Kidman House Captains after their victory at the Swimming Carnival

We were fortunate to have perfect conditions for the Swimming Carnival on Friday 31st January. Congratulations to Kidman, who won the day. It was great to see the leadership of the team by Senior House Captains Alyssa Valentine, Teisha Pollard, Tyler King, and Finn Brady. Two records were broken during the competition, with Milan Pozsgai breaking both. Congratulations to all competitors and age group winners. The entire day was run seamlessly by the HPE team, and for all students who attended, I was continually impressed with the way everyone got involved and supported each other throughout the day.

On Tuesday evening, we held the Kapunda High School Centenary Foundation Awards Presentation Evening. There was a total of 19 awardees, including 2024 DUX Amy Wilson Hall, 2025 Jim Bettison Scholarship Award recipient Ryan Isgar, and 2025 Helen James Award recipient Caitlin Both. I would like to acknowledge the contributions and support the Centenary Foundation provides to graduating students at Kapunda High School. Their work cannot be understated, and the Centenary Foundation would not be in such a secure position without their support over time. It is encouraging to see the next generation of foundation members starting to take an active role; however, there is still an opportunity for anyone interested in supporting our school community in this unique way.

Annual General Meeting of Parents

The Kapunda High School Governing Council AGM will be held on Wednesday, February 26th, commencing at 6:30pm in the Resource Centre. Apart from the election of Governing Councillors, we will also present a summary of 2024, highlighting the progress made and identifying our priorities for 2025. The report provides data and information on student performance, senior school results, school improvement priorities, and school progress.

Attending the AGM does not mean you will be coerced into joining the Governing Council. Parent representatives are not required to have any particular knowledge about how schools are run or any specific expertise. The day-to-day management of the school is the responsibility of the Principal and staff. Governing Councillors, however, offer the perspective of parents on a range of matters relating to strategic directions, policies, and budget decisions.

If you would like more information about being a Governing Councillor, please do not hesitate to contact me or complete a Governing Council Nomination Form.

I would like to encourage all families to consider attending our Year 7 welcome night, which will align with our Year 12 Parent Evening. This provides a valuable opportunity for our families to connect with teachers in an informal way. Information for both events has been emailed home to Year 7 and 12 families. This will take place on Tuesday, 18th February.

Staff Professional Learning

Underpinning one of our school improvement priorities: Increase student connection, belonging, and engagement within our school through a positive school culture focus. Ultimately, this will have a positive impact on student achievement and academic success.

Early this term, staff had the opportunity to attend professional learning delivered by the Common Ground Team, who have started the delivery of the Tomorrow Man and Tomorrow Woman program to our Year 9 and 10 students. Over the next two years, the team will collaborate with students in Years 7 to 11 across four schools to develop programs that promote healthy expressions of masculinity and challenge harmful social attitudes. Tomorrow Man fosters open conversations to improve relationships and support networks, empowering participants to lead healthier lives and positively impact their communities. Similarly, Tomorrow Woman, founded in 2018, empowers women to break free from limiting expectations through participatory workshops that encourage sharing and learning. These initiatives aim to equip individuals with the skills to author their futures and contribute positively to society. For more information, visit tomorrowman.com.au.

In addition to this, all staff attended a full-day training delivered by Bill Hansberry, a KHS Old Scholar with a strong connection to the school, who has a wealth of knowledge supporting behaviour management and restorative practices. There was a strong focus on the importance of behaviour routines and having high behavioural expectations. This connects with our focus on conditions for learning as well as the Berry Street Education Model, aiming for predictable classroom routines and an unconditional positive regard for staff and students.

Tim Jones

Principal