We were very excited to welcome Year 6 and Year 7 students to BHS for their first taste of transition last week.  We held two separate days for each of the groups where students had the opportunity to try life as a high school student, make some new friends and meet their homegroup teachers.  Whilst it was an historic day to have the Year 6s join us for the very first time, we are also extremely aware that it was the first time this group of Year 7s also joined us in preparation for Year 8.  Next year, we will work to make sure all Year 7s and 8s feel that they are noticed and special and that the focus isn’t solely on the Year 7s.

Presentation Night

Last Wednesday evening we gathered as a large group in the school gym for our annual Presentation Night and what an extraordinary celebration it was.  Traditionally we hold this night in the Town Hall but we changed to our gym as it allowed us to have a larger number of people present.  That said, we are considering keeping the event in the gym as it proved to be an excellent location.  If you have any feedback on Presentation Night itself or on the proposed change of venue, please contact me at the school as we’d love your opinion.  During the evening, our guest speaker was old scholar Rebecca Sullivan who entertained the audience with memories of her time at BHS and what she has done since leaving us.  Her speech was interactive with the audience and had some strong messages not only for the Class of 2021, but had messages that resonated with all of us.  Please see further in this newsletter for a full list of award winners.

Year 12 Results

Year 12 results are due to be released this coming Monday 13^th December from 8.30am.  Students can access their results through Students Online and I encourage them to go on to the SACE Board website now and check their login details are correct before the rush on Monday morning.  Students will also receive an official certificate (if eligible) and Record of Achievement in the post.  A large number of our students have already started employment, are continuing with apprenticeships or have gained early entry into University and we are proud of them all.

Reflection of Learning

Year 8 and 9 students are currently working on their Reflection of Learning presentations ready to deliver them this week.  As the name suggests, these presentations allow students an opportunity to reflect on their learning across the year and to share these achievements with others.  We wish them well with their preparations and panel members look forward to hearing about successes and challenges they’ve encountered this year.

Staffing for 2022

Our staffing for 2022 is quite settled but, with the arrival of the Year 7s next year, we do have some new appointments joining us.  As mentioned earlier in the year, Miss Ashleigh Leonello and Mrs Laura Hadley will join us as experienced Year 7 teachers to help lead this work and we are also very pleased to welcome back Miss Eva D’Alboy to teach French for the year.  These teachers were able to join us for transition days last week so they have begun to make connections with their future homegroup members already.  Mr James Mussared and Mr Josh Jenner will return to BHS in a full time capacity next year after reducing their time this year for study and a job in Central Office of the Department for Education respectively.  We have a strong teaching team with dedicated leaders to continue to move our school forward in 2022 and beyond.

As you will read in the farewell section below, our Business Manager is taking leave in Term 1 next year before most likely heading into retirement.  We are pleased to announce that Peta Solomon has won this position and will join us next year.  Peta is currently at Challa Gardens Primary School where she has held the Business Manager position for the past 4 years.

Farewells

At this time of the year we traditionally have a number people to farewell, as we do this year, however this time, the number is very small.  Chelsea McCormack has been with us for the past 4 years, during which time they have been very flexible with their teaching load having English, Geography, Art, work in our Special Options class, the list goes on.  Chelsea has won a permanent teaching role at the new Riverbanks College B-12 and we know that they will appreciate the much shorter commute each day.  Grant Hay has been our Pastoral Care Worker this year and has supported a number of students during this time and we wish him well in a new role in Port Augusta.

We also farewell our Business Manager, Ruth Stevens, after more than 15 years of service.  Time and again, Ruth has gone above and beyond what is expected to ensure our budgets are balanced, our school facilities look amazing and a million other things.  The knowledge of the school she takes with her will be a huge loss and will be difficult to replace. To all staff members leaving we thank you for your time here and wish you well for whatever the future holds.

Bushfire Procedure

BHS is considered a low/medium bushfire risk site, therefore, on days deemed catastrophic, the school will remain open as closures based on the predicted forecast do not apply to us.  However, our bus runs are located in both the Mid North and Yorke Peninsula Fire Ban Districts, which means if a Catastrophic Day is declared in either district, all buses that travel through these areas will be cancelled.  We will inform parents of this information as soon as practicable after it is declared on the CFS website at 4pm the day before.  We will do this via a text message to parents/carers, Daymap and Facebook whilst Balaklava Primary School will inform bus families via SkoolBag (please download the app if you haven’t already done so).  As we may need to contact you urgently, it is vital that we have your most current details on our system.  Please keep us informed immediately if any of your contact details change throughout the year.

Please click on the brochure link for further information.  https://www.education.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/bushfire-and-your-childs-school-or-preschool-brochure.pdf  Parents can also call a parent hotline number (1800 000 279) to gain further advice when a catastrophic bushfire day is forecast.

I thank the broader school community for their support again this year and I very much look forward to continuing these positive relationships next year.  We have made considerable changes at BHS over the past three years and there is much to be proud of.  I wish you all an enjoyable, relaxing and safe break with your families and friends and I look forward to seeing many of you back at school on Monday 31^st January 2022 ready for another year of learning.

Sonia Pringle

Principal

Volunteer Award Winner Catherine Karklins 

Rowan Ramsey School Community Award  Winner Ruth Stevens   

Both presented by Sonia Pringle, Principal

Mayor Rodney Reid & Sonia Pringle                       Mayor Rodney Reid & BHS Leaders

DUX of 2020 Abbey Bubner                           Tiarhn Carpenter & Lachlan Gaze

ADF AWARD Winners presented by Squadron Leader Maurice Hall

Robert Tiller, Taylor White, Tiarhn Carpenter & Olivia Allen

Sports Girl, Tiarhn Carpenter and Sports Boy, Jack May presented by Neil White, Education Director

Walter House Captains, Taylor White and Tom Michael and House Champion, Janna Mojares with Neil White, Education Director

Balaklava Courthouse Gallery Visual Arts Award Winner, Matt Mojares presented by Jo May

Balaklava Community Arts Drama Award Winner, Madeleine Karklins presented by Sally Cowan

Balaklava Eisteddfod Society Music Award Winner, Tyler Durdin presented by Bronny Cottle

Des Ross Literacy Award Winner, Madeleine Karklins

Elders Rural Primary Industries Award Winner, Caitlin Arts presented by Sue Pratt

Rosemary Goode presenting the Wool, Wine & Wheat Awards to Sophie Wade & Taylor White

Jayden Hendry, VET Pathways Winner

Plains Producer Award For Improvement Winner, Jake Shaw presented by Merridy Manuel

Betta Home Living Award for Improvement Winner, Ebony Kenyon presented by Jeffrey Karklins

Ampol Best All-Rounder & Valedictorian, Taylor White with Kimberly Walker

Apex Citizenship Awards Winner, Lachlan Gaze

Muriel Matters Award Winner, Tiarhn Carpenter

YEAR 8 ACADEMIC AWARD WINNERS

Elleanore Bowden, Jorja Schutt, Sebastien Hughes, Joseph Futterleib 

Maylea Carpenter (DUX), Tess Rana (DUX)                                                                 

YEAR 9 ACADEMIC AWARD WINNERS

Madison Litzow, Janna Mojares, Emily Curnow, Bligh Wilson (DUX), Sarah Davies, Abbey Fagan

Irish Pagadut, Brooke McArdle, Samantha Lockwood, Rachel Feltham, Dahli Jacobson, Taylah West, Lucy May

YEAR 10 ACADEMIC AWARD WINNERS

Olivia Allen, Brooke Michalanney, Alice McArdle, Jack May, Kashaya Carpenter (DUX), Abbey Bigg  

Ellie Bell, Kaye Ashley Arevalo, Sophie Hamdorf, Tamzyn Dos Santos                        Absent: Maddison Poole                  

YEAR 11 ACADEMIC AWARD WINNERS

Charlotte Davey, Leyla Jacobson (DUX), Jack McLean, Steven Wade, Kayleigh Parker  Absent: Hannah Watson 

YEAR 12 ACADEMIC AWARD WINNERS

Charlie Evans,  Matt Mojares,  Madeleine Karklins, Paige Lamond, Lachlan Gaze   

Taylor White, Emily Lemon, Tiarhn Carpenter                                                             

Well done to our performing artists:

Ella Taylor

Alexander Evans 

Leyla Jacobson

MAJOR SPONSORS           

Year 8 Performance

The Year 8 Production is a rite of passage for all Year 8 students at Balaklava High School and 2021 was no different. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions on the number of people in an audience, we again used the wonders of technology to live stream this production. The Year 8 students were able to showcase the skills and dances they had been learning in their Performing Arts lessons. With a focus on songs from the 1970s students presented their production called ‘Dancing Disco’. Each homegroup performing two solo dances, coming together as a whole year level to perform the opening and closing numbers. All 75 students were able to be up on stage together. Students had a full day rehearsal on Tuesday of Week 7 and this was the first time they had come together as a group and were able to work through some logistical problems as well as some technical ones especially using the lighting for the first time. Overall students were able to performing to a high standard. Mr Noack and I are very proud of their hard work.

Carols in Balaklava

Students in the Specialist Music Program and Spec Ops spent Friday 3^rd of December in the Triangle caroling and spreading Christmas cheer. Starting off with a special trip to Ira Parker, to sing Christmas Carols to their residents, students then headed back to the Triangle for the day. As well as the Choir, Instrumental Group were there to accompany the singers with some of their Christmas Carols. Students performed every hour throughout the day, gaining confidence with every performance. This was a wonderful final performance for the students involved in the Specialist Interest Music program. A huge thank you to Jamie and Mrs Cowan who came along to join in the Christmas cheer!

Suri Umapathysivam

Nominated by their teachers, 30 Balaklava High School students and three staff headed to the Big4 at West Beach for a three day camp to celebrate their success over the year. Students had an action packed time over the course of the camp. After taking some time to unpack and settle in on the Sunday, students went to the beach, which was only 100m from our accommodation, and started exploring.

On Monday, students started the day with a two hour lock-in at the Beach House, giving them unlimited access to the waterslides and activities. After lunch, students participated in a scavenger hunt, expertly planned out by Mr Szular. This involved solving clues around Mosley Square and they even had to enter Subway and Dymocks to complete tasks and receive clues from staff in these stores. The winners of the scavenger hunt were Rachel Feltham, Dahli Jacobson, Sam Lockwood, Emily Curnow and Abbey Fagan, however, everyone was a winner with Mr Szular having prizes for each group. Students headed back to West Beach via the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) to learn about aquaculture and zero methane algae. On Monday we also had special visits by Mrs Manuel during the day at Mosley Square and Mrs Sharman who joined us for dinner and a trip to the beach in the evening.

We finished the camp on Tuesday, starting off with the Mega Adventure high ropes course at West Beach where students tested their abilities at heights, with trapeze jumps, attempting to ride a bike on a bridge, walking the tight rope and the final jump from the top to get down. We then headed home, stopping in at the Adelaide Central Market to explore the different experiences available there, with some students riding the Tram from South Terrace. We arrived back in Balaklava on Tuesday afternoon, very tired but having had a wonderful three days.

Suri Umapathysivam

We are currently reviewing the Student Led Conference process. As part of this we would like to consult past, current and future parents/guardians. Student Led Conferences are an integral part of building relationships between students, parents/guardians and teachers, ensuring that the lines of communication are constantly open. While this process is similar to a parent teacher interview, the key difference is that the discussion is led by the student in relation to their goals for learning and achievement.  Prior to the conferences students undertake focused goal setting during their Pastoral Care lessons and in subject time, supporting the conversations had in the Student Led Conference.

There will be two evenings of Student Led Conferences in the mid-point of Term 1 & 3. Specifically we are seeking feedback for the option of a designated evening of online Student Led Conference, as was trailed in Term 3 2021.

Please use this link to complete this survey. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=6fS7c4gGRkmuqb0LtA7PBy7c2RCH8rlLuit67Kpr6nZUMVhLRFBPWUtXTVUwSFFVRlJHU0NGU0w5My4u