I would like to pass on my thanks to our staff, students and families for your support in navigating a tricky day at BHS last Friday 14th March. 28 sites across our region were impacted by the loss of power on Friday and coupled with the extreme heat, the Department for Education made the decision to close sites for the safety of all. I appreciate the quick response from parents to either not send or come to collect their child from school throughout the day.

Unfortunately, these things happen but it is a great reminder to be grateful for the essential things we have in life and how we can navigate obstacles together.

We also made the decision to suspend curriculum for the day and thankfully, we did not have any major activities like NAPLAN testing scheduled for the day. Students participated in some physical activity in Lesson 1 before the heat set in and then headed indoors for activities for the rest of the day while we were open.

Student Leadership

I’d like to thank Ashleigh Leonello and her team for a wonderful Student Leader Induction Ceremony on Tuesday 25th February. We have some exceptional student leaders representing our school in 2025 and I enjoyed hearing Maddison Bond’s thoughts on leadership and her experience at BHS. It was also great to see such a strong turn out by parents/community members with over 60 parents staying for the luncheon provided after the ceremony.

Last week, student leaders also attended their Student Leadership Camp at Wallaroo. It was great to speak to some of our students and hear their positive thoughts on the camp, time as a student leadership team and plans for 2025.

Athletics Carnival

Congratulations to Caitlin Hanson and her team for another successful Athletics Carnival. The sportsmanship and encouragement within our student cohort was an absolute highlight for me and it was great to see so many families come along and support the day. I am looking forward to our students competing in the Lower North Athletics Carnival at Burra Community School on Thursday.

Student Led Conferences

Thank you to Donna Carpenter, with the assistance of Hannah Marshall for the organisation of Student Led Conferences on Monday and Tuesday in Week 6. It was great to visit the Mallala community and I enjoyed the opportunity to have some conversation with parents on their suggestions for the school and positive feedback on where the school is headed.

Student Toilets

I am pleased to report that works are moving forward with improvements to student toilets. While we are awaiting the concept designs and feasibility study for a new toilet block at the southern end of the school, we are currently pushing forward with planning for renovations of the existing female toilet facilities. These renovations will improve student safety with floor to ceiling cubicles, changes to the entry to allow multiple access points for greater air flow and visibility and general cosmetic improvements.

School Buses

As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all students on our school buses, we would like to remind everyone of the importance of adhering to our school bus safety regulations.

• Seatbelt Safety - it is compulsory for all students to wear seatbelts while travelling on the school bus. This measure is in place to protect students in the event of sudden stops or accidents. We kindly ask parents to reinforce this message at home and ensure that students understand the importance of wearing their seatbelts at all times during the journey.
• Accessing a school Bus - for students wishing to access a school bus or different bus than their usual one as a one off, arrangements must be made through the front office in writing at least 24 hours in advance. Due to many of our bus runs being near or at capacity, we cannot always guarantee approval for these requests. It is essential to organise this prior to the intended travel date to avoid any inconvenience. Please be aware that we do not allow students to access the school bus to travel to sports trainings.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding in these matters. Our primary goal is to maintain a safe and efficient transportation system for all students. Should you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

Agriculture Committee

BHS extends an invitation to parents and community members to join our Agriculture Committee, either through active involvement in running our AG Learning Centre, contributions to our educational programs or simply through donation of resources or services.

Agriculture is not just a subject in our curriculum; it's a vital component of our rural community's identity and future. Your expertise, insights and support will help us create a dynamic agricultural program that equips our students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in the ever-evolving agricultural landscape. 

By joining this committee or being involved in some way with our program, you have the opportunity to play an active role in shaping the agricultural education and experiences of our students and help prepare them for diverse career paths in a crucial industry.

Our first Agriculture Committee meeting with be held of Wednesday 26^th March at 3:30pm. Please contact me on 88620600 or derek.friedrichs447@schools.sa.edu.au if you wish to be involved.

PARENTS AND FRIENDS COMMITTEE @ BHS

We’re excited to launch the BHS Parents & Friends Committee and invite you to be a part of something special! This is your opportunity to engage with our school community, support student learning and contribute to meaningful projects that enhance BHS for every student.

We would love to talk to you about:

• Engaging with our community
• Supporting school events
• Fundraising
• Student learning
• After-school activities
• Supporting new staff

As a community, we are committed to improving outcomes for every student by developing resilience and resourcefulness. Together, we can help make BHS the best it can be—both inside and outside the classroom!

Contact us to register your interest:

kevin.kelly797@schools.sa.edu.au

8862 0600

Let’s work together to create a stronger school community!

#BHSParentsAndFriends #BalaklavaHighSchool #CommunityMatters #SupportingOurStudents

Please feel free to contact me at the school if you would like to discuss any aspect of your child’s learning. I can be contacted via DayMap or email derek.friedrichs447@schools.sa.edu.au or you can phone the school on 8862 0600 and ask to speak with me directly. Alternatively, I would be happy to discuss your needs in person – please pre-arrange this with the Front Office Team so that I can ensure I am available when you arrive.

Regards

Derek Friedrichs

Principal

Balaklava High School

On Tuesday, 25th February, we proudly inducted our 2025 student leaders, including Student Council Representatives, House Captains, Arts Captains and Agriculture Captains. This special ceremony was led by our 2025 Head and Deputy Head Students, marking the beginning of an exciting journey for our new leaders. We are confident they will lead with PRIDE and be positive role models at Balaklava High School. 

A huge thank you to Madison Bond for being our guest speaker and sharing valuable insights on leadership and making a difference. Thank you also to Sarah Clausen for catering the delicious shared lunch, and to Kobi Arnold for an outstanding performance.

We appreciate all the parents and visitors who attended to support their loved ones—it was wonderful to celebrate this milestone together!

Congratulations to our 2025 student leaders—we can’t wait to see the impact you’ll make this year! 

Year 10 Ag

Year 10 Ag have been learning about the sheep and wool industry. Over the past 2 weeks, the class has been fortunate enough to visit Complete Wool Services and Nyowee Poll Merino Stud. 

In the shearing shed, students were walked through the logistics of shearing and learnt some tricks of the trade from our own Anthea Ness.

The following week, the students had an informative experience at Complete Wool in Clare. Learning about the journey of wool from farm to auction, export and processing providing valuable insights into the wool industry.

A huge thankyou to Ian and Andy Michael for their ongoing support and to Daryl Andriskie for hosting us. 

The class will now be able to make some educated decisions on their Sheep Breeding Enterprise Simulation task in the coming weeks. 

Year 9 Ag

Students are engaging in a hands-on learning experience with livestock management with our pigs. By setting production goals, calculating gross margins and regularly weighing the pigs, they are gaining practical skills in agricultural business and teamwork. This will not only enhance their understanding of animal husbandry but also develop their problem-solving and collaboration abilities.

Merino Expo

Last Thursday, the Year 11 Agriculture class ventured up to Burra for the Elders SA Stud Merino Expo to connect with industry. 

Our students, Macy Tiller and Kelly Reichelt were interviewed by Australian Wool Innovations to gain insight into what is attracting the younger generations to the wool industry.

The AgXtra Crop Competition results are in! 

Year 11 Students were selected to participate in the Agxtra Crop Competition last year at the Roseworthy Site. They were in control of the wheat variety planted and fertiliser applications tying in with the crop Science unit. Out of 23 teams from several schools, the winner is selected on Gross margin. 

We had great results: 

2nd BHS Navy planted Calibre yielding 4.94t/ha = $1013.13 gross margin ($1.50 off first place!)

4th BHS Blue planted Rockstar yielding 4.59t/ha = $884.88 gross margin

15th BHS Aqua planted Scepter yielding 3.97t/ha = $678.48 gross margin  

17th BHS White planted Catapult yielding 3.91t/ha = $657.78 gross margin

"As you know, last year was significantly challenging for crop production, being one of the driest years in the last century. Despite these, students showed immense resilience and creativity in seeking solutions to adapt to this difficult situation. We would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the students for their dedicated efforts.

We also wish to express our sincere gratitude to all the Agricultural teachers for your valuable time, involvement, and commitment to this trial."

Holly Crighton

Child Studies Students Visit Primary School

As part of their studies, our Year 11 and 12 Child Studies students visited Balaklava Primary School to read some stories to Room 6 students. This experience allowed the Child Studies students to explore early literacy development and gain a better understanding of how children engage with stories. The primary school students enjoyed the experience, and our students appreciated the opportunity to apply their learning in a real-world setting.

Thank you to Balaklava Primary School for having us—we look forward to visiting again.

Louise O'Halloran

Balaklava High School uses EdSmart as a form of communication and to obtain parental consent for things like camps or excursions. Currently, there is no option to pay via this platform but this is about to change!

During the next few weeks, we will be introducing a payment function to our electronic consent forms, meaning that consent and payment can occur in one place - with no fees attached. Don't panic  though, our usual methods such as QKR, bank transfer, cash and card are still an option.

UNIFORM REMINDER

In recent weeks we have seen items that are not part of our BHS Uniform Dress Code being worn by students. We thought this would be a good time to send out a reminder to students and families about our dress code.

EVERYDAY UNIFORM

• Summer tunic (Blue/white check shirt-dress with short sleeves)
• T-shirt (Style “Paterson”) – two colour options navy with white trim or white with navy trim, embroidered with the school BHS logo and the words Balaklava High School
• Navy blue bomber jacket, zip front, sky blue sleeves, embroidered with the school BHS logo and the words Balaklava High School
• Plain navy blue rugby jumper with white collar, embroidered with the school BHS logo and the words Balaklava High School
• Plain navy blue hoodie, embroidered with the school BHS logo and the words Balaklava High School
• Plain navy blue spray jacket with the school logo and the words Balaklava High School
• Plain navy blue or grey shorts, mid length, no sports stripes or large logos
• Plain navy blue or grey school trousers.
• Plain navy blue or grey track pants, no sports stripes or large logos. BLACK leggings and track pants are not part of our uniform.

IN COLD WEATHER

• Extra layers can be added underneath the school uniform. If visible, they must be in the colours of navy or white. Non-school dress code hoodies are not allowed as layers.
• Scarves and beanies must also be in the colours of navy or white and can only be worn outdoors

SHOES

• Plain leather school shoes or lace-up sports shoes that completely cover and protect the foot, in line with the Balaklava High School WHS policy.

This term, our Year 7 science students have been busy learning the fundamentals of laboratory safety and practical skills, culminating in an exciting milestone—their Bunsen Burner Licence!

Through hands-on activities, students have mastered how to safely light and adjust a Bunsen burner, identify different flame types, and conduct experiments with confidence.

This achievement not only builds their practical skills but also sets the foundation for future science investigations.

In addition to safety skills, students have explored the science of bubbles and tested their engineering abilities by building and launching catapults! 

Congratulations to all our budding scientists in Mr Noack and Miss McGiffert's class! We can’t wait to see them put their new skills to the test in upcoming experiments. Well done, Year 7!

2025 BHS Athletics Carnival 

Our 2025 Athletics Carnival was a great hit! Despite the heat students came out ready for a fantastic day. The morning started off strong with the house warm ups and war chants. After the tone was set for the day all the students headed out for their first events. Rotating through both track and field for the day there were many smiles, much sweat and events won. On the side lines there was lots of dancing and people enjoying the BBQ and bake sale. Rounding out the day we had our Plains Producer Handicap race which was an exciting finish to the day with congratulations to Zac Hadley for winning the race.

Another dominant display by Ross House saw them crowned winners of the Championship Cup with a lead of 397 points over James House. With this win it has allowed Ross to score the 3-peat with them winning consecutively since 2023. Walter House also won the Athletics House Spirit Shield, making it a 5-peat for them, winning the shield consecutively since 2020.

A number of records were broken on the day, and in the lead up to the carnival. Congratulations to the following students who now hold records.

Results: 

Age Group Winners 

House Spirit Shield Winner

Walter

Year 11/12 Cricket - Round 2 Match Report

Tuesday of Week 6 saw the Year 11/12 squadron assemble at Dutton Park against a talented Kapunda outfit. Captain Seb Hughes called correctly at the toss and elected to bat first on a spinning Dehli-style track.

Seb and Corbin Branson were off to a patient start, respecting the good balls and putting away the loose ones. Seb fell for 8 and Corbin made 13, sparking a collapse for the Piping Shrikes. Tyler Toholke strutted to the crease, proud as punch with his new bat, and decided the hattrick ball would be best treated with a sweet off drive for 4! Well played Tolks.

At the end of our innings, the scorers had plenty of ink left in their pens as we could only manage 43.

With ball in hand, skipper Seb decided that it was spin to win from the onset. The lads got off to a good start and had Kapunda in dire straits at 4/28.

International signing Harrison Callery from RDHS showed why he’s on the big bucks, taking a very neat 5/29 from his allotted 5 overs. Build that man a statue!

Other wicket takers included Corbin with 2, whilst Adawynn Hughes, Seb and Tyler Page collected one each.

The boys fielded well throughout, Seb snaffled three catches and Henry Reinke was impressive with two stumpings from behind the wicket.

Kapunda were bowled out in the 20th over for 154.

Credit to the team for playing with a positive spirit, with special mention to Harvey Cay (Year 8) and Henry Reinke (Year 9) for getting an early taste of senior cricket.

NOOOOOO RUNNNNNNN!

Mr Noack

25km/h speed limit applies:

• Between school crossing (koala crossing) when the lights are flashing as indicated by a Children's Crossing sign.
• When a child is within a school zone, which is formed between a school zone sign and end school zone sign. This applies whenever a child is on the road, footpath, median strip, or even on a bicycle including outside of school hours.
  A ‘child’ means a person less than 18 years of age, and includes a student of any age wearing a school uniform.
  A school zone is also marked with zigzag lines on the road where practicable, to show that you are approaching a school zone.
• You must not exceed 25 km/h when passing, in either direction, a school bus that has stopped for the purpose of setting down or picking up children.

Parents Say February issue is now out!

A great way to find out what's happening in public education in South Australia.

The online magazine link is http://bit.ly/3F3mugM

29TH BALAKLAVA EISTEDDFOD

will be held on

Friday 1st August 2025

Saturday 2nd August 2025

Information will be sent in late March on how to enter.