7 September 2018

Newsletter Articles

Neve and Lucy, preparing for the Led Steer Competition at the Royal Adelaide Show, this week. Results will be published next newsletter.

From Our Principal

SUPPORT OUR SRC AND BACKPACKS 4 SA KIDS

Last Friday, representatives from Backpacks 4 SA Kids came to our assembly and spoke to students about the charity that provides resources that contribute to the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people when they are removed from their homes or find themselves homeless.

Backpacks 4 SA Kids works in conjunction with child welfare, child protection, family violence and homelessness agencies, and organisations such as SAPOL who have responsibility for removing vulnerable children from unsafe homes and assisting those made homeless as a result of family conflict.

This year our SRC has set a goal of providing funding for 150 backpacks – a total of $7,500 – to be raised through the biennial ‘Thing-a-thon’. If every student in our school community raised $20 each, that target would be easily met.

This is the 10th biennial KHS ‘thing-a-thon’ and sees students use a range of safe transport to get around a 10 km route on the perimeter of the Kapunda township and this year will occur on Friday, September 21.

I urge all students and their families to get behind this very important charity that supports children and young people in need. All students have a letter and a sponsorship form – just waiting for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends to put their hand up and sponsor.

This year, the SRC are asking students to bring in their money as they collect it. To date, we have raised enough for 5 backpacks. Only 145 to go!

ADVANCE NOTICE: PUPIL FREE DAY

As previously advised, our Governing Council has approved a Pupil Free Day for the final day of this term – Friday, September 28.

Staff will be in Adelaide for the day, learning about the contemporary world of work and future employment trends. This will enable them to better link learning at school to students’ futures.

The final day of Term 3 for students will be Thursday, September 27. It will, for the most part, be a normal school day. However, we will conclude with an assembly after which, hard copy reports will be issued.

SOME REMINDERS

Spray deodorants and perfumes are not permitted at school. We have a number of students and staff who are allergic to these and just recently we have had several people experience significant medical episodes. Please ensure that your child has a non-spray deodorant that they can bring to school to use following Physical Education lessons.

Wearing non-uniform ‘hoodies’ under school polo shirts is not permitted. Uniform ‘hoodies’ are available from our supplier, Devon Clothing. Students out of uniform can expect to receive a detention.

If your child is absent from school, you need to provide an explanation – whether they are in Year 8 or Year 12. Please support us by providing an explanation in writing, over the phone, through an email or responding to the SMS message that is sent out each morning to families where students are absent.

Kristen Masters
Principal

Year 8/9 Knockout Basketball

Girls and Boys Progress to Next Round

On Tuesday, September 4, the Year 8/9 Knockout Basketball teams competed at the Balaklava Town Courts.

The girls’ team consisted of eight players:

• Chloe Forster
• Abbey Menzel
• Sadie Shanahan
• Liana Antonioli
• Tahlia Wendt
• Tara Hayward
• Kayla Malkin
• Meg Shanahan

Girls team

The girls came out firing in their first game against Clare. Tara and Liana took control with strong offensive plays and fast transitions. Quick movement through the key allowed Tara to secure our lead early in the first half, whilst Abbey secured strong positions for open shots. Meg found her spot throughout the second half, as excellent positioning in the key and offensive rebounding widened the gap. Defensively, the girls forced several turnovers and quick transitions, specifically Chloe who won several intercepts and Tahlia who hustled for the ball aggressively every time. Strong defence by Kayla forced the opposition to miss shots, which she rebounded and transitioned confidently to the outlet. The girls won 52 : 10.

The second game, against Balaklava, proved more challenging, as the girls lifted their intensity. Outstanding offensive movement from Sadie and Meg opened the key for some easy shots, as the girls worked hard to secure the rebounds. Quick transitions from Balaklava forced Liana to show us her speed and agility, as she forced several turnovers. Again, strong defence in the key by Kayla forced bad shots as Abbey used her strength to collect rebounds. At half time the girls were down by two, but they turned it around in the second half to collect the win: 21 : 17.

Overall, the girls played hard and showed that they have competitive intensity needed to progress in the competition. Next, the girls will play Yorke Peninsula to win a place in the finals in Term 4.

Thank you to Meagan Menzel and Patrick Dempsey for umpiring, and Sarah Shanahan and Meagan for driving.

Lara McCarthy
Girls Knockout Basketball Coach

Boys team

In brief

Doorways 2 Construction

Year 10 Doorways 2 Construction students completed Asbestos awareness training as part of their General Construction course last week.

Shakespeare visits KHS

Year 9 students were treated to an improvised performance based on various Shakespearian plays.

Contact details – we need to know

KHS relies on various methods of communication between the school, students and their families to relay information about learning, student well being and numerous other topics. In order to do this, our family records must to be accurate.

In the event of an emergency - for example, medical or an extreme environmental event such as the Pinery fire, KHS endeavours to communicate with families promptly and in whatever way is effective and efficient.

This can be extremely challenging, if not impossible, when contact details are not current. When this is realised, every effort is made to seek alternative, even round-about ways of making contact eg through emergency contact persons or known associates.

If you've changed your mobile phone number, email or other details, please contact the school.

Student Driver Permission

As we get closer to the end of the year, more and more students are gaining a driver/motorcycle license and driving/riding to and from school.

While most young drivers are careful, safety conscious and considerate when driving or riding, they are one of the most vulnerable road user groups. Travelling with teenage passengers adds to this risk.

It is therefore timely to remind students and parents of our guidelines when travelling to and from school or school events.

Students who are drivers must complete a Student Driver Permission form, available from the front office, providing:

• vehicle details, including the make and model of vehicles they intend to drive/ride
• details of passengers that may travel with them, including siblings
• relevant signatures for permission granted

Student drivers must:

• sign out using the correct school system when leaving the school during school hours.
• park in the appropriate manner, according to school guidelines and public road rules.

Student drivers may not:

• Leave the school grounds for the purpose of purchasing lunch or recess.
• Allow other students to be passengers in their vehicles without appropriate permission. This includes during school hours, to and from school and school events.

Student passengers in student driven cars must also have completed the passenger part of the Student Driver Permission form, with their parent or caregiver's signature, giving permission for them to travel with the named student driver.

Final Notice

It’s terrific to see that so many families have either paid their Materials and Services Charges or set up a payment plan with the school. Unfortunately, a significant number have neither contributed to their outstanding charge nor made contact with the school to discuss the matter. This is concerning as final notices are about to be forwarded to these families.

Communication is the key – we want to hear from you

KHS understands that sometimes families have difficulties meeting their financial obligations. Please contact Administration/Finance Officer, Sue Coppin as a matter of urgency and she will assist you in setting up a manageable payment plan to avoid referral to the Debt Recovery Unit as required by DECD process.

Not my priority!

Power bills, council rates, car rego… school fees! Get in touch with us – we can help take some of the pressure off by assisting you to set up a manageable payment plan for the Materials and Services Charges. Sue Coppin may be contacted via email: sue.coppin405@schools.sa.edu.a u or by phoning the school.

School Card Assistance

Declined! Have you been waiting for School Card acceptance and now you've found out that you're not eligible?

Time to make contact with our Administration/Finance Officer, Sue Coppin. KHS would certainly prefer to have an achievable payment plan in place for the family involved than refer to the Debt Recovery Unit. 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.

It’s the school’s responsibility to apply for School Card Assistance for our family, isn’t it?

Sometimes people have an understanding that the school is responsible for applying for School Card Assistance on their behalf – this is not the case. However Sue Coppin, our Administration/Finance Officer, is happy to offer support to families in completing the application

Haven't yet applied for School Card this year - you've been eligible in the past, but have you checked the criteria - have your circumstances changed? Are you sure you are still eligible?

Visit the following website for information about eligibility and to apply online or obtain a hard copy application form Please See link below . Alternatively, the school can provide a hard copy.

We get it every year – doesn’t that just happen? Surely we don’t need to keep applying each year?

School Card Assistance must be applied for each year. Circumstances change and so may your eligibility.

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.

PUPIL FREE DAY

Friday, 28 September: Pupil Free Day

Friday Activities

Two girls teams played Giant Jenga at recess time.

Giant Jenga

At recess time on Friday of Week 6, several students had a go at trying to see how

many basketball goals they could throw in a row.

A few students got around three or four, but Jadyn Martin was the stand out with a massive 16 in a row!

Well done, Jadyn!

In the Resource Centre at lunchtime, students had fun playing the card game Rich man/Poor man.

Rich Man/Poor Man

Community Notices