19 October 2018

Newsletter Articles

Patrick, Courtney and Renee – together since kindy

From Our Principal

BEST WISHES TO THE YEAR 12 CLASS OF 2018

Friday, October 26 is the final day of formal Year 12 lessons for many of our Year 12 students. After that there will be final assignments to be completed, assessments to be sent for moderation, preparation for exams and of course the exams themselves.

Completing the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) has become the norm for all students over the past twenty five years – a far cry from previous generations when only students aiming at a university pathway went onto Year 12.

Over sixty students have taken on the challenge of a complete Year 12 programme this year. Some have been very much focussed throughout, using their class and homework time effectively, seeking regular feedback from their teachers, attending holiday sessions here at school and the Adelaide Tuition Centre as they have continually strived to achieve their best. Others have warmed to the task, becoming increasingly focussed as they have matured across the year. For others, the heightened sense of urgency is just ‘kicking in’ at the business end of the year.

Within the class of 2018 there are a range of abilities, aptitudes and aspirations. Some students have skills in areas demanding advanced literacy and analytical skills, a number demonstrate high-level ability in practical subjects while others display aptitudes in mathematics/science. Some students have enjoyed the intellectual rigour of an intense academic programme while others have pursued learning that has been self-directed and geared more towards personal development.

With such diversity, students have taken the opportunity to pursue a variety of pathways during their final years at school.

Some have opted for a vocationally oriented course of study combining general education with a focus on workplace learning – undertaking TAFE courses or a school based apprenticeship.

Conversely, others have opted for subjects that will make them eligible for an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) and the possibility of acceptance into university.

This final assessment period can be very stressful for students and their families. For those looking to gain entry to a specific course, there are high stakes attached to everything they do. It’s a very competitive environment and unfortunately, not everyone can get ‘A’ grades, ATARs in the 90s or get into the course of their choice.

Unfortunately, it is not a level playing field. The results that appear on SACE certificates do not get there by accident. They are the culmination of thirteen years of education and reflect a myriad of factors including life and family experiences, and of course, the individual student’s work ethic and application.

All students will have different measures of success. When results are released in December, the spotlight is generally on the handful of students across the South Australia who gain ‘perfect’ marks. Even locally, the focus is on the students who gain ATARs of 90+. While students who achieve these outstanding results deserve the accolades that come their way, it can sometimes lead many students who have worked very hard but not achieved such outstanding results to feel disappointed.

The fact is that all students who achieve their SACE are worthy of our congratulations and support.

On behalf of the whole school community I would like to wish our Year 12 students the very best as they approach the forthcoming examinations and final assessment period.

To the families who end their association with our school, I also thank you for your support and contribution over the years. It has been greatly appreciated.

MATERIALS AND SERVICES CHARGES FOR 2019

Our Governing Council is recommending that Materials and Services Charges be $450 – an increase of $10. A full schedule is attached.

All members of the school parent community are invited to attend the next Governing Council meeting on Monday, November 5 to contribute to the discussion regarding the increase. Alternatively, you can share your views on this matter by writing to the Chairperson, Mr Andrew Hayward (C/- Reception of KHS).

STAFFING NEWS

Congratulations to Mrs Penny Chancellor who has been appointed as Flexible Learning Pathways Leader for the next five years.

Welcome to Ms Sue Burtenshaw who joins our staff for the final term of this year. Sue is an experienced school leader who will be undertaking a range of teaching and leadership responsibilities across the term.

Kristen Masters
Principal

Year 12 Birthday Celebration

Three Cheers

Year 12s celebrated all of their birthdays in a combined birthday morning tea at the end of Term 3.

Finishing Year 12 in 2018

Friday, October 26 marks the final day of formal lessons for many of our Year 12 students. After that, there will be final assignments to be completed, moderation activities, preparation for exams and, the exams themselves.

Please continue to refer to the information we sent out at the beginning of the holidays about assessment pieces. Families will receive further information from Year 12 teachers that outlines attendance requirements beyond October 26 and also the exam timetable. If you have any specific queries about any of this information, please do not hesitate to contact the individual teacher.

Students coming into school to attend lessons, exams, see teachers or to make use of school facilities (eg study room, Resource Centre, Design & Technology workshop) after October 26 will be expected to wear school uniform, including suitable footwear.

In recent years, we have organised for the final week of scheduled lessons for Year 12s to be a special one that celebrates in a positive way, the end of their schooling. On Tuesday, students take part in ‘dress up’ day - this year the theme is ‘Movies’ and on Wednesday there will be a staff Vs student table tennis competition in the Gym.

On Friday, during the extended home group period, we will be taking some commemorative photographs, so ask that all students wear Year 12 tops on the day.

Lessons will be as normal during the first four lessons. However, a group photo will be taken at 9:00am on the front steps of Eringa and formal celebrations will commence with a morning tea in the Resource Centre at recess time. Morning tea will be provided by the staff. We will also be providing a BBQ at lunchtime.

At 2:00pm we will have a whole school assembly to celebrate the achievements of our Year 12s and wish them well for the future. We would especially like to invite parents, caregivers and other family members to come and share this special occasion as we recognize each individual student. Please let our Reception office know if you will be attending, so we can arrange enough seating.

A day focussed on celebration is something that we believe better reflects Year 12 students’ status in our school community than a ‘muck up day’ that only serves to disrupt learning in other parts of the school, create tension, reflect negatively on the students and undermine a lot of the positive relationships that students have developed with their teachers and other staff over a five year period. We have spoken to students about this and ask you also for your support in emphasizing appropriate behaviour leading up to and following the ‘final day.’

Following final exams, most students will have the opportunity to attend the Formal in the Barossa.

2017 Formal

Presentation Evening on Monday, December 10 will be the last opportunity for the whole school community to farewell Year 12 students. At this event, we make a small presentation to each of the students and also issue them with their School Reference. In keeping with the importance of the occasion, we expect that all students come dressed in full school uniform, including suitable footwear.

We are expecting the SACE results release in mid-December, after which, video clips will be posted on the KHS Facebook page outlining ‘How to reply to a university offer’ and ‘How to enrol at university’. These are designed to help families through the process. If more help is needed, please contact the school.

Thank you once again, for your support of our school. We do not take enrolments for granted and we thank you for having the confidence in us, as senior school teachers, to work with your children in these final years.

Tracy Warner
Assistant Principal Senior School

Year 12 Remaining Events Calendar

Year 12 2018 Examination Timetable

School Magazine

Uniform ‘Try On’ Afternoon

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. 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.

Tuesday, 6 November
3:00pm – 6:00pm
Room 50 (Home Economics room)

New uniform dress is now available!

The new KHS school dress is now available from Devon Clothing:

Volunteers Needed!

Our Governing Council has been approached with the opportunity to run the canteen at the Trotting Track for 4 to 5 meetings January to March next year to help raise funds for the school, BUT we will need your help. Anyone interested - either in being involved in the organising committee, running or just volunteering time at the canteen, please let us know so we can take up this great fundraising opportunity.

Please contact Sue Woods 0418 810 782 mjskwoods@gmail.com or Samantha Fetherstonhaugh/Tracy Warner via the school.

STEM Drone Challenge 2018

We have entered in a competition with Stemnation to use a drone to identify faulty insulators on Stobie poles for SA Power Networks. The team has included Mitchell Trotta, Jed Carpenter, Noah Seward and Adam Greenwood. Noah Ralph and Owen Fenton also helped out earlier in the year.

The team has spent many long home group mornings in the cold and wind practising their flying and working out team member roles. They have become very good drone pilots over the year and have learned some great skills, including team and project management.

The competition flying day was held on 28 September at SA Power Networks’ Angle Park Training Centre. They competed against four other teams, some of whom were in their second year of the competition.

The flying was very challenging with many obstacles to maneuver around and there was electrical interference with the signal between the drone controller and the drone. It was also very windy, making control of the drone quite challenging. Our team managed the challenges well, but didn’t identify all the faulty insulators (neither did some of the other teams).

The last part of the challenge is an Expo day on 25 October, where the team will present their results from the project. The results include the practice during the year and other project and team management work that went on, as well as the results from the flying day.

The team will present all their results to SA Power Networks management and the Stemnation assessors. The final winners will be chosen from the final presentations and will include the presentation, project management as well as the flying day results.

Gordon Lehmann
Assistant Principal (STEM)

PRESENTATION EVENING 2018

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. In the past we have been very pleased with the response to our invitations calling for donations to enable the whole community to be part of our school’s success.

We now have pleasure in inviting you to make a donation towards our evening in 2018. The school recognises students in years 8-11 with awards for Academic Achievement, Improvement, Consistency, All-rounder and School Citizenship. The top student of each year 12 subject is awarded a Subject Prize. Your contribution will go towards a $30 voucher for a selected student(s).

The prize will be awarded at our annual Presentation Evening on Monday, 10 December 2018. 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 the school Reception Office.

So that we can finalise our prize list in good time, we would appreciate it if you could reply before Thursday 8 November 2018.

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

Home Group Netball

During Term 3, we ran a mixed netball competition at lunchtime between home groups within each year level. All home groups entered a team and every team played two games. We thank the staff and student umpires who gave up their lunchtimes so students could play.

Staff umpires were:

Ms Robinson, Ms Callins, Ms Nash and Ms Cocks.

Student umpires were:

Darcie Brown, Abigail Lemar, Ailee Craig and Katlyn Brooks.

Congratulations to the following winning home groups:

The term finished off in the last week of school in the traditional way when two staff teams played year 12 teams. Both staff teams had convincingly wins.

Congratulations, Darcie!

Darcie is always a polite and positive sportswoman and is highly deserving of the Pierre de Coubertin award, which she recently received.

Through her involvement in local, state and national level sport, Darcie Brown has demonstrated a high level of sportsmanship. For example, at a recent AFL 9 aside carnival, the coordinator identified that on top of her high level of skill Darcie has the ability to involve others in games, through positive talk and giving direction to others, whether she is on or off the field. At school Darcie is always encouraging other to participate in our recess and lunchtime ‘activities’. In addition, she regularly umpires for our home group netball and basketball competitions and actively encourages other students to be active during break times. Although Darcie is an elite athlete across sports, she is humble in respect to her own abilities and has become a positive role model for students of all abilities because of her genuine interest and enthusiasm in supporting others. She is an amazing motivator for students of all abilities and can regularly be seen kicking a football or throwing a ball with a diverse range of students. Outside of school Darcie has been recognised as the 2018 Young Citizen of the Year for the Light Council, recognising her outstanding contribution to the community. As a Sports Captain, she motivated and encouraged the junior members of her team to participate in activities for sports and swimming carnivals. As a result of her supportive and encouraging approach a number of students, in particular girls, participated in activities that in the past they have avoided.

Megan Samain
PE teacher

The Future World of Work

On the last day of Term 3, teachers and student support officers participated in a Professional Development Day. The theme was The Future World of Work. We started at an ‘incubator’ – a learning space where groups work together to share ideas that grow into projects - in the Innovation and Collaboration Centre where we were introduced to ideas about how quickly the world of work is changing. We also met our ‘tour guides’ for the day Jess and Wendy Perry.

The staff were divided into two groups and across the day we visited a number of sites:

• AIE where we learned about employment opportunities developing in the games industry, animation, film and virtual and augmented reality. We saw examples of what is happening now and how young Australians are contributing to this developing area as well as predictions about how quickly this area will evolve in future.
• SAHMRI Building Tour – where we learned about developments in medical research, how advanced our research facility and programs are in Adelaide currently and what is being planned in future.
• We stopped for lunch at The Foodprint Experience. This incredible catering facility and social enterprise focuses on social actions (such as Pay it Forward) and reducing food wastage. It serves sustainable and ethical food with a focus on home and locally grown produce and explores how entrepreneurship can impact social innovation – how can we run a business in an ethical manner?
• We visited the Adelaide Smart City Studio where we learned about innovative projects and design currently being prototyped in Adelaide (such as bins that crush rubbish so that it needs to be emptied less often and street lights that are triggered by motion). We learned about the Startup Scene in Adelaide and how Entrepreneurs support each other and network.
• Finally, we visited the ThincLab and learned about the support offered to start up businesses, explored co-working spaces and how they work, considered how such a place could support accelerated growth of small businesses and looked at some of the innovative successes that started from humble ideas.

The purpose of the day was to enable staff could explore opportunities that we can now present and promote to students through curriculum design and learning. It is exciting that so many new careers are on the horizon for our students. The next step is to work together to consider how we are preparing our young people for the rapidly changing world of work they will enter.

Thing-a-Thon

Kym Farley with Amelia Giddings

The bi-annual Thing-a-Thon occurred at Kapunda High School on Friday, 21 September, 2018. The Thing-a-Thon is an SRC (Student Representative Council) organised event that had students raise money for charity and participate in a 10km walk or 18km bike ride. The event is followed by a BBQ and activities on the school grounds.

This year, Kapunda High SRC chose to support Backpacks 4 Kids; a charity with roots in the Barossa Valley. Backpacks 4 Kids provides backpacks for South Australian children who are taken into foster care or leave home unexpectedly. Children are not always given the chance to take possessions before they leave, often in traumatic circumstances, and Backpacks 4 Kids ensures that children some essential new possessions for a new environment.

Students asked family and friends to sponsor them to complete the walk and overall, Kapunda High School students raised a phenomenal $7,375.75 to support this charity. Amelia Giddings, a year 8 student, raised an incredible $639 on her own.

Valued at $50 each, Kapunda High School will be able to donate funds for nearly $150 backpacks to support the community.

Sporting Schools Grant

We were lucky enough to receive $2,500 for the Sporting Schools Funding for Term 3. This money was used to provide the students in Year 9 with a tennis coach for two double lessons as well as providing the school with some new equipment; suitable for beginners in Tennis.

The main aim with the sporting school grant is to provide more opportunities for kids to be active in sport.

We also allocated some money to touch football, enabling Mark Leslie to take some of our ‘sessions’ here at school, as well as providing us with some new equipment.

The students thoroughly enjoyed the tennis coach sessions, particularly the last session with the ball machine.

Thanks to Grant Daniel, the local coach who was able to come and provide these sessions during the day.

Megan Samain

Community Notices

Click here for Schoolies bus poster