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- Principal's Report
- Year 11 Drama
- Open Girls Netball
- Thank you!
- Literacy Extension - 50 Words With A Twist
- Enhanced Learning Hub & Doctors on Campus
- Where Are They Now?
- RYDA Program
- Year 11 Tourism - Zoosnooze Overnight Experience
- Work Experience
- Staff vs Students Footy Match
- High School Musical
- Ruth Arikawe
- Entertainment Books still for sale - FREE POSTAGE!
- Wellbeing - Family Meeting
- Freestyle Martial Arts
How lovely it was to finally have a drenching rain last week. Whilst some of our drains struggled to cope with the volume of water, it was a small price to pay for the rain our farmers have been waiting for. We hope that where ever you are whilst reading this, that you also got some of this long awaited rain.
World Solar Challenge
It was a very exciting week at BHS last week with a formal announcement of a partnership between the School and the University of South Australia who will work with our students and staff to design, plan and build a solar car with the view of ultimately competing in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in 2023. Whilst this might sound like a very long time into the future, the race is only held every two years and our students will be heavily involved in it right from the start by being able to witness the event firsthand this year. This international event sees solar cars from around the world compete in a 3,000 km race from Darwin to Adelaide and this opportunity is unlike any other in the state. Students at BHS have been involved in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) activities for some time and we have amazing new facilities to assist this, however this offers real world applications in a broad sense and also strengthens our ties to the educational and wider communities. There are many exciting advancements and much learning ahead for our students and I would like to particularly acknowledge the work of Richard Thomas for developing these links with UniSA and David Szular who will work with Richard to lead this exciting initiative.
Search for Perfection
There was an interesting article in this week’s Sunday Mail that addressed an issue of teenagers who are being ‘crippled by anxiety and depression in their quest for perfection’ at school. It discussed students who set unrealistic goals for themselves and then become self-critical and despondent when they don’t meet them. We talk a lot about goal setting in schools and it is an important aspect of both short and long term planning whilst studying and for life beyond school and into the future. Setting high standards and trying to meet them is healthy, however these standards need to be attainable and, as parents and teachers, we need to support our children/students with this as sometimes, the search for perfection can be a negative experience. This can lead to students burning out or even giving up on something if they can’t do it to their high standard. That said, we need to let them experience some struggle and failure at things as this builds resilience. We need to develop their problem-solving skills, strengthen their ability to navigate relationships and we need to support them to have confidence in themselves and their own identity. I want our students to achieve their full potential but they need to have the skills to cope if they don’t and they need support from family, friends and teachers along the way.
Student Free Day
Don’t forget that this Friday, 21st June, is a Student Free Day for staff training in the Restorative Practices program. Following this staff training we will also train all of our students in this program next term, which will help them develop skills in developing and maintaining relationships and an ability to resolve conflict peacefully. We will also offer an evening session for parents and a separate night for community/sporting groups who are interested in learning how research practices uses questions which encourage self-reflection, create a space to be heard and challenge negative behaviour with regards to its impact on others. This process cultivates the capacity to build and maintain significant relationships in the home, at school and in the community for the betterment of society. More information about this will go home to families next term.
Staffing News
Congratulations go to Michael Brooks who has won a position as Assistant Principal at Keith Area School starting next year. We thank Michael for the work he has done at the school over the past 5 years, particularly in the area of sport and wish him well.
Derek Friedrichs has accepted a position at Clare High School as Assistant Principal, which will start next term. We are currently looking for a Home Ec teacher to fill this position and plan to have it completed by the end of this term. We thank Derek for the work he has done at the school and wish him well for his new position.
Reports
Students have been completing and submitting final tasks for the semester to provide teachers with information to make accurate assessments of their abilities and to finalise grades for reports, which will be sent home with students in Week 10. Parents are reminded that, as already published in an earlier newsletter, there will be no full written reports for students in Years 8-11. This is as a result of greater use of Daymap for ongoing reporting to parents and students about individual assessment pieces as they are due and as students still have time to make changes to their work, rather than a summary at the end of the semester. If you have any questions about your child’s progress at any time, please contact their subject teacher directly through Daymap or by phoning the school on 8862 0600 to speak to them over the phone or to organise a convenient time for a face-to-face meeting if you prefer.
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 also 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. Have an excellent last two weeks of term and enjoy a relaxing break before we come back to school on the 22nd July ready for the start of Term 3.
Sonia Pringle
Principal
On June 5th and 6th, the Year 11 drama class performed their adaptation of "A Mid Summer Night's Dream, A Mid Summer High". The class began rehearsals during the Term 1 holidays where they had their roles assigned, discussed props and had their first look at the show. Leading up to the opening performance, students sourced costumes and used all of their class time to rehearse and learn the show. The show opened to the Year 8s on June 5th and to the public on June 6th. Some students learned and delivered beautifully Shakespearean monologues. Overall, the show was a great success with excellent feedback. We are very proud of all our students involved, both the Year 11 class on stage and the Year 9 and 10 students who supported them.
Suri Umapathysivam
The Open Girls Netball Carnival was held on Thursday the 13th of June with teams from Clare, Kapunda, Eudunda, Burra, Horizon and Riverton High School coming to Balaklava Town Courts to play off in a Round Robin Tournament with the winner progressing to the State Finals in Term 3.
Balaklava High School had two teams of keen Year 10, 11 & 12 girls and played 8 games of netball across the day. Team One was coached by Miss Schahinger and the girls had 7 wins and a very close 1 goal loss to Clare High School. Team Two was coached by Miss Umapathysivam and the girls had two wins and many highly competitive games.
A big thank you to Mrs Ruth Stevens and Sascha Tiller for umpiring the 8 matches. We wouldn’t have been able to play without them volunteering their time.
Team 1: Back Row (L to R) Catelyn Harkness, Rhea Lawless, Sianna Bond, Tamika Gregory, Jacinta Cocks, Tahneil McArdle.
Front Row (L to R) Tiarhn Carpenter, Taylah Pratt, Ira Pagadut, Haylee Studham
Team 2: Back Row (L to R) Kiara Standley, Hayley Armstrong, Paige Lamond, Libby Cleary, Olivia Loy
Front Row (L to R): Skye Blacket, Chloe Hean, Melanie Myers, Taylah Barker
Thank you to the ten very generous familes (Allegretto, Karklins, Bousfield, Michalanney, Pratt, Arthur, Battle, Michael, Heaslip and May families) who are willing to open up their homes and lives to accomodate our visiting Japanese students from the Meiji University Nakano Hachioji High School. For some of these families this is the second time that they are hosting and we are very appreciative as this is a significant fundraiser for Balaklava High that has been running for over 20 years. We hope that hosting for the two weeks gives them a taste of Japan and an introduction to their culture and trust that they will enjoy showing their homestay student a little bit of ours.
Cherie Cmrlec
Literacy Extension is a subject that is offered through the Enhanced Learning Hub, it is a cross-year level classroom for those who are talented and passionate about literacy and literature. One of our focus areas this semester has been developing skills in creative writing, specifically the creation of plot twists and learning to write stories with a limited word count.
Students had to create an anthology of six short stories that shared a common theme, had an effective plot twist and were exactly 50 words. As a teacher I was absolutely amazed at what the students created as this is a challenging task; writing a twist is hard enough but keeping your story to 50 words would challenge any writer. To celebrate their success, I would like to share with you some of their 50 word stories with a twist, some make you laugh, some make you shiver but I can guarantee they will all entertain.
Josh LaGrutta
Laying on my bed in the dark, grumbles of hunger slice through the silent night. I get up and walk to the kitchen, the old floor boards creek on the other side of the room. “Hello?” I reached for the light but then the darkness spoke, “I am here.” - Abigail Futterleib (Year 9)
I may look different than everybody else. I may be strange but inside I am the exact same. I feel pain. I feel hurt. I feel happiness. I am just like them, why is it so hard to see. I may not be a human yet, but I am close. – Sophie Hamdorf (Year 8)
He looks at me and my whole world fades away, he smiles at me and my heart skips a thousand beats, when he laughs I fall in love all over again, I am head over heels for this guy. But then reality sets in and I remember, he is my enemy. – Ashlee Allegretto (Year 10)
She was gasping for air, she couldn’t breathe and was moving slowly. She felt surrounded and caved in and not able to breathe. She couldn’t open her eyes properly either. She was freaking out and was slowly moving further and further, “Time to hop out the pool, honey,” says Mum. – Lucy Howard (Year 8)
Enhanced Learning Hub – Semester 2
The Enhanced Learning Hub (ELH) has a range of classes and mentoring sessions running in Semester 2. Class lists have been chosen through student interest and staff recommendations.
To be involved in an ELH class students will be removed from a mainstream class. The subject teacher will make adjustments during the remaining classes to ensure that key learning objectives are achieved. There is no minimum or maximum as to how many ELH classes a student can be involved in but it is suggested that students only miss one class per mainstream subject. ELH changes after the school holidays will be under special circumstances only.
Please check your young person’s timetable on Daymap carefully. If you do not have access to Daymap and would like more information about your child’s timetable contact their homegroup teacher. If you have any concerns or questions about Enhanced Learning Hub involvement please contact Lucy Thiel via the front office.
Doctors on Campus
I would like to thank Dr Hari Davuluru and Jennifer Silcock for their commitment to BHS and to improving mental health in Semester 1.
The Doctors on Campus program (DOCs) is a proven initiative to assist students who are struggling with wellbeing or mental health issues. DOCs is a team approach taken by our GP, Mental Health Nurse and our Wellbeing Team, to assist our students to lead more successful lives.
Doctor and mental health professional visits through the Balaklava High School DOCs program are bulk billed through Medicare and will occur during school time. There will be no charge to you and it is confidential.
One of our Health and wellbeing team, Lucy Thiel, Ash Parsons, or Neil Richards may contact you about your child’s involvement in the program. Alternatively, students can request an appointment or caregivers can register their interest in their child having an appointment.
For more information contact Lucy Thiel via the front office.
Life after BHS for Hannah Hoepner
After graduating from BHS in 2013 I moved to Adelaide to study a Bachelor of Secondary Education/Bachelor of Arts. I majored in English and History and completed placements in Gladstone with Sonia Pringle as well as Kadina. Even though I had moved to Adelaide, I didn’t really get out of Balaklava until I was offered a job in Cleve on the Eyre Peninsula. I completed my degree at the end of 2017 and in January 2018 I moved to Cleve, 4 and a half hours away from home. I was offered the job of English and HASS teacher from Year 8 to Year 10 as well as Year 9 Homegroup teacher. I am now in my second year of teaching and have just started studying a Bachelor of Agricultural Production and Management to prepare myself for teaching Agriculture and open up other job opportunities.
Current job role:
I am currently an English (9-12) and HASS (9-10) teacher with the potential to start teaching Agriculture at Cleve Area School’s Sims Farm in the near future.
Highlights of your current job/career:
A highlight is seeing how my students change and develop over the course of the year. I see my students turn from children into young adults and it makes me very proud to see how polite and respectful they become.
Looking back on your time at BHS, did BHS help with your career pathway?
Definitely, I had great teachers that influenced me and supported me with my decisions. The Ag program supported my learning and developed my awareness of working in the industry.
BHS allowed me to challenge myself rather than opting for the easy options which allowed me to grow and learn and better prepared me for future study.
On Tuesday 11th of June 37 Year 11 Balaklava High School students attended the Annual Rotary Youth Driver Awareness Program (RYDA)
The RYDA program delivered practical and theory road safety information targeting attitude and awareness of young drivers and their passengers. The Program was hosted by The Valley Lifestyle Centre, Clare.
Students rotated through a series of practical and theory workshops which involved interactive participation. Groups of students were transported by bus to a local deserted road and were given a practical lesson on stopping distances and road rules.
All students who attended, said that the RYDA program was worthwhile and made them think about driver safety.
Richard Thomas
Design and Technology/VET Coordinator
On the 3rd June 2019, a small group from Balaklava High School travelled by bus to the Adelaide Zoo for an overnight adventure. The point of this excursion was to see what activities and facilities the Adelaide Zoo provided, so we were looking at the Zoo with a Tourism focus.
Once we arrived at the Zoo we dropped off our gear at the Educational Centre and then had a couple of hours to explore the Zoo by ourselves. Being a cold and cloudy day meant that there weren’t many other visitors at the Zoo so it was very peaceful and most enjoyable. We were able to observe the many facilities – the café and undercover seating areas, new children’s adventure playground, interactive Zoo and Envirodome displays. We also enjoyed seeing the animal exhibits which are well presented and displayed detailed information about each animal and their status in the wild. The pandas were especially active that afternoon with both of them wandering freely around their exhibits giving us great photo opportunities.
Once the Zoo closed to the public at 5pm, we had the Zoo to ourselves. We met our Zoo Educator, enjoyed afternoon tea and then organised our belongings into the tents which were located on the top of the Education Centre. We all pitched in to help with the organising of food - the group that cooked the BBQ and prepared salads certainly did a great job and there was plenty of food to share.
To relax after tea, we created our own game of Pictionary by guessing animals that you would find in Zoos and this was a great fun activity. A session in the classrooms enlightened us to the role of Zoos and we met some of the Education Centre exhibits such as the snakes and lizards. It was then time to set off on our night walk.
With red cellophane on our torches and phones, we were given a guided tour of the Zoo. Being a cold night not many animals were about, however, we did get to see some nocturnal animals. The Fennec Fox being one of the most interesting. Also the giraffe, which is being prepared for a move to another Zoo, put her head out of the enclosure to have a good look at us! Sad that she is moving on and that giraffes will no longer be in the city.
Back at the Education Centre we enjoyed a movie then at 11pm, headed to bed. We were very lucky that it wasn’t too cold and certainly grateful that it didn’t rain. The Zoo was very peaceful during the evening although the Maned Wolf sounded very close by!
In the morning once hearing all of the animals and bird calls, we packed up all our belongings and headed down for breakfast. At 8am we had another guided tour, retracing our steps from the evening walk and catching up on things we had missed. Just as we were about to leave, the Siamang and White Cheeked Gibbons put on a very noisy display which was incredible to watch and hear.
I enjoyed this experience, not only did I get to see a whole variety of animals but it was definitely worthwhile. A big thanks for the Zoo for having us as well as to Mrs Von- Zieden for arranging our Zoosnooze.
Maddie Gorman and the Year 11 Tourism class
The Work Experience Program for Year 10 students in 2019 is during the week beginning Monday 24th June – 28th June. Alternative dates will only be considered by the school through consultation with the Work Experience Coordinator or Principal. There will be no scheduled Year 10 Classes during this period while Year 10 students are out completing their Work Experience.
The Year 10 Work Experience Program is part of the compulsory SACE component which is a requirement for all Year 10 students in the state.
Work Experience has many benefits for students; helping them clarify possible career choices as well as raising awareness and challenging students to experience what is expected of them in the “real” world of work. Work Experience offers the possibility to develop maturity in allowing students to relate to others in an adult environment. Students will be briefed in aspects of work such as application letters, resumes, interview skills, expectations and evaluation, and debriefing during lessons prior to going out on placements. Students will also be required to successfully complete Work Safety, Child Protection and Equal Opportunity awareness activities prior to going out on placement.
Richard Thomas
Design and Technology/VET Coordinator
The Balaklava Community Arts production of “High School Musical” was a massive success with two sold out shows and smooth performances. Our engaging community really brought the show to life with lots of laughter and applause for our talented performers. Many of the leads and chorus were past or present BHS students and they all performed at a very professional level, making our school proud.
Charlie Evans
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