3 November 2017

Newsletter Articles

From Our Principal

NEW SUN SMART POLICY IN 2018

Our Governing Council has endorsed a new Sun Smart policy – effective from the beginning of 2018 (see below).

The Kapunda High School Sun Smart policy has been informed by new guidelines introduced by DECD and also draws on the work of the Cancer Council SA. The new policy also links with contemporary work, health and safety practices in industry.

Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world. Two in three Australians will get skin cancer before the age of 70 and over 2,000 Australians die from skin cancer each year.

Over exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun during childhood is known to be a major cause of skin cancer later in life.

Schools have a responsibility to implement skin cancer prevention strategies in the interest of student and staff health and wellbeing.

Any activity that sees students being outdoors for any period of time is seen as potentially placing them at risk of sunburn and other skin damage and subsequent skin cancer.

Legal action has occurred in some states as a result of students being sunburnt during school organised activities.

Key Changes for Kapunda High School:

• All students and staff will need to wear a hat when outdoors in terms 1, 3 and 4 if the UV level is 3 or more. [In 2018, a cap will be acceptable, but in the years to come, this will change and only broad brimmed, bucket or legionnaires will suffice].
• Students will be encouraged to download apps so that they can monitor UV levels themselves.
• There will be more sunscreen ‘stations’ available for students to self-apply prior to going outside either for curriculum activities or recreation at lunchtime.
• More shaded tables and chair sets will be purchased and placed around the yard for students to access at break time.
• On days where students are outside for the day (eg swimming carnival, sports day, etc), beyond providing maximum shaded areas and a range of sunscreen ‘outlets’, there will be some new clothing requirements (ie rashie vests or t-shirts on swimming carnival and tops that cover shoulders on sports day).
• There will be a stronger focus on learning about being Sun Smart.

Tracy Warner, Assistant Principal (Senior School, SACE and Health and Physical Education) will be leading the ‘roll out’ of this policy with staff and students. Watch out for further information in the newsletter, our Facebook page and through the daily bulletin (students).

IMPROVING OUR SCHOOL – SOME EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENTS

FROM OUR GOVERNING COUNCIL:

• $150,000 has been allocated from school reserves to replace the information technology infrastructure that supports the curriculum network for students. What this means is that we will have a new wireless network across the school and new switches and new cabling to support a more reliable service for students.

FROM DECD:

• $2m has been allocated for a new building to address the increased enrolments at our school. It will be positioned next to the Design and Technology building and will particularly link Digital Technologies, Systems and Controls and other STEM areas to traditional technology subjects. It is envisaged that being in close proximity to each other, contemporary equipment such as 3D printers and laser cutters will be able to be shared. Additionally, it is intended that the learning spaces will able to be flexibly used to support interdisciplinary (or across subject) learning. As part of this work, it is also intended that there will be new change rooms and a storage shed positioned next to the gym.

FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT:

• Earlier this week we were notified that $10m has been allocated to our school for the purpose of upgrading and replacing aged facilities. Given that many of our transportable buildings go back to the 60s and 70s, this announcement is timely as we seek to create more contemporary learning spaces and experiences for our students. Earlier this year representatives of staff, students and parents participated in a workshop where we identified opportunities for improvements if and when funding became available. Some of the discussion points included:
• A new consolidated Arts centre – servicing Music, Visual Arts and Drama
• A new Home Economics facility – larger to accommodate increased enrolments and to consolidate the two existing areas
• New general classrooms that included small ‘break out’ areas to facilitate group work, individual work, etc – in line with contemporary learning approaches.
• A new senior school facility – small classroom spaces, contemporary study areas, office space to enable passive supervision.

• Re-development of Home Economics into an enlarged learning support centre and student hub.
• In the coming months we will be working with an architect to determine priorities but if you have particular thoughts, please email me: Kristen.mastrs775@schools.sa.edu.au.

Kristen Masters
Principal

Term 4 Pupil Free Days

Pupil free days this term will be:

Friday, 10 November – Week 4
Friday, 1 December – Week 7

Devon Clothing Uniform Fitting Afternoon

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017
3:00pm - 6:00pm

This is the perfect opportunity for current Kapunda High School families, as well as future KHS parents, to bring their child/ren along to get fitted for uniforms for 2018. This year, Devon Clothing will have some stock available, so you may be able to purchase and collect items that afternoon. Should your items be unavailable, you will still be able to order and have them either delivered to KHS before transition day or posted directly to your home.

BYOD FAQS

As previously advised, from the beginning of 2018, all families are expected to have arranged a device for school use. All desktops and laptops will be removed from classrooms at the end of this year.

What if I can’t afford to purchase a device for my child?

Kapunda High School has partnered with a new company, Learning With Technologies, to supply recommended devices for the 2018 school year. In addition to purchasing a device ‘outright’, families will have the choice of a ‘rent to buy’ option by making monthly payments.

Additionally, there will be a limited number of better quality ‘used’ laptops available for long term loan from the school.

I indicated that I wanted to loan one of the devices – what’s next?

If you completed the application form at the end of last term, you will be advised over the next week what the timeline is for paying your deposit and collecting the device.

If you indicated you were intending to apply for a long term loan but didn’t complete the necessary paperwork, you have recently had that sent to you again. You are advised to complete this as soon as possible to ensure that you don’t miss out. Remember, first priority is for families experiencing financial hardship.

I didn’t end up returning my form last term. What are my options?

Thank you to the 80% of families who returned forms. A large proportion indicated that their child already had a device or the family was intending on purchasing either a recommended device through Learning With Technologies (LWT) or one of their choice. A smaller number indicated that they would be applying to loan a device through KHS due to financial hardship.

Even if you did not return your form, we hope that you are making plans for 2018 as all KHS devices are being withdrawn from service at the end of this year. The limited number of good quality devices will be re-deployed as long term loan devices.

If you are experiencing financial hardship and wish to be considered for a long-term loan device in 2018, it is very important that you submit an application form as soon as possible. Otherwise, you may miss out!

What if I do nothing?

Unfortunately, that means that your child will not have access to a device for their learning. They may be able to seek permission to use their phone (if they have one) to access the internet but otherwise all work will need to be done using pen and paper.

Presentation Evening 2017

Kapunda High School has again had a most successful and eventful year and it is now the time when we are looking to acknowledge the success of our students and their efforts throughout the past twelve months. To do this we rely very much on the generosity of local businesses, community members, organisations, parents and staff of Kapunda High School, to support us. We now have pleasure inviting you to contribute towards our awards list this year with a donation of $30 which will go toward a prize for a selected student.

The prize will be awarded at our annual Presentation Evening on Monday, 11 December 2017. We cordially invite you to attend the evening at 7:00pm for a 7:30pm start. Your generosity will be acknowledged on the night as the student accepts the award, also in subsequent press releases, magazine and newsletter articles.

If you would like to take up this offer, our bank details are:

BSB: 105006
Account No: 057125140
Ref: Presentation Evening

Or you can send a cheque or call into our Reception office.

So that we can finalise our prize list in good time, we would appreciate it if you could reply before Friday, 10 November 2017.

Kerry Brown
Presentation Evening Co-ordinator
Email: kerry.brown429@schools.sa.edu.au
Phone: 8566 2203

List of Donors as of 31/10/2017 - Thank you!

We still need approx. 17 more donations.

Eringa Award

For Service to Kapunda High School

All members of the school community are invited to nominate a:

• student
• staff member
• parent/caregiver
• community member

who has made a significant contribution to Kapunda High School.

Year 12 Dress Up Day

Year 12 students enjoyed a Dress Up Day with the theme of movie characters.

Year 12 Last Official Day

Staff provided a morning tea for year 12 students on their last official day and a special assembly was held to wish the students well as they commenced their final assessment and exam period.

Year 12 Students on their last official day

Tourism Excursion to Adelaide CBD

On October 24, the Year 11 tourism class experienced being a tourist in their own capital city. They had the opportunity to visit the Art Gallery, State Library and the Central Markets. Rain derailed our plans to get to the Botanic Gardens, unfortunately.

The students will now produce a source analysis as their final assessment task for Tourism.

Megan Samain
Tourism Teacher

‘It was a great experience as we were able to see various attractions that people would visit whilst in SA, including cultural locations. Despite the rain, we enjoyed the experience as tourists in the CBD.’ Courtney, Chloe, Taylor, Erin, Isaac & Zohe

Wear it RED day

Students wore a splash of red to show their support and raise awareness of Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Dysgraphia on Tuesday, this week.

Career and Course Information

TAFE Course Information Sessions

TAFE Course Information sessions for the following courses offered in 2018 at the TAFESA Barossa Campus:

Certificate II, III and Diploma of Horticulture
Certificate II, III and Diploma of Conservation and Land Management
Certificate III in Production Horticulture.

Sessions at TAFESA Barossa campus, Old Kapunda Road, Nuriootpa:

5 December, 10am or 5pm or 15 January 2018 10am or 5pm

The timetable structure for 2018: Full time Wed – Fri 9am – 3:30 pm, Part-time Thurs nights 6-9pm and/or Fri 9am – 3.30pm. Blocks of units are available that may suit some students.

Friday Activities

Friday’s recess time activity in week 1 saw the students triumph over the staff in a Soccer Shoot Out. Final score: Students 4 goals - Staff 3 goals

Congratulations, students!

At lunch time, the weather was perfect as staff and students gathered on the lawn in front of Eringa for an outdoor concert. The audience received a real treat, listening to Sharna Grant singing and playing guitar and listening to electric guitarist, Andrew Prior.

Mountain Bike Come and Try

Year 9 student, Samuel Woods and his younger brother, Toby, participated in a mountain bike race held by School Sport SA – SAPSASA & SSSSA and Adelaide Mountain Bikes, recently.

‘We had lots of fun and are pumped for next year!’ Samuel

Results were Toby: 2 laps, position 10/39, time 32:01, Samuel: 3 laps, position 5/32, time 13:42

Anyone interested in competing in 2018 should see Mrs Samain.

Samuel and Toby Woods

Home Group Netball Results

A home group netball competition ran at lunchtimes in Term 3 with all but one home group participating. This was a mixed competition and each class played two games.

The winning home groups were:

Year 8 – 8KB
Year 9 – 9JA
Year 10 – 10AG
Year 11 – 11MS
Year 12 – 12TG

In the last week two staff teams played against two Year 12 teams with the staff winning both games.

Jill Nash
Home group netball organiser

Indonesia Trip

During the recent school holidays, Zoe Markos and Patrick Higgins took part in an Impact Mission Trip to Indonesia for ten days.

‘The first day was spent in Bali, the next seven days in Soe, West Timor and the remaining two days were back in Bali. Whilst in Soe, we travelled to different villages, visiting schools and pre-schools teaching kids ministry. This consisted of games and lessons. We also spent a lot of time at the Mercy Lily orphanage and visited a waterfall with the orphanage children on the last day in Soe. Over the week, we saw around 1000 children. In Soe, some villages had never seen Australians. In Bali we were just tourists, spending the first night at the Mercy Hotel chatting with staff about the trip before driving to the Jayakarta Hotel.’ Zoe Markos

‘Before leaving on the mission I was open to change, not only in the culture around me, but within me as well. I feel a deep change in my opinions and even before I return to Australia, I noticed myself going through a ‘metamorphosis’ in the way I think and behave.

Spending time with kids who don’t have the same day to day opportunities as I do, has opened my eyes and made me realise that what I have shouldn’t be taken for granted. One thing I have noticed over these visits is that even though the children don’t have much, they are happy, upbeat and content with what they do have. None showed signs of being spoilt or greedy - the complete opposite, which surprised me.

I wasn’t expecting people there to be so welcoming. It felt like everywhere I went, people only wanted to make me happy and to please me. These kids loved to interact with us and wanted nothing more than to share in our company. I made more friends in those past few days than I had in months - friends that I will keep for life. Despite a strong language barrier between us; our friendships were stronger and it makes them more memorable.

I strongly encourage others to experience this amazing opportunity and share in the changes that I feel. I hope to return next year so I can visit my newly made friends. ’ Patrick Higgins

The next Impact Youth Mission Trip is being offered in July 9 to 19, 2018 to current year 10 students. If this is something that interests you please contact Felyka Leske on Mondays or Wednesdays at our school.

Indonesian children, Naysa and Grace with Patrick Higgins and Zoe Markos

Community Notices