As we approach the end of Semester 1, we reflect on the progress of students made over the first semester of learning. There are a number of enriching programs and initiatives occurring throughout our school such as: Operation Flinders, Zoo Excursions, Netball Competition, Basketball Competition, Civics & Citizenship Excursion and Guest Speaker workshops. Classes are finalising assessments, ahead of semester changeover next week.

We continue to have a strong focus on High Expectations across our school, including teaching & learning, curriculum offerings, House Points to recognise positive contribution and responsible behavioural expectations.

We are committed to excellence.   

School Improvement Plan

Our focus over Terms 1 and 2 have been on literacy development, with classes building on their skills for ‘subject specific vocabulary’ and also sentence structure. This focus will continue throughout the year as we embed literacy writing skills.  

Over the next term, we will shift our focus to include Numeracy skills development. At our recent Student Free Day on Tuesday 13/6, teaching staff undertook professional learning about Number problem solving. This included Unit Planning on how to define number problems across every learning area and explicitly teach number problem solving skills.

Curriculum Offerings

We are undertaking curriculum review and renewal for 2024. This is to expand on the subject and pathway offerings across our school. You may already be aware of a number of programs which have been introduced and expanded including:

• School Agricultural programs and offerings
• Heritage Trades programs
• William Lakes Lifestyle development curriculum connections

Our Curriculum Prospectus for 2024 (formerly Curriculum Handbook) is in development and will be available to students and parents/caregivers in digital format during Term 3. This will provide information around all of the programs we offer, in preparation for Subject Counselling conversations occurring over Term 3.

As part of expanding our Curriculum offerings, our team have been undertaking field-research to identify great practice happening across the state. This has included connections with Urrbrae Agricultural High School (Agriculture Specialist School), Seaton High School (Entrepreneurial Specialist School), the University of Adelaide Roseworthy Campus (STEM & Agricultural Science), the Department for Education Student Pathways team and much more. This is about expanding on the great programs we offer and maximising our student experience.

Assessment Deadlines

Over Terms 1 and 2, we have undertaken significant work on making our Assessment Deadlines procedure clear, consistent, fair and equitable for all students.

This includes Assessment Deadlines sent out to all families in the first week of each term, as well as clear procedures on requesting extensions, if required.

A reminder that Assessment Deadlines for Semester 2, will be communicated with students and families by the end of Week 1 Term 3.

The procedure can be accessed at the link below:

School Mobile Phone Policy

As we complete the second term of our new School Mobile Phone Policy, I’d like to say well done to all of our students and staff and thank families for their support. Overall the new policy is working well for Kapunda High School and facilitating a greater focus on learning.

Our Mobile Phone Policy can be accessed below:

Eringa & 60s Block Re-Design

Work is steadily progressing for the re-design of Eringa and the 60s block.

The clean-up phase has now been completed.

We are in discussions with the Department for Education around restoration plans and designs, which are progressing well. Our vision is to keep true to the significance and heritage of the area and also make the space more accessible for students, staff and visitors.

I look forward to sharing further information when available, in the near future.

David Marino 

Principal

Last Day of Term 2 Friday, 7th July (Week 10)

First Day of Term 3 Monday, 24th July

Recently, our year 7 students had an excursion to Adelaide where they visited the South Australian Museum and Parliament House. Students had a guided tour of Parliament House. The excursion was part of their HASS studies focusing on Civics and Citizenship. 

PAYMENT OF SUBJECT FEES

Reminder to please pay your child/rens subject fees as soon as possible. These fees allow your student access to all materials in these subjects. 

MATERIALS AND SERVICES

The materials and services charges for 2023 are $470.00, less the $100 government rebate = $370.  This is used for the purchase of loan text books, equipment and materials used in the delivery of the curriculum.  A basic stationery issue is supplied (which is GST Free) which includes an ID card and monthly printing and internet allocation. 

Open Girls Knockout Netball  

On Wednesday 14th June the Open girls knockout netball team went to STARPLEX to play against Trinity and St Marks Catholic College for the first round of SSSSA competitions. This year, Kapunda had been moved up into Division 1, which was a real shock. The first game was against Trinity. Trinity had a solid team unit, it was obvious that their team played together on a regular basis on the weekend, or for the school. We went down by 20 goals. I was really impressed with how our KHS girls continued throughout the game and gave it their all. The second game was against St Marks, this was a close game the whole way through, however, it was obvious by the 4th quarter that the KHS girls were exhausted and couldn’t match the ‘fresh legs’ from St Marks. We went down by 17.  

A huge thankyou to Emma Valentine and Bec Hahn who umpired for us throughout the day.  

Well done girls, for the first time playing in Division 1, you played really well.  

Megan Samain 

Coach

9/10 Girls Knockout Netball

The year 9 and 10 girls did an amazing job playing in Division 1 for the first time. Most of the team spent the long weekend playing country champs. Although they were exhausted from the weekend, they still gave it their all against Trinity and St Marks. The girls won the first game against Trinity by around 8 goals! The second game against St Marks was very close, but much like the open girls they could not match their ‘fresh legs’ and the unfortunately went down by one goal.  

Well done to all the girls playing! An amazing effort for playing 8 15-minute quarters with no break!  

Also, a huge thank you and well done to Alyssa Markwick who volunteered her time to umpire the team.  

Brianna Falland

Coach 

The year 9 Japanese class went to Elizabeth Shopping Centre on Thursday 15th June to investigate the influence of Japanese culture on Australian culture. The students found many examples of Japanese culture; including restaurants, clothing items, technology items and religious items. Pokemon, a Japanese pop culture icon, was seen on t shirts and figurines.The influence of Japanese culture on Australian culture has only grown overtime.

Many students took this opportunity to immerse themselves in Japanese culture by sampling Japanese foods, and accessing examples of Japanese technology. The students had an excellent time and represented the values of KHS in the community to a very high standard. I would also like to thank bus driver Wayne Betterman for his services on the day. 

Scott Durand

Japanese Teacher

Throughout Term 2 Year 9 Agriculture has been participating in the ‘Cows Create Careers’ program. Students have had to create a 3D model, Moovie or Powerpoint presentation on their chosen topic, write a scientific report or letter, create a funny photo, and observe and feed two calves for approximately 4 weeks.

Mikaela Baker from TRAC came and spoke to the students about employment opportunities and the journey she took to get where she is today. Mikaela was a wealth of knowledge around calf rearing, the dairy industry, Animal nutrition, and scholarships. 

Karen Bromley

Agriculture Teacher

Connections Assessment – House Points Carnival - Week 6.   

As part of the year 11 Sports Studies Learning and Assessment plan the students have to ‘connect’ with another group of people or students. This year, we decided to run a fun afternoon of activities for our year 7 and year 8 students. The main aim was to build a connection between the younger year levels and the year 11s.  

The year 11s had to come up with a small activity that could run for approximately 10 minutes that was easy to understand and easy to set up. They worked in small groups to come up with these activities. The class also had to come up with a ‘backup plan’ for any inclement weather.  

The year 8s were first on Monday morning L1/2, whilst the weather was not ideal, the classes still managed to get through all of their activities and the year 8s thoroughly enjoyed it. There were lots of students absent due to sickness, however we still managed to get all 9 activities completed with over 80 of our year 8s.  

On Tuesday, the year 7s were lucky enough to have a hot winters day to complete the activities.  

Throughout the 2 sessions run on Monday and Tuesday, the participation rate of all the year 7 & year 8s was extremely high. The atmosphere on the oval was fantastic, helped along by some music played throughout the session.  

We encouraged the year 11s to seek out some year 7 & 8 students to continue to build the connection between the school, as well as talking to the 7 & 8 students about how to utilise the year 11s as support people in the yard.  

On both occasions I was privileged to see the year 11s and the year 7/8s working together, problem solving, creative thinking when a game wasn’t working due to low numbers and also the sense of team.  

 - A huge congratulations to the Year 11 Sports Studies classes, this was a whole terms work and you all did a fantastic job. To the year 7 & 8s, we hope you enjoyed the day.  

- Congratulations to Kidman who took out the win on both occasions.  

THANKYOU, to the year 7 & 8 teacher who allowed us to ‘steal’ your classes for 1 double in Week 6!  

Megan Samain & Shani Robinson 

Sports Studies Teachers