Australian Business Week
In the last week of term 2, our year 11 students successfully managed their Cafe businesses. With support from staff, they competed with five other companies over two years of trading. This involved:

• Assigning roles: CEO, General Marketing, Finance, Operations
• Completing case studies
• Writing a company report
• Creating a product, process, or service
• Delivering an 8-minute oral presentation
• Producing a 30-second video commercial
• Mounting a trade display
• Dressing appropriately for the workplace.

Winners:

• Computer Simulation: The Country Kettle
• Website: Kenko
• Video Commercial: The Wedgetail Cafe
• Oral Report: Brew and Brunch
• Written Report: Kenko
• Trade Display: The Wedgetail Cafe

Congratulations to the winning team, 'Kenko'! A special thank you to all our mentors and organisers who worked tirelessly to make this week a success. Your dedication and support are greatly appreciated.

Research Project Results

Congratulations to our year 12 students who received their Research Project results yesterday from South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE). 17 students achieved within the A band, with a special congratulations to these three students who achieved an A+ in this Stage 2 subject:

Fletcher H with teacher Kardinia Caputo.

Mia D with teacher Marina Pater.

Holly T with teacher Kardinia Caputo.

Senior Supervised Study
Following positive results from year 11 students last semester, students can now use supervised study lessons as Home Study. Parents and caregivers have now signed an Edsmart form that was released in the July school holidays, which has been documented to grant permission each time your child signs in or out for Home Study. This is only at the beginning or the end of the school day. We will monitor progress to ensure effective use of time. This privilege can be withdrawn if necessary. Year 11 students are expected to attend Care Group at 11.00am daily.

Flinders University - Inspire Change
Flinders University offers the Inspire Change mentoring program, with 24 year 12 students participating. Mentors provide study support and discuss university entry and pathways. This program strengthens links for rural students, and Flinders University covers SATAC fees for participants.

RSSA Future Pathways Expo

In week 1, Renmark High School took our year 11 cohort to the inaugural Riverland Secondary Schools Alliance Future Pathways Expo at the Riverland Field Day site in Barmera. Over 30 exhibitors, including universities and trade options, participated. The event aimed to attract a wide range of exhibitors, with involvement from all 5 Riverland high schools. Families and students attended the evening session. Congratulations to Michael Pater, Emily Griggs, and the RSSA team for a successful event.

Taste of Training 

Last Friday, over 200 year 10 students participated in the 'Taste of Training' program, designed to prepare them for Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses as they enter year 11 in 2026. Renmark High School was fortunate to host courses in Allied Health Assistance (Cert 3), Construction Pathways (Cert 2), Early Childhood Education & Care (Cert 3), Electrotechnology (Cert 2), Agriculture (Cert 2), and Individual Support (Aged Care/Disability) (Cert 3) on site. Other programs, such as Automotive (Cert 2), Engineering Pathways (Cert 2), Hospitality (Cert 2), Information Technology (Cert 3), Hairdressing (Cert 2), and Screen and Media (Cert 3), were hosted by TAFE SA in Berri.

VET courses can lead to full-time and school-based apprenticeships, traineeships, and even university opportunities. A big thank you to the Riverland Secondary Schools Alliance and everyone involved for making this event a huge success!

Adelaide University Teacher Placements
Renmark High School recently hosted 10 third-year teacher trainees from Adelaide University. They gained experience in rural teaching and observed various subjects. The trainees praised the school's organisation, resources, and friendly atmosphere. 

Subject Counselling

Last night, we hosted our Subject Selection and Information Night, offering students and families the chance to explore the diverse subject offerings at Renmark High School. This event provided an opportunity for students to consider their options and prepare for the upcoming subject selection process next week. By engaging with our dedicated teachers and faculty leaders, families gained valuable insights to help plan their students' selections for 2026.

Year 9, 10, and 11 students will meet individually with their Care Group teacher and other experts to select their subjects on the following days:

• Monday 11 August: Year 11 into 12 (2026)
• Tuesday 12 August: Year 10 into 11 (2026)
• Wednesday 13 August: Year 9 into 10 (2026)

These interviews will take place in the Elaine Balfour-Ogilvy Library from 9.00am until the end of the day. Your child's appointed time is listed in the parent letter, which will be sent home by the end of this week. Parents are welcome to attend the interview. If you cannot attend, students will bring home their subject selections for your approval.

Visit our website to access our Curriculum Booklet: renmarkhs.sa.edu.au/student-learning/curriculum-2/, which outlines each subject and allows them to plan as they progress through each year level.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this informative evening!

SATAC Applications
Year 12 students considering university pathways have received SATAC information. Flinders University will assist on Wednesday 6 August. Applications should be completed by the end of term to avoid late fees. Students can seek advice from their Care Group Teachers - Mr Michael Young or Mrs Tamara Hooper.

University Open Days
Open Days provide an excellent opportunity for students and families to explore campuses, meet staff, and learn about course offerings. Below are the key dates for upcoming Open Days:

• Adelaide University
• Magill Campus – Wednesday 13 August, 3.30pm–7.00pm
• Mawson Lakes Campus – Sunday 17 August, 11.00am–3.00pm
• Roseworthy Campus – Sunday 17 August, 11.00am–4.00pm

For more information on Adelaide University Open Days visit: https://adelaideuni.edu.au/about/events/2025/open-day/? 

• Flinders University
• Riverland Campus – Tuesday 5 August
• Tonsley Campus – Saturday 9 August

For more information on Flinders University Open Days visit: 
https://www.flinders.edu.au/study/events-key-dates/open-days 

We encourage students to visit these university websites to learn more about specific Open Day activities at each location.

Resume Support and Career Preparation

We continue to assist our senior students in updating their resumes and preparing for employment opportunities. Whether students are aiming for university, TAFE, apprenticeships, or local employment, we are committed to ensuring every Renmark High School student transitions successfully into their next stage of life.

I look forward to sharing more senior news and student success stories throughout 2025.

Marina Pater
Assistant Principal
Director of Operations

Congratulations to year 11 student, Ollie L on his recent victory in the 25K run!

Hosted by the Adelaide Trail Runners, the Clare Valley Trail Run took place under wet and cold conditions on Saturday 26 July. The event featured a variety of races, including a 10K hike, 10K run, 25K run, and 50K run, across the picturesque trails of the Clare Valley. Ollie competed in the 25K run, following his earlier race this year in Robe. Ollie won overall in a field of 47 male and female competitors, finishing with an impressive time of 1:54:25, more than 10 minutes ahead of his nearest competitor.

25km | Overall | Clare Valley Trail Run 2025 | Resources.ws.RaceResults | Webscorer

At the end of term 2, Mr Clark's Advanced PE students ventured to Adelaide for two days filled with highly engaging activities. This year's activities included the Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty hike, go karts, laser skirmish, Latitude, and downhill mountain bike riding. Students enjoyed a dynamic and adventurous experience, enhancing their physical skills and teamwork.

Mr Clark’s year 10 Physical Education class has been visiting the Alan Coulter Recreation Centre during their double lessons to participate in a strength and conditioning program. They have represented our school values of respect, connect and achieve excellently and will hopefully adopt life-long active lifestyles.

On Tuesday 24June, Mr Clark's year 12 Essential English class visited the Renmark Club for lunch. Students were required to sample items from their menu and take notes in preparation to write a restaurant review. Their review will evaluate their experience and focus primarily on the establishment, their meal, the décor and the service they received.   

Miss Coombe's year 9 students have been refining their presentation skills in Food Technology by crafting burger buns and patties from scratch. This hands-on experience not only enhanced their culinary skills but also boosted their confidence in presenting their creations.

Year 8 Technology classes have been busy crafting personalised marshmallow sticks and skewers. After completing this task, students ventured to our Renmark High School Pindelun Yiti (fire pit) to test their creations by toasting marshmallows, accompanied by a hot chocolate. 

Kelli Hersey
Design and Technologies Teacher

Year 8 students are currently exploring energy this term in Science. Last Wednesday, Mrs Dunn’s and Ms Blanden’s class used the schools STELR kits; STEM equipment designed to allow students hands-on experiences with renewable energy technology. The students investigated sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and battery power, and how each transfer and transform energy. Mr Branford’s year 11 (Stage 1) Physics class also joined in and helped set up a number of stations and explain the results to the junior classes.

Dolly's Dream school workshops equip children and young people with the tools to navigate challenges, digital safety, and support systems. By encouraging kindness, empathy, and self-worth, they empower participants to builder safer and more supportive communities.

From Tuesday 19 August to Thursday 21 August, year 7 - 12 students will attend Dolly’s Dream workshops on bullying and kindness held at Renmark High School. The program is delivered by a trained educator from and the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission (ACNC).An Edsmart form will be sent home prior for permission for your child to attend. More information can be found on the Dolly's Dream website: https://www.dollysdream.org.au/home 

Parent Workshop

Objectives of the workshop:

• Understand the emotional and mental effects of both online and offline bullying.
• Learn the proper channels for reporting harmful content on social media.
• Gain insights into current trends and safety strategies in young people's online interations.
• Encourage practices at home that nurture respect, empathy, and resilience.

The workshop is designed for an 18+ adult only adult audience. We hope you can attend to understand the importance of this topic in our school community.

Jacinta Coombe
Wellbeing and Engagement Leader

If you have any further general enquiries or questions, please contact our front office administration. 

From 1 March 2024 new regulations will extend the smoke-free and vape-free areas to within 10 metres of site boundaries.

This includes:

• school drop-off and pick-up zones that are within 10 metres of the school fence, gate or boundary
• school ovals and sporting fields and within 10 metres of the boundary of the oval or sporting field
• footpaths, roads, public nature strips and public recreation areas that are within 10 metres of a school boundary.

E-cigarettes

E-cigarettes, or ‘vapes’, are not safe for young people. They come in many shapes and sizes and can be hard to spot as they can look like everyday items including highlighters, pens, USB memory sticks or watches.

Key vaping facts

• Many e-cigarettes contain nicotine despite being labelled as not. Nicotine can cause long-lasting negative effects on young people’s brain development, including impaired learning ability and altered mood, and can increase the risk of depression and anxiety.
• E-cigarettes can contain the same harmful chemicals found in cleaning products, nail polish remover, weed killer and bug spray, which can lead to serious lung diseases.
• Young people who vape are three times as likely to take up smoking cigarettes.
• E-cigarettes are harmful to the environment as they contain single-use plastics and lithium batteries, cause pollution and can start fires.

The laws around selling e-cigarettes

It’s illegal to sell or supply e-cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18 years. Young people often purchase vapes online, from retail stores, or from friends and contacts on social media. There are a number of retailers who sell e-cigarettes to young people. This is a crime.

Talk to your child about vaping

It’s important to take the time to talk to your child about the risks of vaping. Try to start the conversation in a relaxed easy-going way, and remember your goal is to have a conversation, not deliver a lecture. Parenting SA provides a Parent Easy Guide on talking with children and young people about drugs and alcohol – visit parenting.sa.gov.au.

Get the evidence and facts about vaping at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/vaping.

Find out more about how we manage alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in schools at www.education.sa.gov.au/vaping