Celebrating Success and Achievement

BHS has once again been a hub of activity over the past few weeks, with students and staff involved in a wide range of learning opportunities, events, and achievements. It’s important to pause and celebrate the incredible efforts and successes across our school community.

Royal Adelaide Show Team

Congratulations to Holly Crighton, Sally Cowan and our Show Team students on an outstanding performance at the Adelaide Show! Our students showed great enthusiasm and professionalism in managing the animals and proudly representing BHS. A huge thank you also goes to those who make this possible — from donating animals and feed, to providing transport, and the many supporters who help create these rich learning opportunities.

Love, Crime and Wine Author Night

Well done to Tanya Niblett and the Library team for hosting such a successful evening. With people travelling from all over the state to attend, the Love, Crime and Wine Author Night was a true community celebration. The positive feedback and smiling faces were a testament to a job well done — an outstanding event for our Community Library!

From the Vineyard to the Plains

Congratulations to Sarah Wensley and the Music Team for a fantastic performance at the Town Hall. From the Vineyard to the Plains was a wonderful showcase of talent and collaboration, highlighting the strength of partnership between our two public education schools.

Celebrating Student Achievement

A special congratulations to Ruby Lemon, recipient of a Merit Award for the Eden Prize! Thank you also to Connor Edwards for the guidance and encouragement you provided in supporting Ruby to showcase her work.

Student Learning and Growth

• Student-Led Conferences: Thank you to Donna Carpenter for your organisation, and to families for engaging in these valuable conversations that place students at the centre of their learning journey.
• Subject Counselling: A big thank you to Carena Brookes, Luke Clarke, and their team for supporting our young people in exploring future directions. It was inspiring to hear the wide range of pathways our students are considering.

What’s Coming Up in Weeks 9 & 10 

As we move towards the end of Term 3, there are still plenty of exciting opportunities for our students to shine:

Week 9

• Continuation of PAT testing
• Public Speaking Competition
• Senior Music student performances
• WRC VET Awards

Week 10

• Year 10 students graduate from Youth Opportunities
• Students attend the Aboriginal STEM Conference
• Year 9 students head off on camp to build resilience
• Year 10 students participate in RAA Street Smart
• Our Term 3 concludes with the always-popular Colour Run! 

Congratulations again to everyone involved in these achievements — we are so proud of the way our students and staff continue to learn, grow, and represent BHS with pride.

2026 Confirmation of Enrolment

Families would have received the following email from the school regarding confirmation of enrolment for 2026. If you haven’t already, we ask that families complete this in the coming days to allow us to continue with our planning for 2026.

Dear Parents/Carers,

Preparation for the 2026 school year is underway and we are beginning to explore possible class structures for next year. It is essential to have accurate student numbers to determine the number of classes, their configurations, and teacher allocations. If you know that your child(ren) are likely to transfer from our school, please inform us as soon as possible to assist in our planning. 

• My child (ren) will be attending BHS in 2026
• I am unsure at this stage – please follow up with our family in Term 4
• My child (ren) will not be attending BHS in 2026 

As part of the 2026 class allocation and structure process, we invite parents/carers to submit any concerns or requests in writing that you believe should be considered and may impact your child(ren)'s educational outcomes. Please note that we are unable to accommodate requests for specific class teachers, and in some cases, we may not be able to meet all requests.

Staffing Update

Congratulations to both Caitlin Hanson and Nicole Matthews who have been made permanent to Balaklava High School. This is fantastic recognition to their quality practice and I’m thrilled to have them as part of our team going into the future.

Round 1 of Ongoing teacher vacancies have been finalized for 2026. I’m thrilled to welcome the following staff members to our team from the start of 2026

• Lauren Smith – Agriculture/Maths/Science
• Angela Winter – Home Economics/HASS

ThankED

Every day, those working in public education help shape the futures of South Australia’s children and young people.

ThankED gives you the chance to celebrate and thank Department for Education employees who make a difference in many ways, every day.

ThankED – Why our students are saying thanks - YouTube

Submit a ThankED message

We Need Your Help - Balaklava Show

Balaklava High School is proud to be supporting our local community and fundraising for our school by helping supervise the gates and running a stall at this year's Balaklava Show.

We still have a few gaps in our roster and would love your help! 

If you are able to spare some time on the day contact the school on 88620600 or email kevin.kelly797@schools.sa.edu.au to put your name down.

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 weekend.

Regards

Derek Friedrichs

Principal BHS

Year 7 – Stinky Statistics ?

Our Year 7s have been putting their best foot forward… quite literally! In our “Stinky Feet” statistics task, students measured their own feet (yes, socks were involved), then calculated the mean, median and mode.

The results were toe-tally interesting, with some surprising outliers in shoe sizes. Students quickly discovered that the “average” foot in our class doesn’t necessarily fit anyone perfectly, but that’s the beauty of statistics, it’s all about finding the bigger picture. 

Turns out maths really does keep us on our toes! ?

Year 9 – Popping into Measurement ?

Meanwhile, our Year 9s have been tackling a tasty challenge, designing the most efficient popcorn bucket. Using their measurement skills, they calculated surface area and volume to figure out which design gives you the most pop for your buck(et).

From tall cylinders to wide cones, students discovered that bigger isn’t always better, it’s about maximising space while minimising materials. You could say they’re really thinking outside the box… or should we say, outside the bucket! 

So next time you’re at the movies, thank a Year 9 mathematician for making sure your popcorn is served with maximum efficiency. Their designs prove that when it comes to popcorn, the volume speaks for itself! ?

Amber Buick

Exploring Innovation at Flinders University Tonsley

On August 26, Year 11 students Nate and Karl, Year 12 student Paul and Miss Schubert, had the opportunity to visit the Flinders University campus at Tonsley, home of the Tonsley Innovation District. This district is a hub for advanced manufacturing, technology and collaboration, bringing together researchers, educators and industry to drive innovation in South Australia.

The group was welcomed by Andrew Marshall, Deputy Program Manager of the Digital Diploma, who led them on a tour of the cutting-edge facilities. Highlights included viewing the solar car built and raced by Flinders students, exploring the development of an automated boat project and enjoying a sneak preview of the upcoming Technological College.

The students also had the chance to work hands-on with Omar Shakar, Lecturer in Engineering and Digital Technologies, who guided them in coding a robotic arm to move a block, an exciting glimpse into the practical applications of programming and engineering.

The visit gave the students an inspiring look at the exciting opportunities in engineering, technology and innovation right here in South Australia.

Kelly Schubert

Teachers are finalising grades so that reports are ready to publish at the end of term. Grade books for mid-term progress reports closed last week. This will be the final report for our Year 12s, with their official SACE results released later in the year. For all other year levels, students will receive another report at the end of Semester 2 with their final grades.

Reports will be published to students and parents on the last day of term, Friday 26 September 2025.

For Students: Reports will appear in Daymap under your Portfolio → Reports tab as a downloadable PDF. You’ll receive a Daymap message once your report is available.

For Parents: Reports will be available through the Daymap Connect Parent Portal under each student’s profile in the Reports tab.

Accessing the Parent Portal

• Parents can log in to the portal via https://balakhs.daymap.net/daymapconnect, through the Balaklava High School website, or the Daymap mobile app.
• Each parent has a unique login and password for secure access.
• If your account is new or inactive, click “Forgot Password” on the login page.
• Enter the email address you provided to the school along with your child’s student ID code (found under the barcode on their Student ID Card, or in their Daymap portal under “My Details”).
• A reset email will be sent with your username and a link to create a new password.

If you need further help or encounter an error, please contact the school. 

Amber Buick

Mathematics, Science and ICT Coordinator 

Congratulations to Our Spelling Bee Superstars! 

We are so proud to announce that 10 of our talented Year 7 and 8 students qualified for the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee State/Territory Finals! 

Out of thousands of competitors across the country, only 200 students in each category progress and we are thrilled that so many of our students made it through to the next round. The difference between qualifying often comes down to just thousandths of a second! 

A huge congratulations to:
Zander S.
Jordan V.
Madeline F.
Noah R.
Grace G.
Chelsea S.
Francis P.
Ella H.
Wayne U.
Hayley H.

Well done to all students who participated in the School Round, your hard work, courage and spelling skills are something to be proud of!

Ashleigh Leonello

Caitlyn Toholke flew to Perth to compete in the indoor Cricket Australia Nationals from the 5th to the 12th July as part of the South Australian Squad. Caitlyns U14s team broke a three year drought and managed to get three wins. Two during the week and then the placement final against WA, to finish fourth overall. The girls had a great week, forging new friendships with the WA and Qld teams. Caitlyn was also named in the Cricket Australia Indoor All Stars Team. Well done Caitlyn!

Now the hard work starts for Under 16s selection next year in Melbourne.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) continues to provide exciting opportunities for students at Balaklava High School, with many of our programs well underway this year and new options already opening for 2026.

Progress in Construction and Engineering

This year, our Certificate II in Construction Pathways students are on track to complete their qualification by the end of Term 3, while our Certificate II in Engineering Pathways students will finalise their studies in Term 4. These programs, delivered on-site through TAFE SA, give students hands-on trade skills and a direct connection to industry.

Agriculture Training Workshops at BHS

Balaklava High School has also proudly hosted a range of specialist agriculture workshops delivered by Regional Skills Training (RST). Students from across the region joined our own Certificate III Agriculture and Rural Operations students for practical training in areas such as crop agronomy, machinery maintenance, chainsaw accreditation, chemical accreditation, and working at heights and in confined spaces.

Mid North Career Connect

Our Year 10 students also had the chance to explore their future pathways at the Mid North Career Connect event earlier this term. Held at Clare High School, the event gave students access to industry experts, training providers, and employers across a wide range of industries. They were able to engage in interactive industry immersion activities and gather valuable information to guide their future subject and pathway decisions.

Check out the link for a short video of the days events:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uYi-Jqq-bJ4JCCtLKuisGMC-vBiCdWEz/view?usp=sharing

2026 VET Opportunities

Looking ahead, we are excited to launch our 2026 VET offerings. Students currently in Years 10 and 11 are encouraged to consider a VET qualification as part of their senior school program. A VET qualification provides real-world industry skills, SACE credits, and can lead directly into employment, apprenticeships, traineeships, or further study, including university.

Opportunities for 2026 include:

• Electrotechnology (electrician and engineering pathways)
• Engineering (metal fabrication and engineering pathways)
• Health Services Assistance (health and community services pathways)
• Early Childhood Education (childcare and teaching pathways)
• Construction (building, carpentry, joinery, plumbing, civil pathways)
• Resources and Infrastructure (landscaping, construction, demolition, mining pathways)
• Information and Communication Technology (cyber security, Defence, IT pathways)

Students and families who are interested in these opportunities are encouraged to get in touch as soon as possible, as places are limited and enrolments are already underway.

Year 8 Art:
Our Year 8 Visual Arts students have just completed their personalised lino print stamps, learning how to design, carve and refine their images through test prints. This task developed problem-solving skills and attention to detail, while working with specialist tools and equipment. For the final weeks of term, students are moving into the world of pottery, where they will explore clay techniques to create a Nature-Inspired Coil pot… an exciting shift from 2D to 3D art!

Year 10 Visual Art and Design:

Miss Dewhurst’s Year 10 Art and Design students are nearing the completion of their ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ folios and practical artworks. This task has challenged students to research, analyse symbolism and human behaviour and experiment with diverse mediums while developing their own interpretations of the theme. The combination of folio documentation and practical outcomes is building the critical and creative skills that will prepare them for the expectations of SACE in senior years.

Year 11/12 Visual and Creative Arts:

Our senior art students are currently immersed in their SACE assessments, as Year 11s complete their Visual Studies and Year 12s are finalising folios and major practicals. These tasks demand research, critical analysis, thoughtful reflection and above all, creative dedication. Students are learning to refine their ideas into resolved artworks while developing resilience, resourcefulness and advanced creative thinking… essential skills for success in their final years and beyond.

The annual BHS Art Exhibition held at the Balaklava Courthouse Gallery is fast approaching, with official advertisements to follow soon! Students can submit their artworks from school or pieces created at home by handing them to Miss Dewhurst or Mr Strudwicke by Week 10. Artworks can also be requested to feature in the upcoming Balaklava Show – a wonderful chance to celebrate and share student creativity with our community.

Lisa Dewhurst

Bookweek - Book an Adventure

It was great to see some of our students and teachers dressing up for Book Week.

Congratulations to the following best dressed students:

Junior School Winners

Lawson Bowden

Angus Berry

Middle School

Alice Peek

Senior School

Ashlee Gross

As part of our celebrations for Book Week 2025, Year 9 students attended a workshop on Monday 18th August, titled “Through Adversity”. Presented by Michael Ball — an Australian author with a past as intriguing as his books with 11 years experience as a military intelligence analyst and his current role with Disaster Relief Australia. The 45-minute interactive session supported our school’s strong focus on developing resilient, capable learners and taught students all about goal setting.

Love, Crime & Wine

Balaklava Community Library held their annual Love, Crime & Wine Author Panel on August 20th with authors Fleur McDonald, JP Pomare, Michael Thompson and Alina Bellchambers. The event was well attended and enjoyed by a large crowd and the authors. 

Spring has sprung just in time for the school holidays which are fast approaching. These holidays Balaklava Community Library have lots happening. There will be every day activities from Tuesday 30th September and a range of spotlight activities throughout the holidays. Please click the links below to book into them. Full details on the posters attached.

Please make the bookings yourself. Ask friends and family to do their own separate bookings so we have accurate records.

Let's Go Fly a Kite - FREE

https://www.trybooking.com/DFJSE

A Chime in Time - FREE

https://www.trybooking.com/DFJUK

Crowning Around - $5

https://www.trybooking.com/DFJUV

Puzzling Dreams - FREE

https://www.trybooking.com/DFJVH

Flexible working arrangements with posiitons available at:

• Clare
• Balaklava
• Kapunda
• Barossa Valley

Please call 8562 1999 for further information