Welcome to our School Newsletter for Week 3, Term 3. Once again, there have been a number of highlights to celebrate as we begin Term 3. It has been a wonderful start to the term, filled with student engagement, learning opportunities, and exciting new initiatives. Key student experiences include:

· KHS playing host to ten Japanese Exchange Students

· National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day Celebrations

· Science Week Activities including KHS playing host to Kapunda Primary School Years 5/6

· Year 10 Snow Trip

· Health Pathways immersions

· Songmakers Workshop

· Flinders University Open Day

· Passion Projects

Staff Announcements

We are pleased to welcome two new staff members to our teaching team: Alex Viney (HPE, AIF, English, HASS) and Belinda Kunze (Maths/Science). Both Alex and Belinda have strong local connections and bring enthusiasm and expertise to their roles. We are excited to have them join the KHS community and look forward to their contributions in supporting student success.

Student Success and Learning

Kapunda High School celebrated National Science Week with an exciting range of activities coordinated by our science team. These events aimed to enhance student engagement and promote scientific thinking. A highlight was hosting Year 5/6 students from Kapunda Primary School for hands-on science experiences, including a visit to the Agriculture facilities.

Subject Selection

Subject selection for the 2026 is now open. Students are actively using the subject selection portal to begin shaping their future learning pathways. We strongly encourage early engagement in this process, as timely and infirmed selections are essential to planning class structures and meeting student needs effectively.

Pathways and Immersion Programs

There has been a strong focus on pathways development over recent weeks, particularly in health and industry-related careers. Students visited Flinders University during their annual Open Day to gain insight into tertiary education options.

Additionally, students participated in a health immersion program, gaining real-world exposure to careers in aged care, disability services, nursing, and midwifery. Building on this success, we are planning a follow-up immersion to further support student interests and aspirations in health-related industries.

Governing Council and Key School Dates for Term 3

Our next Governing Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 20th August. We look forward to continuing our partnership with families and the broader school community as we work together to support the growth and development of every student at KHS.

The annual School Closure Day is booked for Monday, 1st September aligned with the Royal Adelaide Show, followed by a Student Free Day on Tuesday, 2nd September where all staff will be involved in Day 4 of the Berry Street Trauma Informed Practice program.

Parents have been invited to a twilight session on Tuesday, 19th August, hosted by the Common Ground Team. This FREE workshop that offers a real look at what your young people are exploring in their Tomorrow Man and Tomorrow Woman sessions. Led by experienced facilitators, this is a space to learn, ask questions and walk away with tools to support conversations at home. It’s part of the Common Ground project, a national initiative working with four schools across Australia to shift the story around what it means to be a man today.

As we continue through the term, it’s great to see the diverse range of opportunities students are connecting with to support growth, connection and success. Whether through academic achievement, creativity, or career pathways, the enthusiasm and resilience of our school community remains a source of pride. Thank you to our staff, students, and families for your ongoing support.

Tim Jones

Principal

Year 11 ABW (Australian Business Week) Monday, 11th August- Friday, 15th August (T3W4)

Year 10 Work Experience Monday, 11th August- Friday, 15th August (T3W4)

Governing Council Meeting Wednesday, 20th August (T3W5)

Year 9 Canberra Camp Monday, 25th August- Friday 29th August (T3W6)

School Closure Day Monday, 1st September (T3W7)

Student Free Day Tuesday, 2nd September (T3W7)

Subject Selection Wednesday, 3rd September- Friday, 5th September (T3W7)

In Week 2, fifteen KHS music students participated in a two day “Songmakers Workshop”. The workshop was the result of a prize won by former KHS student Lucy Menzel in a national song writing competition. We were pleased that Lucy, who is now studying a Bachelor of Music (Creative Practice) at Adelaide Uni, was able to return to KHS and participate in the workshop.

SongMakers is a contemporary music program that partners Australian songwriters and producers with students in schools to create and record original music, fostering songwriting skills and providing industry insights. Our mentors were DVNA (Dana Lowrey-Palmer), Audius and Chelsea Warner who are prominent in the Australian music industry.

It was an intensive two days:

Day 1: Students work in groups of 4 with industry professional mentors to write a song each from scratch. They perform this song at the end of the day, ready for Day 2!

Day 2: Working to a tight deadline, students record their song with the mentors to be played back during a listening party at the end of the day.

The feedback from our students was very positive with them describing it as a “fantastic experience”.

The mentors were very impressed with how respectful and inclusive the students were of each other working in their groups, and how genuinely positive and excited they were to hear each other’s songs at the end of Day 2.

Carolyn Thorne
Music Teacher

This term, we have welcomed some new teachers to KHS. 

Alex Viney

Hi, I’m Alex Viney, and I’m excited to be joining the team at KHS.
I’m currently teaching PE and HASS, and I’ve recently come from Nuriootpa High School. Prior to that, I spent four years teaching at Loxton High School.

I have a strong passion for sport and enjoy playing netball, tennis, volleyball, and basketball. Having grown up in the Barossa, I truly value the sense of community and understand the importance of being an active and involved member of it. I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone and becoming a part of the KHS community.

Belinda Kunze

Dear Parents and Caregivers, I would like to introduce myself as your child's teacher this Semester for Year 7 to 9 Science and Year 9 Mathematics.

My varied teaching experience has given me opportunities to teach early years to young adults.

Throughout my Career of Teaching and Nursing, I have had opportunities to work across different areas of interest, and I  bring these LifeSkills and my passion for education and lifelong learning to the classroom.

I am familiar with the Kapunda Community having lived in the area when my children were infants, now adults. They have attended KHS and successfully achieved their own goals.

My interests include  family time, dinner with friends, nature walks, live music, and roller skating.

Information relating to the Science and Mathematics Curriculum and Assessments will be set out in Day Map for students to access.

I welcome parents and caregivers to email or phone me if you would like to update me on your child's wellbeing or /and  to  make a time to discuss your child's  learning goals, needs and interests.

Year 10 Snow Trip to Mt Hotham

Our Year 10 students embarked on an exciting snow trip to Mt Hotham. After a long night on the bus, we arrived to perfect weather—clear skies, mild temperatures, and epic snow.

The first couple of days were spent getting the hang of snowboarding and skiing, resulting in many falls but also great progress. On Tuesday, a storm brought wet and windy conditions, closing all lifts. This provided a chance to rest, play games, and relax at our wonderful accommodation. The evening was brightened by a meal out and a fun silent disco.

Wednesday brought lessons and a return to the slopes. Despite challenging conditions, fresh snow added to the experience. Unfortunately, a few visits to the medical centre were necessary due to injuries. The day ended with the thrill of night skiing and snowboarding under lights.

Thursday saw further skill development, and those not completely worn out enjoyed clear skies again on Friday morning, before returning gear and boarding the bus home. The food and hospitality at Kalyna Lodge was excellent throughout the week, with special thanks to the Chef and Hosts.

Overall, it was an amazing experience with lasting memories created for all.

Flinders Univeristy Excursion

Approximately 40 year 11/12 students attended the Flinders University Open day on Friday, 25th July. This gave students the opportunity to explore 2026 courses, speak with Uni staff and attend information sessions. This is an annual trip where students get to experience university life for the day.

Career Connect Expo Clare

A group of Year 9 and 10 students attended a career Immersion and Expo at Clare High school on Wednesday, 6th August. This gave the students the opportunity to get hands on with various industry activities and ask questions during an expo in the school gym. This was a great opportunity for students to explore careers and speak with Industry professionals about potential pathways.

Kapunda Hospital Immersion

A group of 10 Year 10/11 students had the opportunity to attend the Kapunda Hospital for a Career Immersion in Health Care. This allowed students to network with Health Care professionals, Tour the hospital and complete a number of hands-on activities. This hopefully sparks their interest in undertaking a Certificate 3 in Health Services assistance at Kapunda High School planned to run in 2026.

This week, we celebrated Science Week at KHS. The Year 5s and 6s from Kapunda Primary School visited KHS to participate in Science activities run by our Science cohort and Senior Science students. 

On Friday, 25th July we had a visit from Scott Darlow. Scott is a world-renowned Musician, Educator and Public Speaker. Scott shared First Nations' music, stories and culture with students and staff at a whole school assembly. It was a great opportunity for our students to learn about our First Nations' rich culture, history, current issues and how we can realise reconciliation. We look forward to Scott's visit each year. 

This term marks the beginning of the subject selection process. Students from Year 7 to 11 will need to choose their subjects for 2026 with the selection portal now open for students to make their selections.

There is a series of common steps for each year level to ensure students make the best possible choices for their pathway.

These common steps involve:

1. All students receiving information regarding subject selection for the next year. This included a summary letter for families, and information allowing students to access the online subject selection portal with a unique logon.

2. Relevant SACE/VET and Subject information presented to year level groups. Students have been encouraged to speak to parents/caregivers and teaching staff about their subject choices.

3. Senior School (Year 10/11) Course Counselling Meetings

Meetings will take place on the evening of Wednesday 3rd September, and during the day on Thursday 4th and Friday 5th September. Bookings can be made through the Daymap Parent Portal:

To support this process:

There will be no year 10 students at school on Thursday the 4th September.

There will be no year 11 students at school on Friday the 5th September.

4. Families of students in Year 7, 8 and 9:

All students have the opportunity to meet with a Year level Leader to discuss their options for subjects in 2025 if they wish. Parents and Caregivers are welcome to contact the school and make an appointment time if they would like to be present.

Emma Oliver

Deputy Principal