ryder Mead
Henry Woidt

Grand Finals will be played in Week 10 for both our 8/9 Boys and Open Boys teams. Watch this space for more info. Two teams in the state finals is an amazing feat. Let’s hope for two massive wins!

Spring Concert

Spring Concert 6.61 MB

Congratulations to Leyla Jacobson for completing her Grade 5 AMEB (Australian Music Examinations Board) piano exam last week. We wish her well as she awaits her results. A great achievement to complete at this level.

Our History and Geography students are loving the new Virtual Reality Goggles! Classes have adventured to Mt Everest, the Galapagos, International Space Station, The Great Barrier Reef and so much more, all from the comfort of our classrooms. We are very lucky to have such fantastic technology within the faculty.

Geography Coastal Excursion

Students studying Year 10 Geography visited Port Hughes and Moonta Bay last week to complete observations and fieldwork tasks. The warm weather was a bonus, however, the strong winds made the walk to Moonta Bay a challenge. The group walking to Port Hughes made it in record time and were able to enjoy time on the foreshore.

Atlases To Give Away

The HASS faculty have a few leather bound Readers Digest Atlases to give away. They were printed in late 80s so the maps are a bit old but there is a great section in the front called "A World of Wonders" with fantastic information on our planet. If you are interested in having one at home, please send a message to Mrs Von-Zieden.

Final Chemical Practicals

Our Chemistry students have officially completed their course work! Well done! As a final celebration practical, students made nylon! Amazingly only a small amount of chemical is required to generate metres of nylon thread. Thanks to Horizon for helping out with chemical supplies.

Science Acids and bases

Year 9s are studying Acids and Bases in Science this term. Here we see students using an indicator they made from red cabbage to test everyday substances for acidity. Students had to analyse how acidic substances were based on the colour of the indicator. They then compared this to the pH scale. Good science Year 9s!

JOKE: Why does no one acknowledge the Queen’s farts?

Because noble gases don’t cause a reaction!

Courtesy of Year 11 Chemistry student Kurt Taylor

Merridy Manuel

Premiers Reading Challenge

Congratulations to Janna Mojares for being the first student to complete this year's Premier's Reading Challenge. This year we had 14 students complete the challenge. Early next term those students will be treated to a lunch.

Coming Soon!

Drawing Competition

See attached poster for more details. We are looking for a drawing/s to use as a colouring page competition run by the library. The winning drawing/s will be used as the colouring page for community children to colour in for Book Week 2020. Therefore, it must suit the theme CURIOUS CREATURES, WILD MINDS! The winner/s will receive a prize! Get your drawings to Mrs Niblett by Friday, Week 9. Your drawing must be drawn in pencil and outlined in black.

Books & Beats Excursion

On Thursday 10th September, Books & Beats was all about animals so they went on an excursion to Balaklava High School's Ag Block to see what animals they could find.

School Holiday Program

This term Seth Pascoe has been using his skills learnt in Art to improve the Sports Equipment Shed. Seth has had to come up with a design and colour scheme, get it approved by leadership and approach members of the community to gain the best price for supplies. The skill, hard work and attention to detail Seth has shown in his work has made the shed look amazing. Seth will continue working on the shed for a double lesson a week and will continue to improve a formerly run-down area of the school. Watch this space for more updates on Seth’s commitment to improve Balaklava High and its sports facilities.

Jamie Banwell