15 February 2019

Newsletter Articles

Hawke Wins! Celebrating their win: Lachlan Burman, Corey Wall, Jacob Marsden, Jessica Isgar, Lucy Drewett & Olivia Wuttke

From Our Principal

Swimming Carnival – THREE-PEAT TO HAWKE

After extreme weather impacted on the 2017 and 2018 Kapunda High School Swimming Carnivals, it was great to finally have the ‘climate gods’ smile upon us.

Participation, enthusiasm and team spirit were high and for the third year in a row, Hawke won the house shield with some outstanding individual and team performances.

Novelty events made a welcome return for the first time since 2016 and home classes were very competitive as they participated in the tube relay, kickboard relay and over and under.

I would especially like to acknowledge the outstanding organisation of Mrs Megan Samain and also the support she received from other staff in the lead up to the event – particularly our grounds staff.

KHS staff team

The team has been chosen for the interschool twilight meet at Burra on Monday, February 18 and we look forward to an enthusiastic team performance.

NEW Responsible Behaviour Policy

Last year we reviewed our behaviour policy and time out room processes. We thank a number of parents who contributed to this process by sharing their ideas in telephone interviews and in writing.

The result is a new responsible behaviour policy which:

• Puts at the centre, the Kapunda High School Values of RESPECT, HONESTY, EXCELLENCE AND DIVERSITY. These are the foundations for building positive relationships and promoting responsible behaviour.
• Makes clear our school’s expectations of all students through a RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR CODE

• Outlines the responsibilities of staff and families to promote appropriate and positive conduct and to prevent or minimise non-compliant and aggressive behaviours
• Documents the range of responses to inappropriate behaviour.
• References a range of associated policies that contribute to a safe, support and caring learning environment.

Annual General Meeting of Parents

You are warmly invited to the AGM of parents on Monday, February 25, commencing at 7:30pm in the Kidman Room in the main building.

Apart from the election of Governing Councillors, we also present an Annual Report, which highlights how well our school is performing.

In the report we provide data and information about:

• Student achievement – especially literacy and numeracy and senior school results
• Progress in relation to our school improvement priorities
• Client feedback (parent survey, student engagement and well-being survey, PIVOT student feedback about teaching and learning)

Attending the AGM does not mean that you will be required to join Governing Council. It is simply another opportunity to learn about how the school is ‘travelling’.

Nevertheless, we are certainly keen to hear from parents interested in joining our Governing Council.

We will be having approximately 6 meetings across this year. Meetings are generally one and half to two hours in duration and held on Monday evenings. Last year we held one of our meetings at Roseworthy and it would once again be our intention do the same in 2019.

Parent representatives are not required to have any particular knowledge about how schools are run or any specific expertise. The day-to-day management of the school is the responsibility of the Principal and staff. Governing Councillors, however, offer the perspective of parents on a range of matters relating to strategic directions, policies and budget decisions.

In recent years, our Governing Council has had input into the BYOD policy, SUNSMART policy and Responsible Behaviour Policy. Overseeing the budget, Governing Council approved the $150,000 that was spent on upgrading our wireless network at the beginning of 2018.

If you would like more information about being a Governing Councillor, please do not hesitate to contact one of the following: Andrew Hayward (Chairperson), Sue Coppin (Administration Officer) or Kristen Masters (Principal).

Kristen Masters
Principal

Well & Good

Welcome to week 3 already! Students are well into routines and getting on with the business of learning. Sometimes things do not always go as planned, both at school and at home. As the Wellbeing Leader at school, my role is to support both students and their families in the following ways:

• friendship issues
• family and social issues
• advocating with teachers and students
• supporting restorative practices
• liaising with and providing support to families

Please contact me at school if I can assist either you or your child with any of the issues listed above.

In a new initiative this year, as a way of providing support and information to families, we now have a range of Parenting SA information brochures available from the Reception office. These are on a range of topics and their aim is to provide information to “help parents be their best”.

Some of the topics covered include:

• Young people, alcohol and drugs
• Living with young people
• Young people, body image and food
• Young people and parties
• Young people who are gay, lesbian or bisexual
• Young people, feelings and depression
• Family break up
• Family violence
• What about parents’ rights?
• Cyber safety
• Grief and loss
• Dealing with a crisis
• Children’s mental health

Please feel free to take these if you are in the Reception office or if you are interested in one of the topics, but can’t make it into school, let me know and I will get one to you.

This year, we are also continuing and building on our work around teaching the school community about character strengths. Based on the work of psychologists, they have identified 24 character strengths that describe the positive human qualities that, when actioned contribute to living a ‘good life’ and assisting with a sense of positive wellbeing. These character strengths have been found to be universal across all cultures and present in all of us. They are organised under the headings of six virtues:

Courage – zest, persistence, honesty, bravery
Humanity – kindness, social intelligence, capacity to love and be loved
Justice – teamwork, leadership, fairness
Temperance – prudence, self-control, modesty, forgiveness
Wisdom – creativity, curiosity, perspective, open mindedness, love of learning
Transcendence – spirituality, humour, hope, gratitude, appreciation of beauty and excellence

Each month, we will be having a focus on a different character strength. The focus for February is KINDNESS. Students have been challenged to think about how they can make Kapunda High School and the wider community a kinder place. Some suggestions included:

• Offer to help someone without being asked.
• Smile at other people and notice their response.
• Think about the language used in texts and emails and how it could be 5% kinder.
• Secretly do a random act of kindness. See if you can do one a week.

Each week, there will be different kindness quotes in the Reception office and student hub, like the one below.

February 17 is National Random Act of Kindness Day. See if can change someone’s day, not just on the 17th, but on any day. Kindness can be contagious. Let’s share it with everyone.

Lee-Anne Cummins
Well Being Leader

Swimming Carnival

After two years of modified swimming carnivals, it was nice to finally hold a full version. Waking up to the sound of rain was not a great start, however we managed to get everything set up and ready for students to arrive from 8:30am. The showers didn’t stay long and then by the end of the day, the sunshine had quite a bit of ‘bite’ to it!

It was great to see students getting involved with the timed events this year, lots of nominations and extra entries on the day. As usual, the novelties are always popular and get the students (and teachers) into the water to secure the ‘Champion Home Group’.

The parents and grandparents viewing area was also well populated this year – thanks for your support!

One massive positive was the demonstration of responsible students who only needed a few reminders to sit in the shade, put broad brimmed hats on and also have a t-shirt/rashie on according to our SunSmart Policy.

Our Interschool Swimming team will head to BURRA and then to MARION in weeks 4 and 5. If you have any questions about these events, please send me an email or call the school.

Thanks again, to my wonderful supportive staff, picking up jobs whenever I needed them to. I’ll take a ‘break’ next year!

Megan Samain
Swimming Coordinator
Megan.samain991@schools.sa.edu.au

Overall results

Age Group Winners:

Medal and trophy winners

Home group Novelty event winners

Year 12 SACE Examinations timetable for 2019

Year 12 Student, Parent, Teacher Evening and Term 1 progress check

At the end of week 5, students will receive a Term 1 progress check. A copy will also be emailed home. On Tuesday 12 March, we are offering a year 12 interview evening. This is an opportunity for parents to meet face-to-face with year 12 teachers and student support staff after they have received the first progress check of the year. The progress check is an indication of how students are approaching their subjects and is part of our early intervention process. The evening ‘kicks off’ at 5:15pm with a BBQ where families can meet with teachers informally. This is followed by:

• 5:45pm: Parent panel - Q&A - Survival guide for parents with students in year 12
• 6:15pm: Formal 10 minute interviews - involving students/parent/staff will run from 6:15pm until 8:00pm.

Booking information will be sent home during the week.

Tracy Warner
Assistant Principal
Senior school, SACE, HPE

SunSmart

Hats – available now!

A variety of bucket and broad-brimmed hats are available from our Reception office. Plain navy bucket hats are available through Devon Clothing.

SunSmart at the Pool

2019 Immunisation Program

Health and Immunisation Management Services, in conjunction with the Light Regional Council, will again be conducting the School Immunisation Program, this year.

The schedule will be as follows:

Materials & Services Charges 2019

Thank you to all families who have paid or made contact with our Finance Officer, and submitted their applications for School Card.

The due date for payment of materials and services charges is FRIDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 2019.

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 processes.

Please be aware that if no prior arrangements have been put in place, unpaid monies can be forwarded to the Department 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.

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.

SCHOOL CARD SCHEME

If you think you may be eligible for School Card please go online (see link below) and complete the application. Should you require a hard copy application, please see our Reception office.

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 driver and 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.

Prefect Induction – Save the Date

Our Prefect Induction will be held on Thursday 21 February at 10:40am in the gymnasium. All Welcome.

Community Notices

Youth Parliament