Filter Content
- From Our Principal, Tim Jones
- Staff Roles
- School Uniform
- School Photos
- Grab Your Hat!
- Swimming Carnival
- Year 8 Camp Reminder
- Please Support the Immunisation Program
- Governing Council AGM
- KHS Facebook
- Absences from School
- Materials and Services Charges 2021
- SZAPP
- Visitors to KHS
- Student Driver and Parking Information
- Canteen Information
- School Bus Bushfire Procedures
- Parent Concerns and Complaints Procedure
- University Survival Guide
- Community Notices
Year 8 students, Aalisha and Zach are welcomed to KHS by Year 12 students, Mieka Cowling and Cameron Gerhardy
Welcome Back
I would like to introduce myself as the Acting Principal across the first term. For those who do not know me, I have been the Deputy Principal at Kapunda for the past six years. I am looking forward to working with the school community as we begin 2021.
Welcome to our families new to Kapunda High School. I hope it has been a positive start and please take opportunities to connect with the school to support the education of your children at our school. Parental support and encouragement is a huge factor in ensuring that a young person’s potential is reached. I encourage you to take every opportunity to remain connected with KHS and your child’s learning via our newsletter, website, Facebook page, DayMap and SZapp as well as face to face opportunities (parent BBQs, interviews, etc).
Term one is a busy time with a large number of events across the term, including swimming, athletics, year 8 camp, Centenary Foundation Awards Presentation, welcome night for our year 8/9 families just to name a few. 2021 will see the completion of building works in preparation for year seven students entering high school in 2022.
Week 1 has been a very short week with preparations well underway for Swimming Carnival, School Photos, Year 8/9 welcome evening, all in week 2 and year 8 camp in week 3.
Excellent Year 12 Results
Congratulations to our year 12 students who faced challenges like no other group has. Despite this, 100% of students who completed the year achieved SACE completion with 98% of grades being in the A-C range.
Congratulations to our Kapunda High School DUX, Georgia Flavel, who achieved an ATAR of 98.35 Georgia has been accepted into a Bachelor of International Relations and Economics, double degree. Other students who performed exceedingly well included Isabel Castaneda, Ruby Gardner, Sophie McDougall, Ella Fiegert, Samuel Woods, Aidan Mudge and Chelsea Ruediger who all achieved ATARs in the 90’s or 80’s.
Four students achieved A+ grades for individual subjects in 2020 with three students receiving Merits. Congratulations to Isabelle Castaneda Habel - Psychology, Ruby Gardner - Modern History and Georgia Flavel - Research Project for achieving Merits. Additionally, Georgia achieved an A+ (no merit) in Psychology.
Most students who applied for university entrance received their first preference with students being offered a range of courses including: Education, Criminology, Veterinary Technician, Psychology, Human Movement, Paramedic Science, Business, International Relations, Design and Marketing, Foundation Studies, Occupational Therapy, Health and Mechanical Engineering.
As we all know 2020 delivered a number of significant challenges for students, staff and families. I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of students, staff and families in supporting out students to achieve their SACE. Staff at Kapunda High School worked tirelessly across the year to support students in an ever changing world. I would also like to highlight the strong support from families during this time. With a high level of uncertainty, students were well supported at school and at home.
New Leadership Team
The year has started with energy and promise with a number of staff and leadership changes within the school. I will be in the acting Principal role for term one while the process of appointing a new Principal takes place. Liz Gary-Smith will be backfilling my position as Deputy Principal is Liz Gary-Smith, with Lara Shaw taking on the role of Assistant Principal: Learning Support and Learning Excellence during first term. In addition, Tony Gabb has won the acting Maths Coordinator position for semester 1 with Bruce Hall taking on a regional role to support the implementation of the new VET in Schools initiative.
Welcome to our New Staff
Jason Keep: Assistant Principal VET, FLO and Flexible Pathways
Brad Westley: HPE, PLP and WPP
Brae McConnell: English and HASS
Hannah Smith: Maths and Science
Bradley Innes: Maths
Governing Council AGM
Please consider attending the AGM of parents on Monday, February 24 at 7:30pm. The main purposes of the evening are to report on the ‘health’ of the school through the presentation of the Annual Report and to elect the new Governing Council.
Ideally, we would have a Governing Council that was representative of our school community with parents/caregivers from all regions. We usually ensure that we have at least one of our meetings at Roseworthy during the year. We meet every six weeks for approximately two hours.
Over the past year, our Governing Council has been very involved with plans for the re-development of our school and going forward, will also be involved in shaping the entry of Year 7 students into High School.
If you are interested in learning more about what Governing Council does and how it operates, please do not hesitate to contact our Chairperson, Andrew Hayward or me to discuss.
Building Works Update
There has been rapid progress across the summer:
Gym works
A new change room facility including toilets accessible from within the gym is well under way. These improvements will include a new storage area for the HPE faculty and evaporative air conditioning for the Gym. This part of the project is scheduled for completion towards the end of February into early March. Once this is accessible to students, the existing change rooms will be demolished.
Construction adjacent to our existing Science facility
Around the middle of the year we expect to have the handover of the new building under construction at the northern end of the school. This will provide five additional general learning spaces and one junior science lab. In the short term this will provide much needed classroom space to assist with capacity issues this year and be ready for a double intake of students next year.
Construction on the Oval
The largest building, which is well under way is the three storey building overlooking the oval. The facility will provide new Music, Health and PE, Art, STEM and Senior School learning areas.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
The overwhelming majority of students have arrived ready to begin the 2020 school year with their own device, with new students in the process of connecting to the KHS wireless network and downloading the Office 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud software.
Where students haven’t made arrangements for a device for learning, we will be making contact with the families and discussing options. There are still a small number of long term loan devices available through the school for families experiencing financial difficulty. Application forms are available from KHS Reception or click on the link on our BYOD website page:
Tim Jones
Principal
It has been great to see the majority of our students begin the year positively and wearing their correct uniform. Wearing a uniform serves several purposes:
- Represents our school community positively – builds a sense of belonging and pride in our school
- Helps with school security, in that students are easily identifiable from visitors
- Helps prepare students for the world of work beyond school where there will likely be a dress code or uniform
- Contributes to a learning environment distinct from a leisure environment
There have been some reminders that PE tops may only be worn during PE class times (with the exception of students who have ordered and not yet received their school shirts), and that shorts and pants must be navy or grey, with no stripes or large logos. Shoes must be predominently black or white - red or blue shoes are not acceptable. Other reminders are being displayed on posters around the school (see below).
Where students are out of uniform, but have the correct uniform at home, they will be given a reminder in the first instance. If the incorrect uniform is worn again, the student may incur a lunch time detention. Home Group teachers will follow up with parents/caregivers where there are ongoing uniform breaches.
Where a new item of compliant uniform needs to be purchased, students can collect an exemption form from the Reception office. This needs to be completed by the parent/caregiver and returned to the Home Group teacher. Families are able to seek an exemption for a period of time (for instance a week or two, up to one month) to be able to acquire the new uniform item. Students will not incur any consequence whilst the exemption is in place.
If you are experiencing financial hardship and need assistance with acquiring uniform items, please complete the exemption form process and speak to your child’s Year Level Manager.
We look forward to working with students and families to build a positive and equitable, comfortable whole school uniform culture. If you have any queries please contact the school.
School photo day will be on Thursday, 4 February (week 2), with a ‘catch up’ session on Tuesday morning, 9 February (week 3) for individual photos.
Online ordering and payment may be made at www.advancedlife.com.au.
If payment is to be made by cash or cheque, students must hand their photo envelopes directly to the photographers on the day.
Sibling photos
Photo envelopes for sibling photos may be collected from the school Resource Centre.
Friendship photos
Friendship group photos of no more than 10 students can also be arranged. Photo envelopes are also available from the school Resource Centre. A minimum of 3 orders (at $12 each) must be paid on the day to the photographers.
During the summer months, the UV rating consistently hovers around level 12 for most of the day. The UV rays come through the cloud layers therefore even on a cloudy day, we need to be wearing broad-brimmed or bucket style hats and sunscreen to safeguard damage against these rays. Students and staff are required to wear hats in terms 1 and 4 and whenever the UV level is 3 and above in terms 2 and 3. The predicted UV level appears in the school's daily bulletin.
Staff and students follow the policy and are independently responsible for their future health by wearing the prescribed hats or sitting in solid shaded areas when learning or being active in the outdoors.
Hats may be brought from home and be of any colour. The hats may include logos, providing they do not promote alcohol, drugs make other illegal or inappropriate references. Alternatively, the school has a range of hats at affordable prices that are available from the Reception office.
- Reversible sports hats $12
- Bucket Hats $12
Students are also encouraged to ‘slop’ on sunscreen, which is available at various locations (Reception, Resource Centre, Student Hub and gym) around the school and at events such as Swimming Carnival and Athletics Day, or they may bring their own supply.
Wednesday, 6 February (Week 2)
Best Dressed House Competition!
Reminders:
- SunSmart: hats, rashies, sunscreen, sun glasses etc
- School day starts at the pool and buses will drop students at Kapunda Swimming Pool.
- Races start at 9:00am
Parents are welcome to come along and watch, but COVID-19 restrictions and protocols apply.
Megan Samain
Whole School Sport Coordinator/PE teacher
The first camp will be in Week 3, Monday - Wednesday 8 - 10 February.
The second camp will be in Week 3, Wednesday - Friday 10 - 12 February.
Please pay outstanding amounts to school Reception as soon as possible.
Students not attending camp are required to attend school as normal.
Please Support the Immunisation Program
Health and Immunisation Management Services, in conjunction with the Light Regional Council, will again be conducting the School Immunisation Program, this year.
All Year 8 students will be offered:
2 doses of the human papillomavirus vaccine, Gardasil®9 at 2 separate visits.
1 dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough vaccine, Boostrix®
All Year 10 students will be offered:
2 doses of the meningococcal B vaccine, Bexsero® at 2 separate visits.
1 dose of the meningococcal ACWY vaccine, Nimenrix®
Session 1 - Year 8 students | Session 2 - Year 10 students | Session 3 - Year 10 students | Session 4 - Year 8 students |
HPV (Dose 1) & Booster dose dTpa | Meningococcal B (Dose 1) & Meningococcal ACWY | Meningococcal B (Dose 2) | HPV (Dose 2) |
Monday 15 March Term 1 Week 8 |
Tuesday 29 June Term 2 Week 10 |
Tuesday 31 August Term 3 Week 7 |
Tuesday 19 October Term 4 Week 2 |
Immunisation consent packs have been sent home with all Year 8 and 10 students. It is important that you read the information contained in the packs before you give consent for your child to be vaccinated at school. If you have any questions about this program, please contact Health and Immunisation Management Service.
All parents / legal guardians are to complete, sign and return the Consent Cards, even if you do not consent for the student to be vaccinated at school. Students aged 16 years and above can complete the consent for themselves.
If you do not receive an Immunisation Consent pack from your child please ask at the school office.
If you do not want your child to be vaccinated at school, please contact Health and Immunisation Management Service to arrange for your child to receive the free vaccines. If you go to your local doctor for the vaccination, they will need to order the vaccine and may charge a consultation fee.
Preparation
Often, students feel anxious about having the immunisation and it is important to discuss this event with your child to help alleviate unnecessary fear. It has been noted that some adults refer to the immunisation as ‘getting stabbed‛ or ‘getting your needles‛ - this leads to unimaginable horror to some children and is quite unhelpful. Some may remain ‘wobbly’ at the prospect or may have had an adverse effect, previously. Parents may therefore, wish to support their child by attending an early session from 8:55am - 9:10am on the day. Please contact me at the school if you would like to do so. Anxious students can also attend this early session on their own to avoid waiting with their class groups. Students are encouraged to have the immunisation when their parents have given consent; however, they are never forced. If a student is unwilling, parents will be contacted later by the program nurse.
Remember to keep your child's School Immunisation Program records in a safe place as they may be required for future employment or travel.
Influenza Vaccinations
Influenza Vaccinations will also be for students. Consent forms, which will become available in due course from KHS Reception office, are to be returned on the day with payment ($20 - TBC).
Tab Mackenzie
Immunisation Coordinator
Have you ever wondered why a decision was made about a certain issue at school?
Do you ever think there could be a better way of doing things?
Have you considered joining Governing Council and being part of the decision-making process?
There are a number of parent vacancies on Governing Council for 2020 and we strongly encourage you to think about nominating. There is a nomination form below.
In 2020, there will be approximately seven meetings – each of approximately 2 hours duration.
The Governing Council shares responsibility with the Principal for setting the strategic directions of the school and contributes to policy development. Being a councillor is a good opportunity to contribute and shape the direction of the school. In 2019, Governing Council was involved in a process that has led to funding for new buildings and the review of the Sun Protection policy.
The Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday, February 22. Even if you don‛t feel you can commit to being on Governing Council, you are most welcome at this meeting. Rest assured, there will be no pressure to join Governing Council. At this meeting, we will formally present the Annual Report and the school‛s financial report.
Keep in touch with the daily events at Kapunda High School via Facebook. Join over 2.2k ‘friends’ of Kapunda High and be connected with school life.
Teachers @ KHS
As well as our official school Facebook page a number of teachers have their own @KHS page to keep students and families informed about their subject areas. ‘Like’ their page to keep up to date.
In addition there are five more general pages which may be of interest:
Miss Koritsa at KHS
Ms Bromley at KHS
Mrs Gary-Smith at KHS
Learning Support at KHS
Parents/caregivers at our school are informed by mobile phone Short Message Service (SMS) each time their child is away from school.
At Kapunda High School, student attendance and safety is a high priority.
We know that students who attend regularly are more likely to be successful and safe at school. To support this, we inform parents/caregivers about any unexplained absences for their child.
The school expects parents/caregivers to contact the school in advance if they know their child is to be absent.
An SMS text message is sent to the mobile phones of parents explaining that our records show that your child is absent from school. The message will read as:
Kapunda HS records show JANE JONES is absent 29 January. Please reply with Student Name, reason & date or Phone 8566 2203.
Options for notifying the school of absences
- Parents can reply to the absence notification text by pressing the reply option on your mobile phone when you receive a message from the school and add your son or daughter’s name, year level, date of absence and the reason they are absent or late e.g. Steven Scott, Year 11 was sick yesterday (Tuesday 15 November)
Text version: S Scott yr11 sick Tues 15 Nov
These phone numbers should not be used to send messages or contact the school at other times as this system works on a one on one reply basis from randomly generated phone numbers (e.g. absence messages from different days may appear from a different number) and any subsequent messaging may not be seen by the school.
- Phone the school on 8566 2203 and select Option 1 from the call menu to be put through to Student Services.
- A note sent with your child, explaining the absence.
- Notify the school by clicking on the Absentee icon on the eNewsletter app, SZapp (free to download to smart phones).
Materials and Services Charges 2021
The materials and services charges for 2021 are $460.00. This is used for the purchase of loan text books, equipment and materials used in the delivery of the curriculum. A basic stationery issue is supplied (which is GST Free) which includes an ID card and monthly printing and internet allocation.
The due date for payment of materials and services is FRIDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020.
Prompt payment of school charges ensures that all parents accept their share of the responsibility for the education of their students.
From time to time, families have difficulty meeting their financial obligations. Should this happen, please do not hesitate to contact Sue Coppin, KHS Finance Officer and she will assist you in setting up a manageable payment plan to avoid an inevitable referral to the Debt Recovery Unit as required by Department process.
Please be aware that if no prior arrangements have been put in place, unpaid monies can be forwarded to the Recovery Unit at the conclusion of Term 1.
Options for payments
Payment may be made by cash, cheque, EFTPOS, Visa, MasterCard or by Direct Bank Deposit (see details below) Students are to make payments prior to the start of the school day (8:50am) to avoid carrying around large sums of money through the day. Parents/caregivers may make payments anytime from 8:30am to 3:30pm.
KHS Bank Details:
Bank SA
BSB 105-006
Acc No. 057125140
Family ID : eg SMIT10
(left hand side of invoice)
Have you considered scheduling payments using online banking to meet this financial obligation? Some families have found that being able to set the amount and regularity suits their needs well.
Instalment options - suggested payment dates:
12 February |
Term 1 Week 3 |
12 March |
Term 1 Week 7 |
9 April |
Term 1 Week 11 |
14 May |
Term 2 Week 3 |
18 June |
Term 2 Week 8 |
23 July – Payments to be finalised. |
Term 3 Week 1 |
SCHOOL CARD SCHEME
If you think you may be eligible for School Card please complete the application form and return it to the office prior to Wednesday, 3 March, 2020 or go online (see link below) and complete the application.
Please note: The cut-off date for School Card Applications is the first week in March.
Failure to submit your evidence before this cut-off date may result in the Department for Education not approving your application.
OTHER CHARGES
Parents are advised that text books and materials issued to students remain the property of the school.
In addition you may need to pay for:
- replacement stationery, if the initial supply runs out
- additional Internet and printing after the initial monthly allocation is used
- excursions and camps, etc.
- materials for particular Design and Technology projects (invoices will be issued)
- materials for Home Economics sewing projects
- school uniform, including PE polo shirt
- a scientific calculator (available for purchase from the Reception office - $22)
- School Magazine
- Personal photocopying and printing - Copies will be 10 cents each
Visitors to the school are reminded to sign in at Reception on arrival.
Student Driver and Parking Information
Providing Information & Gaining Consent
Students driving or riding vehicles to and from school must complete an Information/Consent Form, available from the school Reception office. If circumstances change, the school must be notified.
Students must not transport other students as passengers without the knowledge of the Principal and a written consent from the parents of both the driver and prospective passengers. Students bringing their vehicles to school must have a note from their parents notifying the school of this arrangement. A permit is then issued.
Parking Areas
Students have access to public street parking on Hawke Street (at rear of school) and on High Street (opposite entrance of the school). Parking along West Terrace, directly in front of the fence line of the school, is by local council permit only and therefore not available to students. The opposite side of the road is an area for ‘drop off’ and ‘pick up’ during school hours only.
It is expected that students obey the road rules with regard to parking near neighbouring residents’ driveways and also show consideration to areas where their refuse collection takes place.
Parking on school grounds is generally not permitted.
Disability parking is available just inside the main entrance and to the left.
Caution
The beginning and end of the school day is a busy time, particularly on West Terrace and drivers are urged to drive with caution at the limited speed of 25 km/hr in the school zone.
Any accidents must be reported to the police and also the Principal. The Bus Coordinator is on hand in the bus parking area at the beginning and end of the school day and support can be sought, if required.
Incidents of vandalism may be reported to the police, and the Principal should be alerted to the situation.
Kidman Kafé
How do I order my lunch from the canteen?
Recess and lunch orders can be made at the serving window of the canteen from 8:30am - 8:55am.
Your order can be collected at the window during recess or lunch time.
Canteen volunteers are always welcome – contact Canteen Manager, Deb Hook, Ph 8566 2203.
School Bus Bushfire Procedures
On days of forecast catastrophic fire danger rating for the Mid-North district:
Kapunda High School will remain open.
All school bus routes travelling to Kapunda High School will be cancelled.
Parents/caregivers of students who travel on school buses will be contacted via an SMS message to their mobile phone or a direct call to their landline (where a mobile has not been given to the school). This will generally occur the night before.
Kapunda High School will additionally ‘broadcast’ using Facebook and the website www.kapundahs.sa.edu.au to remind families of bushfire procedures.
If a bushfire is reported in the area during the day:
Affected bus runs will not leave the school until the roads are declared safe by emergency services authorities.
Parents/caregivers will be notified and students will be supervised at school until buses can run, or until parents/caregivers are able to collect their children.
If during a bus run, the bus driver sights a bushfire and there is concern that it may affect the routes ahead, then the bus driver:
Has the authority to abandon the bus run and return to school, or
If safer to do so, drive to one of the pre-planned emergency areas (or CFS safer places) and activate the emergency bus procedure.
To support student safety, parents/caregivers are requested to:
Ensure that Kapunda High School is informed of any changes to phone numbers.
Follow weather announcements through the media.
Ensure that they do not put themselves at risk when coming to collect students from school.
CEF's 2020 University Survival Guide is now available!
As students across the country head off to university this week their minds will no doubt be racing with questions. This has the answers!
Inside the CEF 2021 University Survival Guide
- Tips on getting the most out of O-Week
- Checklists for what to pack, what to buy
- Where to find cheap textbooks
- Handy links for financial support
- Student discounts
- Staying healthy and having a good time
- Accommodation options
- Free weekly planner
- The right contacts for the right advice
- Parents and carers information
Download the 2021 University Survival Guide for FREE at www.cef.org.au
Fruit Fly Information
The Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) has recently advised that much of metropolitan Adelaide and some areas of the Riverland are in fruit fly outbreak or suspension areas.If you have any queries as to which fruit or fruiting vegetable are affected, please visit www.pir.sa.gov.au/fruitfly.