Each time I sit to write something for the newsletter and I reflect on what has occurred in the weeks since I last wrote, I am struck by how busy the school is.  It is a vibrant location in not only its ever-evolving physical landscape but even more so through the student body and the activities they have an opportunity to be involved in.  The schoolyard was particularly animated two weeks ago when we gathered as a collective to watch Lachlan Gaze and his band of brave fellow students who stood up to raise money for the World’s Greatest Shave.  There is a report further in this newsletter that will speak about this event but what I wanted to comment on is not the selfless leadership shown by Lachy by having his long hair cut off, nor the piercing shrieks of some male students as their (very…) hairy legs were waxed, but the strong sense of community spirit that swept across the quadrangle.  The majority of our student population joined together to support each other, cheer each other on, pool their money to support a good cause, perhaps laugh good naturedly at the discomfort of a friend and basically experience a fair bit of joy and a sense of community together.  Well done to all involved.

Open Night

Last year, due to COVID-19 we were unable to hold our traditional Open Night and we moved to a virtual event.  If you’re interested in watching it, the recording is still available on our website or by visiting this link https://youtu.be/fuasoThmkFM which will also allow you to get a glimpse of our old transportable buildings.  This year, we were very pleased to be able to welcome students, their families and interested community members back to the school to tour our amazing facilities and hear about the great things we do in them.  The night was a huge success, which was and very well attended by future Year 7 and Year 8 students.  As you can see from the images included, many of the displays were interactive and highly engaging for our visitors.  Open Night provided an opportunity for people to see a number of the quality programs and learning opportunities available here and to get a taste of exactly what makes BHS so special.  I would like to acknowledge the work of all staff on the night, led by Colleen Lowe, and the many students who volunteered their time to talk to visitors, conduct experiments, sing, share their learning experiences and interact in a variety of other ways.

NAPLAN Online

In 2019, the NAPLAN tests moved online for the first time, then in 2020, the tests were cancelled across the nation due to COVID-19 and this year they were back on the agenda!  The online platform and our technical capabilities worked well and the event went off without a hitch.  Students engaged seriously in the tests and they should provide an accurate representation of students’ abilities when results are released later in the year.  We are very well aware that these tests are only a snapshot of a child’s ability in literacy and numeracy and they don’t provide the full picture of a student’s ability, however, they do provide data to look at individual growth and achievement by students and areas for us to focus on as a school.  This information helped us set directions for our Site Improvement Plan, where we have been focussing on writing for the past 3 years.  We have been assessing our progress towards this goal throughout this time but this is the final year of our existing SIP and we look forward to reviewing it again and setting a new direction for the next 3 year cycle.

School Uniform

At last week’s Governing Council meeting, the parent body approved a request from Student Council to add grey tracksuit pants to our existing uniform policy.  After surveying students, listening to their peers and chatting with parents who know how difficult it can be to find navy track pants without large logos, Council were pleased to be able to support this student-led addition.  Navy and grey tracksuit pants, with straight leg or cuffs, are available from TADS in Balaklava for under $30 each.  Families are reminded that students are not to wear black tops or pants to school, nor are jeans, leggings or jeggings appropriate.  Students are expected to wear a navy or white school polo top, navy bomber jacket, navy rugby top or plain navy hoodie, all of which are available for purchase from TADS.  Shorts and trousers are to be navy or grey and trackpants are to be navy or grey with no stripes or large logos.  If meeting these expectations is a concern for families, I ask them to contact a member of the Leadership team to discuss this.

Cold and Flu Season

Over the past 12 months we have all become much more aware of the importance of hand washing, sanitising and social distancing, however we are becoming a bit complacent with these practices and this is becoming evident as we enter cold and flu season.  Whilst attendance at school is always important, in the case of sickness it is more important that you keep your children home until they are no longer contagious.  Let’s all work together to keep each other safe and healthy.

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

Formal

Term 2 has been a very busy time in the Senior School. The Senior Formal was held on Friday 7^th May for the first time at Hillsview in Auburn. Parents were invited to join us for the first hour of canapés and photos on the lawn area. After this the Year 11 and 12 students entered the rustic barn for dinner and dancing. Congratulations to Zac Blacket and Charlotte Davey who were voted Prom Princess and Prince; and to Shannon Schutt and Jazmin Cornelissen voted King and Queen. Both the DJ and photographer commented on the excellent behaviour of our students. A big thank you to our four Year 10 student helpers who did an amazing job waiting tables – Clair Allen, Brooke Michalanney, Lachlan Michalanney and Nicola Tiller. Thank you also to the staff members who gave up their Friday night to supervise. Formal would not have taken place without the dynamic event coordination skills of Miss Reusch.

World’s Greatest Shave

Friday 14^th May saw the lovely long locks of Head Boy, Lachlan Gaze, lopped off for Leukaemia. The quadrangle was transformed at lunchtime into a hairdresser/beautician salon as Lachlan was transformed and several other students offered their legs up for waxing. Over $700 has been raised. Well done, Lachy and Student Council for organising.

Year 10 boys Port Power visit

Port Power players Cam Sutcliffe and Alipate Carlile addressed some confronting issues with our Year 10 boys last Wednesday, 19th May. The community outreach program “Power to end violence against women” encourages young men to care about the women in their lives, and to treat them respectfully. Our boys discussed these issues with maturity and deep thought.

Year 11/12 Drama Performance

Our Year 11 and 12 Drama students under direction from their teacher, Miss Umapathysivam, are to be commended for their performance of the “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” last week. Congratulations everyone involved – it was a thoroughly enjoyable show.

Year 11 RYDA

This week, Year 11 students travelled to Clare to participate in the RYDA program for young drivers. This program provides the tools and understanding for our young people to be active, responsible road citizens and to make the necessary choices to keep themselves and others safe on the roads.

Upcoming Events

• Year 12 students will have a visit from the MFS who will deliver their Road Awareness Program next Tuesday afternoon.
• Year 10 Work Experience
• Year 10 students are busily organising their week of Work Experience for Week 9 (21^st – 25^th June) this term. This becomes an important part of their Workplace Practices which gains them 10 Stage 1 credits towards their SACE completion.

Homework expectations

It is an expectation that all Senior School students (Yr 10-12) are doing at least one hour of homework per night. This could be revision activities or working on assessment tasks. If computer access at home is an issue, all Senior School students are able to have their school laptops formatted for home use. There is a form that needs to be completed and signed and a $100 payment made to cover set up and insurance. Please see either Elly Rankin or Ruth Stevens in the Front Office for the form, or more information.

Carena Brookes

Senior School Assistant Principal

Open Night was held after school on Wednesday the 19^th of May. This night was a showcase of all our school has to offer and guests were not disappointed by the student learning that was on display. Exhibits consisted of student work and interactive activities such as science experiments and virtual reality goggles. Performing Arts taught us how to do the Cha Cha slide and Home Economics provided some much needed sweet treats. Staff and parents alike were blown away by the confidence and composure of our Head Students Tiarhn and Lachlan as well as our middle school scholarship winners Maylea and Tess who shared their experiences of high school so far. Our choir, which is always exceptional, wowed with their performance of ‘Food, Glorious Food’.

A massive thank you to all the staff who worked so hard to ensure their curriculum areas provided parents and students with an engaging and informative evening. Thank you to the students who supported faculty areas; the enthusiasm shown throughout the night was infectious. Also a massive thank you to the tour guides, who did an amazing job showing parents around the school in the dark and managing to get everyone back safely for the free sausage sizzle at the end of the night.

If you attended Open Night, we would appreciate your feedback.  Please complete the feedback form available on the night, or the one attached to this newsletter, and return it to the front office, your child’s Home Group teacher or me.

Colleen Lowe

Engagement and Innovations Coordinator

As part of the Community Outreach and Life Skills Program the Special Class recently learnt some mechanical skills. They learnt the difference between a petrol and diesel engine and the correct fuel to use, how to check the oil, open the bonnet, top up the washer fluid, jump start a flat battery, change gears and change a flat tyre. The students increased their vocabulary by naming parts in the engine bay and how to be safe around the engine bay. Each student had the opportunity to learn how to adjust the seating position, identify the accelerator, brake and clutch and change gears.

Jamie Banwell

I learnt about cars because I want to be a mechanic when I finish school. I learnt how to take off the tyre and how to change gears in a manual. It was a good day.

Samuel Wakefield

I learnt how to use a manual. My dad drives a manual as well. I learnt how to check the oil and what some of the car parts were. I own a 4 door Gemini and I will need to know how to fix it.

Seth Bellerby

Last week Spec Ops we did Volunteer’s Day and I learnt how to change the tyre and I learnt you have to put the brake on when you are in park and I learnt to put the seat forward when I drive.

By Hayley Coles

It is a good skill to have to change a tyre. It’s a great skill to have in case your car breaks down and you need to change the tyre.

Nathan Higgs

I learnt how to change gears in a manual. It can help me improve my driving from practicing. I learnt how to check the oil and also how to change the tyre if it is flat.

Amber Barden

THURDAY! THURSDAY! THURSDAY! It was EXTREME, on the 20th and 21st of May the Senior Drama students performed the mind collapsing, audience dazzling play "The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon". Filled with laughs, witty comments and a show for all ages. The students performed an overall of 2 performances and some open rehearsals over the two days for students, and staff and members of the community. The students stepped up to the challenge, getting more confident with each rehearsal and performance. Thank you to Ms Pringle and all the Balaklava High School staff for supporting students and Miss Umapathysivam to put on a performance that will be remembered for years to come. A special Thank You to Mrs Sally Cowan for being an extra set of eyes in the lead-up and being a secret Performing Arts teacher at heart.

Senior Drama and Miss Umapathysivam

Agricultural Teachers Association of South Australia (ATASA) Excellence Award for 2021 recipient Sue Pratt. 

This annual award seeks to acknowledge demonstration of innovation, teaching practice and leadership in the industry.

Sue is a passionate teacher here at Balaklava High School and an instrumental part of curriculum development across agriculture in South Australia.

Great work Sue!

Sue is pictured here with current ATASA President Damien Brookes receiving her award at last week's dinner.

In 2022, Balaklava High School will be turning the big 100. We might not receive a letter from the Queen, but we will be celebrating 100 years of quality education and student success! 2022 will be a year full of events and reminiscing for students, both past and present as well as the Balaklava community. More information will be released over the next 9 months, but for now we are collecting stories and memorabilia. If you have any memorabilia that you would like to lend for display, we would love to hear from you. Any comments and/or suggestions for our year of celebration can be directed to Colleen Lowe at colleen.lowe667@schools.sa.edu.au

Our first celebration will be a formal dinner at the town hall, celebrating everything BHS, as well as daytime tours of the school and facilities. We will confirm this date as soon as possible so people can lock it in their diaries and get ready to celebrate!

On Wednesday 19th May, the Library celebrated National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) - an event that occurs every year when all across the nation the same book is read at the same time. This year's book was 'Give Me Some Space' by Philip Bunting. This year Merridy Manuel, Balaklava High School Science Teacher was the best person for the job! The kids were treated to props and experiments. A special thank you also to Bronny Cottle for providing wonderful music that the kids were singing long after they blasted off!

Tanya Niblett

Librarian

Canteen Volunteers Wanted!

Can you spare and hour or two to help in our Schools' Canteen? Help is needed for food preparation only, no need to serve students or handle money. Feel free to drop in if you are in town for another reason and have a little time to spare.

Please contact us on 8862 0600

Please see attached the latest canteen price list updated for Winter.

The Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) is pleased to announce the 2021 High School Careers Evening, which will be held on Tuesday 8^th June at 6:30pm AEST presented Online via ZOOM.

The goal of this event is to showcase a range of career opportunities in the health and medical sector to high school students in Years 9 to 12.

Please see attached flyer for more details.

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me by e-mail at emily.colvin@sydney.edu.au

AGM

28^th June 2021 at

7pm

Balaklava Sports Club

Enquiries to apbasec@hotmail.com

Or

Phone Cathy 0417 802 914

Maintaining good Oral Health is important for all students.

PARENTS should help their children brush their teeth until they are about seven or eight years old.

Make sure your child has had a dental check by the time they turn two.

Here are some other tips:

• Brush twice a day – in the morning and before bed at night for 3 minutes.
• Supervise your child’s brushing.
• Ensure they brush every surface of every tooth.
• Spit but do not rinse.
• Offer a wide variety of nutritious foods and have healthy, low sugar snacks on hand, such as vegetables, cheese, savoury foods.
• Avoid sugary foods and drinks (including soft drinks, fruit juice and flavoured milk), especially between meals.
• Offer tap water regularly. Most of our tap water has fluoride in it, which is good for teeth.
• Look in your child’s mouth often to check for any early signs of tooth decay.
• Take children every six to 12 months for a check-up.

Please call Balaklava Prime Dental on 88861804 to make a time with Jenny for your child’s check-up or if you have any dental concerns.

For most health funds, child dental visits come with only a small gap or no out of pocket payment at all.

Furthermore, if your child is eligible for the Child Benefit Dental Scheme which is still offering $1000 of treatment every two years, it would be a Bulk Billed treatment.

Most families don’t realise their children are eligible for the Medicare plan, so if in doubt, ring Medicare and check.