Congratulations to Ben Files who has won a position in the support services division of our DfE Regional Office based at Berri. In his new role, starting next year, Ben will be supporting schools across the Riverland with inclusive education for students. While we wish Ben all the best in his new role it does mean however that we have a vacancy for a Wellbeing Leader to begin next year.

For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.education.sa.gov.au/page.php?pageID=160&windowUID=0&AdvertID=41594

Parent Survey

The annual parent survey is underway and closes midnight Sunday 8 September. For more information please visit the department’s website.

This survey aims to get your views on:

• what we’re doing well
• where we can improve
• what’s important to you as a parent/carer.

Your answers won't identify you or your child and only collated feedback is provided to our school.

You should have already received a link to the survey via email or SMS. Reminder emails are currently being sent to you unless you have completed a survey or have unsubscribed.

Please take the time to complete the survey, this is valuable information for our school. If you cannot find the previously sent link, then please use this one: https://survey.education.sa.gov.au/sc/rdMx-1uhg96bZfDSAA2VZA2

Flinders University Assessment Centre

Renmark High School hosted the Flinders University Assessment Centre Entry Pathway program recently, where nominated year 11 students from Renmark High and the other Riverland Secondary Schools Alliance high schools (Berri Regional Secondary College, Loxton High School and Waikerie High School were invited to be assessed). The assessment process considers methodologies for admission to higher education as an alternative to their ATAR. University staff observed student interactions throughout the day in a range of group and individual activities designed to demonstrate characteristics and aptitude for a study pathway at university. Well done to the selected senior students who were involved. It was a successful day and an amazing opportunity for our region. 

Subject Selections

We are well underway in our planning for 2025. Students have been busy selecting their subjects for next year, or if they are in year 12 looking at future study or employment pathways. Last week we also provided subject selection interviews for year 9, 10 and 11 students. These interviews are a valuable opportunity to discuss student options and pathways and we appreciated the parents or caregivers who were able to attend with their student to support them and be involved in the process. If you weren’t able to attend your child would have a selection sheet to be signed and brought back to school. This can be given to their Care Group teacher.

Last week we held our Future Planning Expo for year 10 and 11 students and their families to hear about SACE and senior school pathways, and we also had a range of other agencies there to discuss future options with students. 

The next step is for us to use this information to make subject and staffing decisions, so the more accurate the choices are in this time the better.  Students are much more likely to get their choice of subjects next year if they make an informed choice this year. We aim to accommodate student preferences in order, but keep in mind that where necessary we will go to subjects a student has included on their reserve list if needed so make sure these reserve choices have also been carefully considered.

Doctor on site

We are coming up to one year of operation for the very successful paediatric clinic initiative introduced by the Renmark Medical Clinic to our schools. Dr. James McLeod and Dr. Hamish Eske, from the Renmark Medical Clinic, continuously explore ways to support local Renmark families. As a result, children and teenagers in Renmark have access to free healthcare consultations with a local doctor right at school. The service, known as the Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence and Renmark Medical Clinic Rapid Access Paediatric Clinic—RAP Clinic for short—brings a doctor to each of our sites on a rotational basis to address specific needs, concerns, and health-related matters. This doctor is onsite at Renmark High School every Friday then also available to book appointments in the afternoon back at the Renmark Medical Clinic.

We sincerely thank the Renmark Medical Clinic for their ongoing dedication to the health and wellbeing of our students and for providing this invaluable on-site service.

Mat Evans
Principal