Students enjoying refreshments at the $20 Boss Market Day last Thursday

Welcome to our final School Newsletter for Term 2, 2025.

Over recent weeks students have completed Semester 1 subjects and transitioned into Semester 2 learning. Recent learning experiences and initiatives have included:

• Senior Girls Football
• White Card Training
• Science and Engineering Challenge
• $20 Boss
• 11/12 Knockout Netball
• 7/8 Knockout Netball
• Operation Flinders
• Advanced Heritage Trades Block
• Passion Projects

Week 9– from Monday, 23rd June has seen the transition into Semester 2 subjects. This time is intended for fostering good working relationships and setting up for success: setting up classroom norms, agreements and expectations and working through intended learning, skills and requirements for learning programs.

Positive School Culture

Our year to date has seen over 7600 positive recognition points given to over 560 students this year! This is significantly higher than 2024 where there were approximately 3600 recognition points given in the same time span. This shows a growing value in the Positive School Culture initiative which is a fantastic way to recognise students who are upholding the values of our school.

A key success story our Positive School Culture strategy has been the introduction of Student Positive Recognition through Daymap. Now in its third year, it was introduced to increase student belonging and engagement as part of their schooling experience. Students accrue points personally and for their School House through modelling school values, maintaining sound explained attendance, efforts and achievements across their learning programs. 

Building and Facilities

Our new classrooms, currently named Building C, is on track for completion in the coming weeks. Over this a select few of our teaching staff had the opportunity of being involved in the building handover training. We are still anticipating moving classes into the new teaching and learning spaces early in Term 3. ERINGA continues to progress well, with regular progress visible. Now that the roof and verandas are near complete, the building is beginning to return to its former glory.

Importance of Regular Attendance

Good attendance is the foundation of school success. It doesn’t guarantee success but without it success is so much harder to achieve.

Students who regularly attend school:

• Are present for valuable instruction from their teachers and are more likely to gain an understanding of important concepts.
• Maximise options for higher level maths and science subjects.
• Are more likely to gain A or B grades.
• Are less likely to leave school without finishing their SACE.
• Are deemed more reliable by prospective employers.
• Are more successful in maintaining relationships with their peers.

Across 2025 we have seen an improvement in our whole school attendance with our Term 2 attendance currently sitting above 90%. This is a significant step in the right direction for our students, increasing chances of connection, engagement and successful educational outcomes that can translate into a successful transition to work in the future.

Recognition from Visitors to our School

Following the recent visit by the University of Adelaide who were hosting 30 educators from Papua New Guinea, I have received a fantastic letter from Professor Susan James Relly - Head of School of Education at the University of Adelaide. In summary, she has extended her heartfelt gratitude for the phenomenal visit of our Papua New Guinean students to Kapunda High School. She stated that the students were absolutely delighted with the visit, and have expressed their gratitude for the warm welcome from staff and students, and for the invaluable learning they received while visiting. Being able to share the opportunities students have available at Kapunda High School with an international delegation, highlighted just how fortunate we are in Australia and what we sometimes take for granted.

Year 12 Holiday Tuition Sessions

Each school holidays, a selection of Year 12 classes run School Holiday Tuition sessions on-campus at school. This information is being collated and will be communicated with relevant students and families. I encourage all students to make the most of these opportunities and continue to strive for your personal best.

I wish you a safe and productive school holiday period. Let’s keep working together to advance our student learning experiences, opportunities and achievements and enrich schooling at Kapunda High School. 

Tim Jones 

Principal

Centenary Foundation Year 12 Information Session Wednesday, 2nd July (T2W10)

Last Day of Term 2 Friday, 4th July (T2W10)

Snow Trip Saturday, 19th July- Saturday 26th July (T3W1)

First Day of Term 3 Monday, 21st July (T3W1)

Scott Darlow Visit Friday, 25th July (T3W1)

Flinders Uni Open Day Friday, 25th July (T3W1)

Open Boys and Girls Basketball Tuesday, 29th July (T3W2)

Year 10 Immunisations Tuesday, 29th July (T3W2)

Japanese Exchange Students Arrive Wednesday, 30th July (T3W2)

Two Day Songmakers Workshop Thursday, 31st July (T3W2)

On Thursday, 19th June our Open Girls Football team competed in round two of the Statewide Girls Football Competition. The girls travelled to Clare to play against the Mid North Schools team.

Kapunda
14 – 12
Mid North Schools
0 – 1

After their victory, they will go on to play in the third round early next term. Excellent work girls!

On Wednesday morning, 25th June we had Passion Projects. Students continued their exploration in many different areas, including 'How To Adult', chess, board games, netball and making bath bombs.

KHS is thrilled to announce that Peter Shubin represented South Australia at the VETiS Carpentry WorldSkills competition held in Brisbane from 12th to 15th June. This prestigious event brought together talented young carpenters from across the nation, showcasing their skills and dedication to the craft.

Following on from undertaking Certificate II Construction Pathways at KHS, Peter completed in the South Australian World skills heats in 2024, winning his way through to the finals in Brisbane 2025. 

Peter's participation highlights the exceptional talent and commitment of South Australia's vocational education students. Competing against the best in the country, Peter demonstrated remarkable skill, precision, and creativity in carpentry, making our state proud.

Peter was awarded a medallion for Excellence for his efforts. Only the top 6 students were recognised with medals or medallions.

Congratulations to Peter Shubin for his outstanding representation of South Australia on this national stage. 

Jason Keep
Assistant Principal- Pathways

On the 16th of June, a team of 17 enthusiastic and innovative students represented our school in the Science and Engineering Challenge, held at Adelaide University, Mawson Lakes. This nationwide competition, facilitated by the University of Newcastle, gives students the opportunity to test their STEM skills in real-world problem-solving scenarios — and our students were up for it! 

Throughout the day, our team worked in small groups to tackle a series of hands-on challenges that covered areas such as engineering, physics, electricity, and environmental science. From designing planes to building bridges and managing power systems, the students needed to think creatively, collaborate under pressure, and apply their scientific knowledge in practical and exciting ways. 

The competition was tough, with schools from all over the northern region participating, but our students showed outstanding teamwork, resilience, and ingenuity. It was a fantastic experience that not only showcased their STEM abilities but also encouraged them to explore future careers in science and engineering. 

After a long and successful day, our Kapunda High School team achieved an overall 4th place against some very impressive competitors. In addition, we also achieved some outstanding results in the day’s challenges!  

Kathy Coombs & Michael Raschella
Science Teachers

On Wednesday, 18th June we had a visit from the Kapunda CFS. They spoke with students about their cadet program and volunteering with the CFS. Students were able to have a turn at using the fire hoses, and have a look inside the fire truck.

Students in Miss Ahrens Year 10 Visual Art class have been working on some paintings to decorate the A building foyer. We can't wait to see how they turn out!

Last week, our Year 8 students took part in an exciting hands-on business experience through the $20 Boss program. Students launched their own mini businesses, setting up creative and colourful stalls to sell products and services to Year 7s, Year 9s, and staff. 

From cookies and soft drinks to ping pong games and stationery kits, the courtyard buzzed with entrepreneurial energy. With just $20 in start-up funds, students were challenged to design, market, and run a business that could turn a profit. 

? "The food tech room helped us succeed — we sold out!" 
? "Changing prices halfway helped us improve our sales." 

What did we learn? 

• Students rated their stalls highly, averaging 7.6 stars out of 10. 

• Many reflected that next time they would "add more variety", "lower prices", or "promote better". 

• Nearly half (27 students) said they’d consider running a business in the future — a fantastic result! 

As one budding entrepreneur put it: 
“I’d love to run my own lawn mowing business one day to earn money for my future.” 

The day was more than just a market — it was a chance to build confidence, teamwork along with real-world problem-solving skills. 

Thank you to all students and staff who supported the event. We can’t wait to see what these future innovators do next!

Mike Hemphill 
Business Teacher 

Over Weeks 4, 5, and 6, Year 11 Sports Studies students from Kapunda High School had the opportunity to build connections with the Year 5/6 students from Kapunda Primary School through a collaborative sports program. 
 
Each Monday, the high school students visited the primary school to run footy and netball sessions. Then, on Thursdays, the KPS students made their way up to the high school to try their hand at volleyball, European handball, and ultimate frisbee. These sessions were a great way for students from both schools to interact, learn from one another, and build a sense of community. 
 
A highlight of the program was seeing the Year 11 students step up as leaders, with many taking the initiative to run parts of the sessions themselves. Their confidence and leadership were noticed and appreciated from students and staff.  
 
Feedback from the Year 5/6 students was overwhelmingly positive. Many said they really enjoyed making connections with the older students and would love to continue doing the sessions in future weeks. The Year 6 students also shared that the experience gave them a “soft introduction” to high school life—helping them feel more comfortable and less nervous about their upcoming transition. Getting to visit the high school and try out some of the sports played there gave them a better idea of what to expect next year. 
 
The program was a wonderful success and a great example of the power of sport in building confidence, leadership, and positive relationships across age groups.  

A huge thankyou to the Year 5/6 teachers at KPS for allowing us to take over their classes for a few lessons. We look forward to building on the connections when they are here for the real transition. 

Megan Samain & Shani Robinson 
Sports Studies Teachers

Former KHS art teacher Stuart Hoerisch, and current Year 11 Indigenous student Tali Pipe have an upcoming SALA 2025 (South Australian Living Artists) exhibition. This will be Tali's debut exhibition and Stuart's continued art quest. 

An intercultural journey in paint on canvas, and in shared spirit, respect, trust, learning and friendship. A truly special artistic venture. 

Official Opening: Sunday, July 27th 2:00-4:00pm at Peter Lehman Wines, Tanunda. All welcome. 

The exhibition will be displayed all of August. Please come and see true reconciliation in an artistic visual form. Tali and Stuart are scheduled to have a 45 minute interview on BBB FM, Barossa on July 10th at 10:15am. 

Stuart Hoerisch
Artist

This term, the Year 11 Food and Hospitality students took on the role of gourmet food gift basket creators. Each student selected an international cuisine and prepared a range of preserved and packaged items, including jam, sauce, pickled ingredients, dried fruit, and a baked sweet treat. They researched preserving methods, focused on food safety, and ensured their recipes were affordable, seasonal, and long-lasting. Baskets were beautifully presented with custom logos, showcasing students’ creativity, cultural understanding, and practical skills.

Tiesha Perry
Food & Hospitality Teacher

Please be aware that from the beginning of Term 3, there will be some price increases in the Canteen. At this stage, this will include the bacon and egg burgers, and the pizzas. This is to ensure we are able to cover rising costs.

Thank you for your understanding. 

PAYMENT OF MATERIALS AND SERVICES 

The payment for materials and services is now overdue. 
Thank you to those who have already paid, if you have not, please contact the Finance office ASAP to make payment arrangements.  

KHS Bank Details: 

Bank SA 

BSB 105-006 

Acc No.  057125140 

Family ID : eg SMIT10 

 (left hand side of invoice) 

Please ensure to use your family code when making online payments. The family code can be found on both statements and invoices. 

INSTALMENT PAYMENT PLAN

SCHOOL CARD

If you require assistance with any of the above, please don't hesitate to reach out to the finance team. 

Email: dl.0779.finance@schools.sa.edu.au 
Phone: (08) 8566 2203 ext. 4