Week 5 of Term 2 already; what a rollercoaster ride of a year we have had so far!  We have certainly seen a large amount of change in the last three or four months which will have impacted on us all in different ways.  For some, change is exciting and offers different opportunities, for others it is just accepted as is and for others still, it can be quite unsettling and the cause of great anxiety.  When dealing with change, ReachOut.com offers the following tips:

1. Think things through and ask, ‘What’s the worst that can happen?’

We're often scared of change because we’re afraid of the unknown. A good way to deal with this is to think things through carefully, imagining all of the possible outcomes, and then decide what would be your best- and worst-case scenarios. Write them down, if it helps.

2. Ask yourself how much you can control

When a big change occurs, it’s important to figure out how much control over the situation you really have. Understanding your role and how much you can change can help you put things in perspective.

3. Accept and reframe

If the unwanted change is beyond your control, try taking a reflective approach. Accepting that there are things beyond your control, and choosing to be comfortable with that fact, is likely to bring greater peace of mind than fighting an unwinnable war. View change as an opportunity to learn and grow, rather than as a setback, even if you have to fake it ‘til you make it!

4. Celebrate the positives

Even though it can be a tough ask, focusing on the positives can really help you manage change. While the positive aspects of a situation might not be obvious to begin with, it’s worth seeking them out – no matter how small they might be.

5. Take action

If the unwanted change is within your control, take an active approach to dealing with it. Try some problem-solving techniques, or set some goals to proactively address any challenges. Focusing on the problem at hand, developing a plan of action, and asking for advice are useful active strategies.

6. Manage your stress

Improving your ability to handle stress will go a long way to helping you deal with change. Try practising mindfulness or meditation, or engaging in other relaxation techniques like listening to music, going for a walk or reading.

7. Seek support

It’s perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed if the change you’re facing is really big, or there’s too much change happening all at once. This is when it might be best to seek support. Consider asking friends or family for help or emotional support or seeing a professional if needed.

Virtual Open Night

Normally at this time of the year we have an Open Night where we invite our future Year 8 students and their families, as well as other interested community members, to join us at the school to tour our facilities, hear from staff and students and look at various learning areas in action.  Unfortunately, due to the current restrictions in place due to COVID-19, we have been unable to hold this event in its traditional manner this year.  Fortunately, we have some very creative staff members of staff such as Suri Umapathysivam, who worked tirelessly to put together a virtual open night, which provides an opportunity for you to meet a small number of our staff members and see some of our students in action in various learning areas around the school.  Click on this link https://youtu.be/fuasoThmkFM to access the video and it can also accessed via our website or Facebook page.

We expect Year 7 students coming to BHS next year to be able to undertake transition days as per normal in Term 4 where they will have an opportunity to not only see our facilities but to also experience life in high school before they start their secondary education.

Student Free Days and School Closure Day

Whilst we have had a disrupted start to the 2020 school year with COVID-19 leading to parents choosing to keep their children home, a move to online learning and back to face-to-face teaching; student free days to allow staff time together to work on our school improvement priorities of literacy and numeracy as well as undertake professional development, will still occur.  Governing Council have approved a number of Student Free Days for 2020 and we ask that you put the following dates in your diary:

Term 2 Week 6 Friday 5^th June – Site Improvement Plan

Term 3 Week 1 Monday 20^th July – Trauma Informed Practice Training Day 1 (Partnership day)

Term 3 Week 5 Tuesday 18^th August – Literacy training combined with Riverton and District HS

Term 4 Week 6 Friday 20^th November – Trauma Informed Practice Training Day 2

Governing Council have also approved a School Closure Day on Monday 7^th September (Term 3, Week 8), which was aligned to the Royal Adelaide Show.  Given the Show has now been cancelled for this year, we await confirmation from the Department for Education as to whether this date will go ahead or not.  We will advise parents as soon as we know the outcome.

School Uniform

Finally, a reminder about school uniform.  As the cooler weather has arrived, some of the uniform standards in the yard have slipped.  Students are expected to wear a navy or white school polo top, navy bomber or spray jacket, navy rugby top or plain navy hoodie, all of which are available for purchase from TADS in Balaklava.  Shorts and trousers are to be navy or grey and trackpants are to be navy with no stripes or large logos.  Families are reminded that black pants and tops are not part of our uniform and leggings, jeggings and jeans are also not acceptable for school.  If meeting the uniform expectations is a concern for families, please contact a member of the leadership team to discuss this.

As always, I am available to speak to parents about any issues or concerns or to discuss any aspect of their child’s learning.  I can be contacted at the school via Daymap, email Sonia.Pringle235@schools.sa.edu.au or phone 8862 0600 where you can speak to me directly or make a time to come and see me.

Sonia Pringle

Principal