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As you will see throughout this newsletter, we have had a very busy last three weeks. I am very proud to hear, see and be involved in the great work that is happening at BHS. These are just a few things that have happened and I am sure there are many more that I have missed!
- It was fantastic to have the Japanese Exchange back up and running and the cultural links that enrich our lives. A big thank you to the Michalanney, Battle, Arthur, Murphy, Hahesy and Williams families for welcoming a Japanese student into their homes for 2 weeks, and also to Kev Kelly and Cherie Cmrlec for their organisation of this visit. Well done to Louise O'Halloran and her students who did an amazing job catering for the Japanese Farewell Dinner – it must have been good…..my kids ate everything!
- Tanya Niblett and the Library Team for another excellent community event with the Love, Crime and Wine Author Panel. I received nothing but positive praise from the people I spoke to on the night and the engagement they had with the authors. There were also plenty of activities to engage with for Book Week.
- A shout out to Ash Parsons and Hudson Noack for their work with the Open Boys and Girls Knockout Basketball Teams, especially the boys who won their division. A great achievement.
- Our Ag students looked amazing as they headed off to the Copper Coast Show last Friday, especially with their new show team caps, kindly donated by the March family. The day was full of success with our students and animals receiving many accolades. We wish Holly Crighton and her team all the best for the Adelaide Show over the next few days.
- To Nicole Matthews and Anthea Ness for the amazing work with this year’s Operation Flinders Team. It is a huge task and not for the fainthearted. The group were super lucky to have you both as their support. Thank you!
- Carena Brookes and her team for a smooth and productive subject counselling process.
Staffing News
We welcome Marc Padros Baciero to the team at Balaklava High School. Marc will be teaching 7-9 HPE and onsite Monday, Thursday and Friday. I am very appreciative that Marc has taken up this opportunity with us and I know you will make him feel part of the community at BHS.
Breakfast Club is back at BHS
Our student wellbeing and engagement data has indicated that less than half of our students consume a healthy breakfast on a regular basis. To increase awareness around the importance of breakfast and provide access to morning food options, we are bringing back Breakfast Club one day a week for the remainder of Term 3.
We know that sometime breakfast can be challenging, whether it be lack of time or resources or the fact that children don't feel like eating in the morning. However, it's important that they do. Their growing bodies need the nutrients and fuel to focus, maintain energy levels and perform to the best of their abilities in school.
Our first Breakfast Club was held last Monday 26th August and it was great to see many of our students take up the opportunity to have a pancake or two and piece of fruit. We look forward to our next Breakfast Club on Wednesday.
Annual Parent Survey
Parents are invited to complete the 2024 annual Parent Survey, which is now open. By now, you should have received an email or SMS from the Parent Survey Team with a unique link to participate in the survey. If you did not receive an email or SMS with your unique survey link, contact education.ParentSurvey@sa.gov.au and include our school’s name in your email.
The survey takes less than 10 minutes and will help us understand:
- what we’re doing well
- where we can improve
- what's important to you.
It has been coordinated centrally and your answers won't identify you or your child and only collated feedback will be provided to us. Information collected will inform school improvement planning and activities at the school.
We encourage all parents to complete the survey, which closes midnight Sunday, 8th September (end of week 7, term 3) and to share the positives as well as areas in which we can improve.
Student Led Conferences
Student Led Conferences were held this week at Balaklava High School and Port Wakefield. Thank you to families who supported their child with the Student Led Conferences. It was great to look at student’s folio of work samples and hear some of the engaging conversations around goal reflections and setting of new goals for Semester 2.
I would like to acknowledge Hannah Marshall for her leadership in coordinating Student Led Conferences, particularly our ability to offer a night at Port Wakefield.
5 Steps to Study Success
We are approaching the time of year where our senior students are preparing for exams or are currently doing practice exams. It can be tricky to know how to most effectively study for an exam or test. The following tips from Reachout.com are not only useful for senior students but also for younger students preparing for a test:
- Break your study up into manageable 20 or 30 minute chunks. No one can study for 6 hours straight and be effective. Get some more info about setting small goals here.
- Talk about it or say it out loud. When you say something out loud, you'll find it much easier to remember it. Chatting with someone about what you're studying is even better.
- Remove the distractions. Put your phone on silent and out of reach and turn off pop-up notifications on your computer. Research shows that it can take up to 20 minutes to refocus on what you're doing once you've been distracted.
- Take breaks. If you plan your study chunks with breaks in between, having the time away can help you to come back refreshed.
- Get some sleep! Getting a good nights sleep helps your brain and body to rest and recharge. In fact, you'll do better at your exams and remember more of what you studied if you get a good nights sleep, rather than if you stayed up late studying.
Other things you can do include eating the right foods, perfecting your time management skills and knowing when to take a break from studying and getting some physical activity or social time in.
School Closure Day
A reminder that Governing Council has approved a School Closure Day next Monday 2nd September to support our young people to attend the Adelaide Show with their families. Balaklava Primary School also has a closure day on this date and as such, buses will not run.
Enjoy your weekend and please feel free to contact me at the school if you would like to discuss any aspect of your child’s learning. I can be contacted via DayMap or email derek.friedrichs447@schools.sa.edu.au or you can phone the school on 8862 0600 and ask to speak with me directly. Alternatively, I would be happy to discuss your needs in person – please pre-arrange this with the Front Office Team so that I can ensure I am available when you arrive.
Derek Friedrichs
On Friday 16th of August, our Show Team attended the Mid North Livestock Expo coordinated by the Copper Coast Show at the Kadina Showgrounds. Students gained valuable experience during the Junior Judging and Handling competitions, prior to the 'finale' at the Royal Adelaide Show. Thank you to the Copper Coast Show, judges, stewards and officials for their efforts on a fantastic day.
Goats
Heat placings
Peacock, Toucan, Wedge Tail Eagle - 2nd place
Magpie, Dodo - 3rd place
Dove - 4th place
Northern Cardinal, Flamingo - 5th place
Wedge Tail Eagle received Champion Goat
Logan Sheppard, Aliyse Lomman and Kali-Rose Simmie were selected for the final handlers competition.
Sheep
Emily Newton received 2nd place for Junior Judging and Handler.
Steers
Heat Placings
Kiara Cowan - 1st
Macy Tiller - 2nd
Hamish Wildbore, Shae Wood, Lincoln Cowan - 3rd place.
With over 130 students, we had great success across the day placing second in Best Presented Team in the Grand Parade.
Overall, we finished the day equal first with the Overall Points Shield.
A huge thankyou to Richard Cowan, Sandy Hodgetts and Tom Robinson for their assistance in transporting animals.
Thankyou to Lauren and Callum March of Richmond Park for their donation of our very stylish show caps!
Holly Crighton
The Year 11 Food & Hospitality students recently had the privilege of catering for the farewell dinner for our visiting Japanese exchange students. The class showcased their culinary skills by preparing a traditional Australian meal featuring roast lamb with vegetables, followed by a classic pavlova for dessert. The students did an excellent job, ensuring that the evening was both memorable and enjoyable for all attendees. Their hard work and attention to detail were evident in every dish, earning well-deserved praise from guests. Thank you to the Year 10, 11 and 12 students who professionally waited tables on the evening.
Louise O'Halloran
This week Year 7MCL5 made omelettes in Home Economics. They all seemed to enjoy the challenge with some more successful than others. They have already mastered pikelets, wraps and apple muffins. The apples we used came from the orchard in our Agriculture Department.
Members of the community and students from BHS enjoyed a Magic Show presented by James' Travelling Magic Show on Tuesday 20th August.
The Balaklava Community Library hosted Love, Crime & Wine 2024 on Wednesday 21st August with authors Rachael Johns, Tim Ayliffe, Victoria Purman and Rhys Gard. It was an entertaining evening well attended by about 90 people.
Balaklava High School students had the opportunity to dress up for Book Week on Friday 23rd August. Congratulations to the best dressed students Tessa Taylor as Wednesday Adams, Colbey Bowden as Willy Wonka, Curtis Willmer and Chase McCracken as Tweedledum and Tweedledee and Liam Mallon as the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland. Cherie Cmrlec was the best dressed staff member as the Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Coming up in September we are pleased to announce that we will be having a visit from Meredith Appleyard. See the information below.
Balaklava High School is proud to announce the successful completion of our all-female groups participation in the 2024 Operation Flinders program. The ten girls who embarked on this challenging journey faced tough times but emerged stronger, both as individuals and as a team.
The adventure was filled with remarkable achievements. The group conquered the high ropes obstacle course, a feat that required both physical strength and mental determination. Additionally, the whole team reached the summit of Mount Rose, an accomplishment that will stand as a testament to their perseverance and teamwork. Bush camping presented them with new challenges—learning to adapt to dehydrated food packs, sleeping under the stars, and the unique camaraderie of sharing stories around the campfire.
Now back home, the group is undoubtedly grateful for the conveniences of running water and familiar surroundings. However, the memories of this incredible journey will remain in their minds as an unforgettable experience that taught them the power of pushing beyond their limits. We commend our students and staff for their commitment and success during this adventure and look forward to seeing how this experience inspires them in the future.
Nicole Matthews
During Science Week, Year 7 and 8 students embraced the theme of species survival with a creative twist. The challenge involved camouflaging cut-out butterflies throughout the classroom, blending them seamlessly into their surroundings to illustrate the concept of adaptation and survival. The highlight of the week was inviting Mr Kelly, our Deputy Principal, to participate in a “Butterfly Hunt.” Mr Kelly’s task was to find these cleverly concealed butterflies, which were strategically hidden in plain sight. The butterflies that remained unnoticed, while impressing Mr Kelly with their camouflage, were deemed to have passed the species survival test.
Thursday, 8th of August saw the Year 11/12 Girls Netball Team head to Kadina for Round 2 to play against St Marks and Kadina. The girls had the bye first up, which allowed them to check out the competition. The girls were a bit slow to get going in Game 1 so Kadina got a bit of a run on and were up by 7 at the first break. To the girls credit, and with a few key changes to the regular line up, they clawed their way back to win by 5 in the end.
The girls started slow again against St Marks in Game 2 and were down at the first break again but came back to be 3 up at the last change. Unfortunately, the girls had run out of steam and a few silly, forced errors saw us go down by 4 goals in the end.
Excellent defence and team play all day with everyone on the team having moments of brilliance at some point in the two games.
Thanks to Ruth Stevens for umpiring and Matilda W for coming and scoring.
Sarah Reusch
Year 7/8 Knockout Football Semi Final
On Wednesday, our Year 7/8 Boys Football team went head-to-head against Clare High School and Saint Francis of Assisi at Clare Town Oval.
Our first game against Clare High School was a fast-paced contest. CHS got the jump on our boys in the first 10 minutes scoring two quick goals and having plenty of entry into their forward line. BHS was able to sneak a goal before the end of the first half to keep in the game. The second half was an even contest with BHS having plenty of opportunities but couldn’t convert on the scoreboard. In the end, CHS were too good and ran away winners by three goals.
It was a quick turn around for our second game against Saint Francis of Assisi. It was evident that Saint Francis were fresh and raring to go with three quick goals in the first 10 minutes. Again, BHS had multiple chances to apply some scoreboard pressure but couldn’t convert their goals. Saint Francis’ bigger bodies and fresh legs were too much for BHS to handle, running away winners by six goals.
Congratulations to our Year 7/8 Knockout Football team who gave it their all and represented the school with PRIDE.
Thanks to Mr Friedrichs for coaching, Mr Noack for driving the bus and umpiring, Seb H and Dylan M for running and supporting the team, Michael M for goal umpiring and supporting and all of the parents who came along to support their child.
Attention Year 11 and 12 Students for 2025!
The VET Referral Process for 2025 is now open.
If you’re interested in undertaking a VET Qualification next year, now is the time to start planning. Whether you’re looking to gain hands-on experience or want to explore a career pathway, VET could be the perfect fit for you.
Students are encouraged to speak with Mr Clark as soon as possible to discuss your options. Families and parents seeking more information can reach out via email or phone to ensure they have all the details needed to support their student’s future success.
CITB/TAFE SA 2-Day Construction Immersion and Taster Course
We’re thrilled to announce a fantastic opportunity for students interested in the construction industry! TAFE SA, in partnership with CITB, is offering a 2-day immersion and taster course right here at Balaklava High School.
Day 1: A hands-on taster session on September 3rd (9 am - 3 pm)
Day 2: Complete your White Card training on September 17th (9 am - 3 pm)
This is an excellent chance to get a feel for the construction field and kickstart your journey into this dynamic industry. Expressions of Interest from current Year 10/11 students should be directed to Mr Clark as soon as possible, as spots are limited!
Cubby House Project: Coming Soon!
Our 2024 Construction Pathways students will soon be rolling up their sleeves to begin their much-anticipated Cubby House Project. This project not only provides students with valuable practical experience but also offers our community the chance to own a unique, student-built cubby house! Keep an eye on future newsletters and the Facebook page for further details as they become available.
Thank you to all the workplaces that have hosted our students for Work Experience placements throughout 2024. Your support and mentorship have provided invaluable real-world experience that has supported our students’ learning and career exploration. We truly appreciate your partnership and commitment to helping BHS students.
Luke Clark
Student Pathways/VET/Career Education Coordinator
In a stunning display of talent, determination, and pure grit, the Year 7 mini Olympics have come to an electrifying close! The Year 7 students had an amazing time yesterday competing for gold and we would like to say thank you to all the staff members who came out to support and cheer on the students! A big thank you to Darryl for taking on the role of official Olympic photographer and also to the Olympic committee who helped officiate and run events - Sally McArdle, Renee Bryant, Luke Clark, Kym Spartley, Laura Hadley and Ashleigh Leonello.
POSITION AVAILABLE
Position: Junior Salesperson - Merchandise.
Branch: Balaklava.
Hours: Full-time (Saturdays 9am to 11.30am).
Please Contact: Branch Manager - Shayn Faehrmann via
Mobile: 0419 829 243 for job enquiries OR
Email shayn@nutrienagbalaklava.com.au to submit Application
and Resume.
