Principal's Address
Welcome to week 9 of term 3.
Select Harvests and our Farm Management Centre
A couple of weeks ago, Michael Ward, Regional Manager, Jubilee and Amaroo Farms, with the support of parent company, Select Harvests Limited, became involved in an industry partnership in our Farm Management Centre. Michael and his team held a very productive working bee at our farm, with over 20 staff replacing posts, repairing the irrigation system, weed control, other maintenance activities, and setting up our farm so that it operates effectively.
Select Farms involvement has been facilitated through our Riverland Secondary Schools Alliance Secondary Regional Connections Leader, Michael Pater. Having industry interest and involvement in our school is a significant advantage for our students. Not only has Michael Ward and the Select Harvests team helped to maintain our farm, we are also benefiting from their expertise as they position us to be an industry relevant, technology driven facility that will benefit the students now and into the future.
Through Select Harvests, we have also been linked to Mark Heywood and Jos Kelly from Phytech Australia. Mark and Jos have now installed sensors at our farm that can be monitored by students back at school! More on this exciting technology will be shared in future newsletters. Michael Ward has facilitated another project that is developing with Ceres Imaging and the NRM board and we will also update you with more details on this soon!
Thank you also to GrowSmart Training as our long term ongoing partner in providing vocational training for students from across the Riverland Secondary Schools Alliance and who also assist in the ongoing demands of our farm.
The Horticulture and Agriculture industries are strong, successful career pathways for our students and we thank Select Farms, Phytech, Growsmart, and Ceres Imaging for their support in ensuring we can offer students industry standard training using the latest technologies and best farm practices!
Renmark High School students Ethan E, Kaidee J and Rhianna P at launch of the Farm Management Centre
Parent Interview Reminders
Again, I would like to strongly encourage your attendance at the upcoming student, parent, teacher interviews. These interviews are a great chance for teachers, students and their parents/caregivers to discuss student achievement, progress and goal setting for the remainder of the year. Interviews are not only for students who aren't progressing as well as expected, they are just as valuable to discuss the learning and skill development of students who are already performing to a high standard. We offer these interviews in term 3 to give time for students to put new goals and actions in place to improve results during the remainder of semester two. Use the online booking system www.schoolinterviews.com.au with the booking code: 'r2xq6' to reserve your preferred time slots.
Due to the public holiday on Thursday we will have parent teacher interviews for one day only next Tuesday 27th September. If you are unable to make it Tuesday please contact teachers with any concerns about your child’s progress via contacting the front office or message in Daymap.
'R U OK?' day
'R U OK?' day is a good chance to remind us in the importance of checking-in. Please don’t forget that we don’t just need a 'day' to check in on our families, friends, students, colleagues and ourselves we can do this anytime! You don't need to be an expert to reach out - just a good friend and a great listener. Use these four steps and have a conversation that could change a life:
- Ask R U OK?
- Listen
- Encourage action
- Check in
Don’t forget that we have many staff who can support student wellbeing at school, including Wellbeing Leader, Ben Files, our full time Social Worker, Alicia Thackray, Aboriginal Secondary Education Transition Officers - Daniel Giles and Chloe Shorrock, Pastoral Care Worker, Maria Dowzard, and Student Engagement Officer, Kyla Wade. Please refer to them for support as required.
Student Self Care
It is the end of term 3 and, with only about 9 weeks to go until the last exam, the next few weeks are an essential time for year 12 students. It is important to set a good study plan, making the most of the time remaining, and taking the opportunity to work with teachers to assist in your preparations for final assessments. However, having a balance between work and fun is extremely important so ensure that you also take time over these holidays to relax and enjoy yourself.
For all of our students, as you will not be at school for two weeks, your support structures may not be as readily available to you. With this in mind, here are some excellent resources you can utilise anytime- whether it be during school holidays or not:
Phone Counselling
- Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
- Headspace 1800 650 890
- Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
Online Counselling
Enjoy the break!
Regards,
Mat Evans
Principal