Year 12 students Callan and Elsie greet Year 7 students Braxton and Ruby

Welcome to 2025 at Kapunda High School.

I extend a warm welcome to all returning students and families, and a special greeting to those joining our community for the first time. As we begin a new year, your children become part of a rich tradition associated with KHS and our history. Our commitment is to provide an engaging and supportive environment that prepares students for success. I am honoured to serve as Principal and look forward to a year filled with opportunities for growth and achievement. Thank you for entrusting us with your children's education as we aim to make 2025 a successful journey for all.

Site Priorities

In 2025, Kapunda High School will focus on enhancing achievement and wellbeing by creating a safe and engaging learning environment. Key initiatives include the Berry Street Education Model to boost student engagement, Restorative Practices to foster community, and strategies to improve attendance and promote Positive Masculinity. These efforts aim to increase student connection, belonging, and engagement. The school will also prioritise Student Achievement by fostering an Academic Culture of excellence, updating the SACE, and encouraging Entrepreneurial Learning. The South Australian Curriculum will focus on developing essential skills and attitudes. Facilities development will include new learning spaces and the redevelopment of Eringa, with an emphasis on safety and student involvement in trade pathways, providing practical experience and skills development.

2024 SACE Achievement

We are thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our 2024 Year 12 students. A special congratulations to our DUX, Amy Wilson Hall, for her exceptional performance in Society and Culture. We are proud to announce that 66 students successfully achieved their SACE, with an impressive 67% of results being A and B grades. Notably, three students—Taiah Gaskin in General Maths Community Connections, Abbey Marshal in Activating Identities and Futures, and Amy Wilson Hall—received A+ grades. Additionally, nine students achieved ATARs greater than 80, showcasing their dedication and hard work. These accomplishments reflect the commitment and excellence of our students and staff. Well done to all!

Partnerships with Families

Working in strong partnership with students, parents/caregivers and staff we achieve the best outcomes for our students. Our school policies, informed by the Department for Education, provide for a safe, orderly and engaging learning environment where students can achieve at their personal best. Key policies can be found on our school website Kapunda High School ( kapundahs.sa.edu.au), with links to some of our key policies below:

• Mobile Phones and Personal Devices Policy
• Assessment Deadlines Policy
• Sunsmart Policy

Governing Council

A vital part of our school community is the strength and guidance provided by our Governing Council. Joining the council offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the direction and progress of Kapunda High School. Meetings are held twice per term, with details shared through our School Newsletter and Social Media. We encourage you to attend the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday February the 26th @ 6:30pm, where we will elect the new team. Our goal is to have a council that represents all regions of our community.

Over the coming weeks please make contact with our school with any queries. Your child’s Subject Teacher is the first point of contact for any subject or academic related issues and your child’s Year Level Manager is the first point of contact for any general school queries or concerns. See a list here.

I look forward to another busy, successful year at Kapunda High School.

Tim Jones

Principal

Whole School Photo Day Tuesday, 4th February (T1W2)

Student Free Day Monday, 10th February (T1W3)

Centenary Foundation Awards Presentation Evening Tuesday, 11th February 6:30pm (T1W3)

School Photo Catch Up Day Wednesday, 12th February (T1W3)

Kaylee's Sausage Sizzle for JDRF Wednesday, 12th February (T1W3)

Lower North Swimming Carnival Monday, 17th February (T1W4)

Governing Council AGM  Wednesday, 28th February (T1W5)

SSSSA Swimming Carnival Marion Friday, 27th February (T1W5)

KHS Athletics Carnival Thursday, 6th March (T1W6)

Student Free Day Friday, 7th March (T1W6)

Whole School photo day will take place on Tuesday, 4th February. Students should have received an envelope with the ordering details. If not, spare forms are available from Student Services and Reception.

For students absent on Tuesday, there will be a catch up day for individual photos on Wednesday, 12th February.

Sibling Photos

If you wish for your students to have a sibling photo taken, this order has to be done prior to photo day. Envelopes with details are also available from Student Services or you can order online with the same code as the other photos.

Online ordering details:

www.advancedlife.com.au

Kapunda High School code: XMH RXX 45H

Then select the package you wish to order and pay online.

If you wish to pay with cash, correct money must be put into the envelope, and this is given directly to the photographers on the day. Please DO NOT give this money to the school.

Tab MacKenzie

School Photo Coordinator

This year, the Kapunda High School community is welcoming many new staff members. 

We are very happy to have them on board!

The materials and services charges for 2025 are $480.00, less the $200 government rebate = $280.  This is used for equipment and materials used in the delivery of the curriculum.  A basic stationery pack is also supplied (which is GST Free) which includes an ID card. The invoice and statement have been sent home with your child in week 1.

PAYMENT OF MATERIALS AND SERVICES

The due date for payment of materials and services is Friday 14th April 2025 (End of Term 1).
Payment may be made by cash, cheque, EFTPOS, Visa, MasterCard or by Direct Bank Deposit (see details below). Students are to make payments prior to the start of the school day (8:50am) to avoid carrying around large sums of money through the day.  Parents/caregivers are encouraged to make payments to the Finance Desk in the Front Office Reception Building from 8:30am-3:30pm.

KHS Bank Details:

Bank SA

BSB 105-006

Acc No.  057125140

Family ID : eg SMIT10

 (left hand side of invoice)

Please remember to meet the payment deadline of Friday, 11th April 2025. If no prior arrangements are made, any unpaid amounts may be forwarded to the Department of Education Recovery Unit at the end of Term 1.

INSTALMENT PAYMENT PLAN

If you would like to opt into our instalment payment plan system, please download and return the following form to apply for paying school fees by instalment this year.

SCHOOL CARD SCHEME  

School Card is available in government schools to:

• families with children aged 4 years and over who attend a school full time
• independent full time students studying year 10, 11 or 12
• Adult re-entry students undertaking subjects to complete their SACE.

To qualify, your family's gross income in the 2022/23 financial year must be below the threshold, based on the number of dependent children you have in your family.

Information on the eligibility criteria, income limits and the application process is available at the link:

If you think you may be eligible for School Card please complete the online application form at the link below as soon as possible.

Please see below regarding Canteen information for 2025. The Canteen will be closed each Wednesday throughout 2025.

Please also ensure you update your child's year level on the QKR! app. You can do this by:

1. Open the QKR! app on your device
2. Select Kapunda High School
3. Go to profiles
4. Select student name 
5.  Update to current year level

New families can download the QKR! app onto their devices for convenient Canteen ordering.

Year 11 Student Kaylee is participating in the JDRF Jump for a Cure fundraiser in 2025. JDRF is the leading supporter of type 1 diabetes (T1D) research in the world. On Sunday February 16th, Kaylee will be skydiving over Semaphore beach. She has recently exceeded her fundraising goal of $1500, but please consider donating to this cause, as every dollar counts. 

On Wednesday, 12th February Kaylee is running a sausage sizzle at school to raise money for her jump. Please support Kaylee's fundraiser and buy a sausage on the day!

You can read more about Kaylee’s jump at the link below:

Good luck Kaylee!

Forms have also gone out to Year 7 & Year 10 students for immunisations. Regardless if your Student has consent or not, please fill the form out and return to Home Group Teachers or Student Services by the end of Week 2 (7/2/24).  Spare forms are available from Student Services.

If you have any further questions, please email: tab.mackenzie108@schools.sa.edu.au

Tab MacKenzie 

Immunisation Coordinator

On days of forecast catastrophic fire danger rating for the Mid-North district:

Kapunda High School will remain open.

All school bus routes travelling to Kapunda High School will be cancelled.

Parents/caregivers of students who travel on school buses will be contacted via an SMS message to their mobile phone or a direct call to their landline (where a mobile has not been given to the school).  This will generally occur the night before.

Kapunda High School will additionally ‘broadcast’ using Facebook and the website www.kapundahs.sa.edu.au to remind families of bushfire procedures.

If a bushfire is reported in the area during the day:

Affected bus runs will not leave the school until the roads are declared safe by emergency services authorities.

Parents/caregivers will be notified and students will be supervised at school until buses can run, or until parents/caregivers are able to collect their children.

If during a bus run, the bus driver sights a bushfire and there is concern that it may affect the routes ahead, then the bus driver:

Has the authority to abandon the bus run and return to school, or

If safer to do so, drive to one of the pre-planned emergency areas (or CFS safer places) and activate the emergency bus procedure.

To support student safety, parents/caregivers are requested to:

Ensure that Kapunda High School is informed of any changes to phone numbers.

Follow weather announcements through the media.

Ensure that they do not put themselves at risk when coming to collect students from school.

Providing Information & Gaining Consent

Students driving or riding vehicles to and from school must complete an Information/Consent Form, available from Student Servicesd. If circumstances change, the school must be notified.

Students must not transport other students as passengers without the knowledge of the Principal and a written consent from the parents of both the driver and prospective passengers.  Students bringing their vehicles to school must have a note from their parents notifying the school of this arrangement.  A permit is then issued.

Parking Areas

Students have access to public street parking on High Street (opposite entrance of the school). It is expected that students obey the road rules with regard to parking near neighbouring residents’ driveways and also show consideration to areas where rubbish collection takes place.

Parking on school grounds is generally not permitted.

Disability parking is available just inside the main entrance and to the left.

Caution

The beginning and end of the school day is a busy time, particularly on West Terrace and drivers are urged to drive with caution at the limited speed of 25 km/hr in the school zone. 

Any accidents must be reported to the police and also the Principal. A supervising teacher is on hand in the bus parking area at the beginning and end of the school day and support can be sought, if required.

Incidents of vandalism may be reported to the police, and the Principal should be alerted to the situation.