As we approach the final weeks of the 2023 school year, students have been engaging in enriching learning experiences over the past two weeks. Some of the enriching activities students have undertaken include:

• Remembrance Day commemoration service.
• Year 10 Geography Excursion
• Year 11 Golf Excursion.
• Whole School Assembly.
• Barossa Band Workshop.
• Final Year 12 Exams completed.
• Final official week for Year 11 students.

Curriculum

Congratulations to Year 12s, who have officially finished their schooling.

Also an acknowledgement of Year 11s, who finish their studies this week and have their final ‘Year 12 taster day’ on Monday 27th November.

Year 7s are looking forward to their upcoming camp from Monday 27th November and we wish them a great trip. 

We look forward to celebrating Year 12’s successes and farewelling them at our upcoming Presentation evening on Monday 11th December.

Student Free Day Monday 4th December

A reminder that we have a scheduled Student Free Day on Monday 4th December.

This is for staff professional development, including review of our School Improvement Plan and also planning for 2024.

School Building Works

From Tuesday 5th December work will commence for our new staff car park, located at the Hawke Street Campus. This will make the West Tce / High St entrance and child pick up/drop off safer, in preparation for 2024. We will provide further information to the community around this early in 2024.

Governing Council Meeting Tuesday 5th December

Our final Governing Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday evening 5th December. I would like to personally thank our Governing Council team and Chairperson Ms Sue Woods, for all of the hard work over the 2023 school year. Working together, the group continues to achieve amazing things in the development and advancement of our school. I look forward to our continuing work, project and vision to make our school an incredible place for our students.

David Marino

Principal

Pupil Free Day Monday, 4th December (Week 8)

Devon Uniform Try On Afternoon Monday, 4th December (Week 8)

Last Day of Term 4 Friday, 15th December (Week 9)

On Saturday 11th November, year 11 SRC students Freya, Lachlan and Sam attended the Kapunda Remembrance Day service. They laid a wreath on behalf of KHS.

On Monday 13th November, a Remembrance Day Service was held at KHS. Students Freya, Caitlin and Teisha spoke of the significance of the day and reflected on the sacrifices of those who fought for our country. 

On Friday November 17th, the annual Barossa Valley Combined Primary Schools Concert Band Workshop took place.  At the Nuriootpa Soldier’s Memorial Hall, the Nuriootpa and Kapunda High School music students joined forces to mentor primary school instrumental music students from Nuriootpa, Tanunda, Kapunda and Angaston Primary schools.

The students, ranging from year 5 to year 12, spent the morning preparing repertoire such as Funky Town, La Bamba, Smoke on the Water and Spiderman, for a concert. This super band of approximately 100 students performed 10 songs to an audience of around 200 people.

The annual concert was organised and compered by DfE Instrumental Music Woodwind specialist Sonia Samain. A team of Instrumental Music teachers, including Kapunda High School instrumental teachers Jacob Staehr (brass/woodwind) and Megan Fishers (vocal), as well as classroom music teachers from KHS (Carolyn Thorne), NHS and Tanunda Primary School worked with the students.

Through this performance opportunity, students gained the skills to perform in a much larger ensemble, grow their confidence on their instrument as well as meet new like- minded students/musicians.

We are facing unprecedented levels of youth homelessness in Barossa. The most vulnerable
in our community are in need of help. 

Foundation Barossa has partnered with Kids Under Cover, Centacare Youth Homelessness Barossa and Homburg Real Estate to provide a solution to prevent youth homelessness.
Centacare provides case management, early intervention, outreach, post-crisis, and wait-list support to young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Kids under Cover runs an innovative, evidence-based studio program that provides secure and stable accommodation for young people at risk of homelessness.
Homburg Real Estate became a program sponsor in 2021, donating funds for every property sold and rented in the Barossa. To date Homburg has donated over $70,000 to the appeal, which now sits at over $207,000 thanks to the generosity of Homburg and the Barossa Community.

Application Process

Centacare Youth Homeless service in the Barossa work directly with the young person to provide
them with their social support needs.
• Through this work, the social worker will determine if a Kids Under Cover studio, combined with the existing support, will be the best solution to address the young person’s risk of homelessness.
• The social worker makes the application to us on behalf of the young person.
• The application is then assessed against Kids Under Cover’s priority matrix.
• The social worker will be notified of the outcome of the application.
• If the application is approved and funding has been allocated, Kids Under Cover will work in partnership with builders, local councils, the social worker and the family to start planning for the Studio installation.
• After completion, Kids Under Cover is responsible for any ongoing maintenance of the studio.
• When the studio is no longer needed by the family, it is dismantled and moved to another family in need. Studios last around 15 years and can be relocated up to four times.

To apply, contact Centacare by emailing nuriootpa@centacare.org.au or calling 08 8303 6625.

Eligibility

Demonstrated risk of homelessness & aged between 12-25 years.

Further Details

• Each studio provides a stable space for a young person to grow and study while keeping them connected to their family and reducing the risk of them being forced to leave home prematurely.
• The one or two-bedroom studios (with bathroom) are built in the backyards of homes to assist carers in need of more room to accommodate young people in their care. Studios can be considered for owned property, rented property and Housing SA property.
• Once the studio is no longer required, it is relocated to accommodate another young person in need.
• Studios are prefabricated, with their entire kit flat-packed with pre-assembled frames and transported via truck to the installation location. Erected and fully fitted within 10 days, they are demountable and able to be flat-packed for relocation up to four times.
• There is no cost to the applicant or family. The build and installation of the studio is funded through generous donations from the Homburg Homelessness Fund and government support.

Over the past year our Stage 1 and 2 students have been working hard to create their timber projects in Design and Technology: Material Solutions. This year we have had students’ source and use a variety of different reclaimed timbers such Oregon and Tasmanian Oak with the likelihood of these timbers being many decades plus old. It has been a successful year with many exciting projects being built by some very committed students.

Year 11 student Abby and her clothes rack made from solid pine. This project showcases an array of different woodworking skills and thought processes to ensure it has the space to hold clothes such as full dresses and also has sections for shoes and other clothing items. A very impressive project done in only a semester.

Another year 11 student Sachi has created the frame for her foldable beach chair. This project is made entirely from Tasmanian Oak, majority of which is reclaimed timber. She plans to finish the seated part using canvas material or something just as strong to hold the weight of a person. Many hours of thicknessing and sanding has been done to repurpose this weathered material into a functional project.

Year 12 student Mia with her desk made out of pine using both framing and carcass techniques. It was finished with a hardwood edging around the outside for aesthetic appeal and to protect the tabletop from damage.

Finally, year 12 student Amber made this day bed out of reclaimed Oregon. The base of the project supports a full single mattress. She plans to put curtains up around the tops of the frame and place it out underneath her trees at her parent home for a place to relax and enjoy their backyard.

Shaun Hausler

Design and Technology Teacher

On Friday 17th November, the winner of the inaugural House Cup competition was announced. Mr Milne presented the shield to the winning house who collected the most points throughout the year. The winning house was Hughes!

The House Points System is focused on recognising positive student behaviour on a day-to-day basis by winning points for your relevant House. Points are awarded based on Positive Student Recognitions, attendance data, effort data, academic data, Swimming Carnival, Athletics Carnival, Golden Events and other connections events throughout the year.

Well done to all staff and students for your engagement with the House Points System this year and we look forward to building on this concept in the future.

• Junior All Round Cowboy
• Junior Breakaway Roping 
• 2nd Division Team Roping- Header

After the 2022- 2023 season Trent was awarded: 

• Junior High Point Cowboy
• Junior Team Roping- Heeler
• Junior Breakaway Roping
• Junior Steer Ride
• 2nd Division All Round Cowboy
• 2nd Division Rope and Tie
• 2nd Division Team Roping- Heeler

Congratulations Trent! You hard work has certainly paid off.