In true Term 1 fashion, the 2025 school year has kicked off with a bang with a multitude of events and experiences. Already we have packed in Swimming Carnival, Lower North Swimming, excursions, Elevate sessions, election of student leaders, school photos, Year 7 Meet and Greet and our Governing Council AGM. Congratulations to Caitlin Hanson and her team for a successful and enjoyable Swimming Carnival. We scored an absolute cracker of a day and it was great to watch our students compete respectfully and with determination. Well done to our House Captains who have also put in a mountain of work to lead their respective houses with PRIDE. Our students continued to showcase these attributes at the Lower North Swimming Carnival on Monday with another stellar performance to finish second overall.

Over the next month the calendar is full with Year 12 camp, Athletics Carnival, NAPLAN, Student Led Conferences, Student Led Induction Ceremony, Student Leader Camp and Year 7 and 10 school immunisations. School life is a busy place! 

Congratulations to all students who have been elected to represent their peers on the 2025 BHS Student Council. It is a great honour to be the voice of your peers with student agency a powerful tool in shaping a school environment. I look forward to our student leaders being inducted on Tuesday 25^th February at our Student Leaders Induction Ceremony at 12:00pm in the Gym.

Governing Council AGM

On Tuesday night we held our annual Governing Council AGM for 2025. I would like to thank the parents who attended this meeting, especially those who have nominated for, or have continued on Governing Council. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank our outgoing Governing Council members who have made significant contributions to Balaklava High School. Thank you to Steve Williams who has be an active member on Governing Council for many years and most recently served as Chairperson.

The following people have accepted roles on this year’s Governing Council:

I thank the new Governing Council for taking this important opportunity to be more involved in your child’s education and for supporting the school community. Due to interest in joining our Governing Council, we are also looking at the opportunity to co-opt more people onto our GC if our constitution allows. I look forward to a productive year and what we can achieve together.

Staffing

Unfortunately, we have had our first staffing change of the year with Lloyd Cook leaving BHS at the end of Week 5. We are pleased to welcome Mary Fisher to BHS to take over Mr Cook’s classes which include

• Year 10C Home Group and Empower
• Year 9A English
• Year 10B English
• Year 11 Essential English
• Year 12 Modern History

Mary has spent the last 26-year teaching HASS and English at Modbury High School and is the younger sister of Sally Cowan. There are certainly a few years of educational experience between the two!

We wish Mr Cook all the best in the future!

Year 7 Camp – Port Vincent

This year we have moved Year 7 camp from Term 4 (November) to Week 2, Term 2 so we can access the Department’s cost of living support for country students. This financial support will help Year 7 families who are eligible for school card by contributing $250 to a camp which is to be held in Term 1 or 2. For BHS this will support approximately 24 families which is fantastic. This is a pilot program for 2025, so hopefully it is something that will continue into the future.

Agriculture Committee

BHS extends an invitation to parents and community members to join our Agriculture Committee, either through active involvement in running our AG Learning Centre, contributions to our educational programs or simply through donation of resources or services.

Agriculture is not just a subject in our curriculum; it's a vital component of our rural community's identity and future. Your expertise, insights and support will help us create a dynamic agricultural program that equips our students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in the ever-evolving agricultural landscape. 

By joining this committee or being involved in some way with our program, you have the opportunity to play an active role in shaping the agricultural education and experiences of our students and help prepare them for diverse career paths in a crucial industry.

Our first Agriculture Committee meeting with be held of Wednesday 26^th March at 3:30pm. Please contact me on 88620600 or derek.friedrichs447@schools.sa.edu.au if you wish to be involved.

Student Induction Ceremony

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.”  John C Maxwell

Student leadership plays a pivotal role in shaping the culture and environment of schools. At Balaklava High School, the Student Council serves as a key pillar to a successful and vibrant school community that promotes opportunity for growth, collaboration, positive change and empowerment by representing the voice of the student body. Being chosen to serve on the Student Council is an honour and demonstrates dedication and commitment to BHS.

Through initiatives such as organising and running events, advocating for student concerns and fostering a sense of community, the Student Council symbolises the spirit of leadership and service. As Balaklava High School continues to nurture student leaders, it reinforces its commitment to empowering the next generation of changemakers.

We look forward to seeing parents join us on Tuesday 25th February at 12:00pm in the BHS Gym.

This year, parents of students who have been selected to represent Balaklava High School have been invited to celebrate this achievement with their child at a light luncheon after the Student Induction Ceremony. If you would like to join your child at this event, please RSVP for catering purposes by calling the front office on 8862 0600.

Site Learning Plan

As part of the Department for Education’s new Public Education Strategy, BHS spent a significant amount of time in 2024 exploring the Learning as Improvement Cycle of Enquiry to better understand our local context, where we are as a school and where we want to get to. From this work, we have developed a site learning goal which focuses on the development of the concept of community within our site and growth in resilience and resourcefulness of our students. This will be our focus at BHS for the next 18 months. 

Balaklava High School’s Learning Improvement Goal

“As a community, we will improve outcomes for every student at BHS by developing resilient and resourceful students.”

What does this look like for Balaklava High School?

Community is a powerful tool for a country high school like Balaklava as it fosters a supportive and collaborative environment that enhances educational outcomes. By engaging local families, businesses and organisations and providing opportunities for students out in the community, BHS can create a network of resources and diverse experiences for students. This connection not only enriches our students' learning but also strengthens the school's role as a central hub in the community. Additionally, community involvement can boost school morale, encourage cultural exchange and promote a sense of belonging and PRIDE among students and staff. Furthermore, community will be promoted at BHS through:

• Development of a Parents and Friends Committee
• Improved communication through platforms
• Development of opportunities for students to volunteer in the community
• Increased opportunities for community to engage with BHS 

Developing resilience is crucial for high school students as it equips them with the ability to navigate challenges and setbacks effectively. Resilience fosters emotional strength, enabling students to cope with academic pressures, social dynamics, and personal issues. By building resilience, students learn to adapt to change, manage stress and maintain a positive outlook, which are essential skills for both their current educational environment and future endeavours. This foundation not only enhances their overall well-being but also prepares them to face life's uncertainties with confidence and perseverance. The focus of resilience will be through:

• Development of our students’ ability reflect on and improve their learning
• Incorporating resilience into our Reflection of Learning
• Promoting positive learning environments where students are willing to take risks no matter the outcome

Developing resourcefulness empowers students to find creative solutions and adapt to various challenges. Resourcefulness encourages independent thinking, enabling students to make the most of available resources and seek out new opportunities for learning and growth. This skill fosters problem-solving abilities and innovation, which are essential in both academic and real-world settings. By cultivating resourcefulness, students become more self-reliant and confident, better prepared to tackle complex situations and succeed in their future personal and professional lives. Resourcefulness will be highlighted through the lens of:

• Empowering students to use a range of strategies when they don’t know what to do
• Developing a suite of common BHS curriculum resources to make learning more accessible.
• Creating opportunities that makes learning more relevant to our students’ lives.

We look forward to bringing this site learning plan to life and our core focus over the next 6 terms.

Pupil Free Days and School Closure Day

Governing Council has approved the following days for 2025. Please be aware that there are 2 more Student Free Days that will be approved for later this year.

Student Free Day – Monday 28^th April (Week1, Term 2)

Student Free Day – Monday 23^rd June (Week 9, Term 2)

School Closure Day – Monday 1^st September (Week 7, Term 3)

Enjoy your weekend and please feel free to contact me at the school if you would like to discuss any aspect of your child’s learning.  I can be contacted via DayMap or email derek.friedrichs447@schools.sa.edu.au or you can phone the school on 8862 0600 and ask to speak with me directly. Alternatively, I would be happy to discuss your needs in person – please pre-arrange this with the Front Office Team so that I can ensure I am available when you arrive.

Regards

Derek Friedrichs

Principal

Balaklava High School