THANK YOU AND FAREWELL

It has been an honour and privilege to serve as Principal of Kapunda High School for the last twelve years. It has been a labour of love and I am very proud of the improvements that we have collectively achieved – especially in raising SACE achievement.

Bringing about sustained improvements does not happen by chance nor as the result of the endeavours of one person and I have been very blessed to have worked alongside some outstanding teachers, leaders and support staff during my time here. I thank them for their professionalism, commitment, vision, inspiration, friendship and good humour. I have overwhelmingly felt supported by the school community – in both good and tough times – and especially acknowledge the contribution of the Governing Council and the myriad of volunteers to our school. I have particularly enjoyed my association with the Kapunda High School Centenary Foundation whose work in supporting our students as they transition from school is outstanding. And our students… it has been a pleasure to have been part of their journey. Seeing them arrive as 12 or 13 year olds and leaving as young adults ready to make their mark on the world is very rewarding. Given my longevity at Kapunda High School, it has also been gratifying to see what so many have achieved after completing secondary school.

As I have said to many people over the past month or so, I don’t really want to leave Kapunda High School. I love this school and am thankful for the opportunities it has offered me. However, I’ve reached the conclusion that it is time – time for me to take on a new challenge and time for Kapunda High School to have a new leader.

SENIOR PRESENTATION EVENING

Presentation Evening was somewhat different this year as has been most things!

Rather than an 8-12 evening, we focussed just on our Year 11 and 12, students, which permitted each student to bring along more guests than otherwise would have been the case if we’d maintained the usual format.  Considerable work was done behind the scenes to ensure that our event was COVID safe with distances between groups of chairs carefully measured out in the days leading up to the event.

The award winners were just a fraction of the many Kapunda High School students who have been dedicated and committed to their studies this year and I congratulate all students on their perseverance and endeavour in a particular difficult year.

For our departing Year 12 students we wish them well as they await their SACE results.  As a cohort they have been a friendly and positive group of young people who are now ready for the next stage of their lives.

There were many important messages from our special guest, David Giles, who is now Co-owner of the Injury Hub in Willaston.  The tradition of bringing back a former student to speak at Presentation Evening is a great one.

Thank you to members of the Presentation Evening organising team – Tab Mackenzie, Ann Richardson, Carolyn Thorne, Lee-Anne Cummins, Tracy Warner and Lara Shaw.  It was again a pleasure working with such a ‘can-do’ group of people. 

I was once again impressed with the students who compered the evening (Kayla Malkin, Will Gambling, Connon Shepherd, Kayla Hipkiss, Piper Aplin and Freya Pollard) and the members of the SRC who acted as ushers.

Thank you also to:

• Year 9 student, Daniel Weichert for managing the sound

• Steve O’Donnell and Mel Coulter for logistics

• Jack Mickan for managing the live stream to extended family.

Principal, Kristen Masters with Caltex All Rounder award recipient and Head Prefect, Sean Dempsey and Year 11 Barker Shield award recipient, Ailee Craig