Balaklava High School
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14 Gwy Terrace
Balaklava SA 5461
Subscribe: https://www.balakhs.sa.edu.au/subscribe

Email: dl.0769.info@schools.sa.edu.au
Phone: 08 8862 0600
Fax: 08 8862 0650

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

STAFFING

Josh LaGrutta has taken Long Service Leave for the remainder of 2025 to concentrate on his university studies. Connor Edwards has been appointed to an English/HASS position for the remainder of the year and we look forward to having Connor on board.

Nicole Bowden has won a permanent SSO position at another site, with her last day at the end of Week 7. We will have an SSO to replace Nicole at the start of Term 3.

Congratulations to Hudson Noack who has won a leadership role at Gawler and District College for the rest of 2025 (starting Term 3). He'll be stepping into the B2 Tailored Learning Leader position. 

While we will miss having Hudson around for the rest of the year, this is a fantastic recognition of his active work in the leadership space and participation in the Aspiring Leaders program. We currently have a HPE/Science position advertised with a start date for the beginning of Term 3.

STUDENT FREE DAYS

On Monday 23rd June, staff ventured to sites across the state to observe best practice in a focus around of their choosing. This was a great way to collaborate with colleagues from other schools and bring back ideas to implement into our school.

Our next Student Free Day is on Friday 25th July. This day will be dedicated to cultural responsiveness, Aboriginal history, and Ngadjuri culture.

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YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES

The Youth Opportunities information sessions have now taken place with over 40 students registering interest and interviewing for the program. Over the past few days, 23 students have been offered a place in the program for Term 3. Youth Opportunities will take place on a Monday at the Balaklava Bowls Club.

SEVEN POINT PORK CLOSURE

We are saddened to hear the announcement from JBS that it will stop operating the Seven Point Pork processing facility at Pork Wakefield in January 2026.  270 jobs are set to be affected with an estimated 160 belonging to people who live within our council area.

We know that this will have an impact on Balaklava High School families with many employed by JBS. We encourage families to reach out to us for a conversation and support as required. 

Workers, suppliers and concerned community members affected by the impending closure of Seven Point Pork at Port Wakefield are encouraged to attend a community forum on July 2 to both access support services and map out their options to remain in the region. 

While the forum starts at 6pm and wraps up at 8pm, it will be open for people to attend and provide their feedback, ask questions or connect with services at any point throughout the evening.

Forum purpose:

  • Provide information on the Seven Point Pork closure process
  • Outline available support for employees and affected families
  • Allow the community to raise concerns and ask questions
  • Facilitate collaboration between local leaders, service providers, and government representatives
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PUBLIC EDUCATION AWARDS

The Public Education Awards were established in 2011, to recognise the vital role our people play in helping children and young people to learn and thrive The awards offer a chance for everyone to celebrate our achievements, be proud of our work and where we are heading together.

All employees are encouraged to help recognise great practice and success in public education at your site so we can celebrate, learn and grow together. Nominate an outstanding team, colleague or yourself for an award. This year you can also nominate community members, individuals or teams, who have made a significant contribution to the site community for the Community Impact Award.

Winners and finalists receive prizes to undertake professional learning, community activities or invest in resources.

Entering the Public Education Awards

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.

Enjoy the last week of school and Term 2 holidays.

Regards

Derek Friedrichs

Principal BHS