Year 12 Class of 2019                                                                                               

Renmark High School Year 12 students attended their final day of school last Friday and exams have already begun.  Year 12 is the culmination of 13 years of schooling and students are now very close to the finish.   We wish the Year 12s all the very best at this important time of year for their final assessments, moderations and examinations, and we look forward to hearing how they have achieved their goals!

Reminder from last Newsletter: BYOD – Student Computers

After much investigation of the many options that will be best for students, parents and the school we are ready to launch a Bring Your Own Device option ready for 2020!  Currently we have 4 options (including a Mac) that are school recommended and that parents can buy outright (or through a payment plan).  For more information we have a parent night in the library on Tuesday 5^th November 5:30-7pm where a representative from Edunet will be here to present and answer parent questions. 

Mat Evans - Principal

ARTS

Watercolour Painting – Yr 8 Visual Arts

Last term’s Year 8 Visual Arts students exhibited their artworks at the Renmark High School Spring Fair. They presented their watercolour paintings depicting Riverland native flora, where techniques learned from local artist Jacqui Mason helped to create these pieces. Students gained knowledge of local native plants and their significance in Aboriginal culture from Chris Koomatrie, Aboriginal Project Officer at SA Murray-Darling Basin NRM Board. These watercolour paintings were entered into NRM Education Calendar artwork competition where one of our students, Lachlan McDonald, was one of the winners. His artwork will feature in the 2020 NRM Calendar. This is a great achievement as there were over 230 entries and only 17 winners around the state, Lachlan being one of them. Congratulations to Lachlan and all the students who exhibited their work and entered the competition. These artworks are currently on display in the school’s front office foyer.

Darija Atsaves, Visual Arts Teacher

Light Painting -Yr 10 Photography

Over the last 3 weeks, Photography students have been learning about light painting. They have been exploring camera exposures as well as different props they could use to produce light painted photographs. We were fortunate enough to have Chad Vigar, a local photographer, volunteer to conduct a workshop for students on our school oval. Chad shared his abundant knowledge of light painting and happily shared a great variety of tools with students to take some amazing photographs. We would sincerely like to thank Chad for his time and providing inspiration to our students.

Darija Atsaves, Photography teacher

DRAMA

HEALTH/PE

Sports Education

Throughout Term 4, classes 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4 have been taking part in an inter-class Sport Education Program (as the classes are running at the same time).

The practical is on Tag Rugby with the focus on team work, leadership and responsibility. Throughout the unit students were placed into teams and took on a role within their team. The roles include:

-Sports Board

-Captain

-Coach

-Statistician

-Artistic Director

-Publicist

-Umpire

After completing some training sessions and minor games they will participate in a mini premiership season starting this week. For each game that is played,  points will be awarded for the win, fair play and a team chant. Each team will be rostered on to a duty whilst their team has a bye, with each participant performing their role. During one of the singles throughout the week students will be reflecting on the games and preparing for the following games.

A sample newsletters was designed and produced by the teams' publicist. Other year levels are also participating in their own SEPEP program.

U15 Indigenous State Football Team (Female)

Over the past few months Year 9 student Lara-Kate Patrick has attending a few training sessions (Renmark and Adelaide) in hope to make the U15 Indigenous S.A. Football Team. She recently received an exciting email saying that she has made the team and will be attending a camp in Melbourne (early 2020). Lara-Kate will also attend a few more training session and play some games at both Alberton and Adelaide ovals before representing South Australia in the National Carnival. All the best Lara-Kate and keep up the good work.

Bailey & Izzy tear up the track

As some of you may be aware both Bailey White and Isabella Cant recently represented the Renmark High School at the VIVA SA All Schools Track and Field Championships held at Santos Stadium. After some intense training and dedication both Bailey (U14) and Izzy (U16) excelled in their chosen events with Bailey achieving a 1^st in the 1500m (with a record meet time of 4:24.11) and Izzy finishing 2^nd.

Bailey and Izzy topped off an impressive weekend on Sunday in the 800m event as Bailey finished 1^st and Izzy 2^nd (as a 14 year old).

Due to the results Bailey and Izzy have automatically qualified to compete at the VIVA All Schools National Championships to be held in Perth in December. At this stage they are weighing up this opportunity although they have their eyes set on the National Track and Field Championships in Sydney (March, 2020).

Congratulations to you both on your efforts, keeping training hard and we look forward to following your progress.

The Great Debate: Barbie dolls should be banned

Year 10 students Amalia, Charlee and Anna will take on teachers Mr. Watkinson, Miss Ferguson and Mr Young debating the long standing and highly controversial topic of whether Barbie dolls should be banned.

There are schools of thought that support both sides of this argument coupled with a significant amount of research.

Currently students and staff are gearing up for the occasion.

The Great Debate will be held in the Chaffey Theatre on the 20^th of November at 12pm. Family and friends are encouraged to come.

Mrs. Elliott

It is with great excitement that I am able to announce that Renmark High School has been successful in securing an In-country Scholarship for our French language students in 2020, to the value of $25 000.

The Department for Education offers these scholarships to schools annually with the aim of inspiring students to continue their study of languages into the senior years. Participating in study tours and exchange programs has a significant impact on students’ motivation to learn a second language and confidence to use their language skills with their peers.

Renmark High School is the only regional secondary school in South Australia offering a French language program to Stage 2. With this funding, our aim is to embed an affordable Study Tour as a part of the French Faculty to appeal to a wider number of students.

Participating in the New Caledonia Study Tour will allow students to appreciate the geographical proximity of the French language to our shores, providing real incentive to continue studying French as a part of their career plans. A growing population of itinerant French workers living in the town and increased investment from French companies in South Australia, specifically in Renmark, validates French as a global language. A robust French program at Renmark High School, offering an in-country experience for our students supports this connection to our local community.

These funds will enable more students of French to join our international Study Tour to New Caledonia in April, 2020 at a considerably reduced price.

French students were thrilled with the news, a number of whom were quite emotional on realising this funding would enable them to participate in the study tour.

Jasmine Tassios

French Teacher

TIPS FOR MANAGING EXAMS

With end of year exams looming, our senior students will be bunkering down and studying hard in preparation.  Below are some useful tips for students to cope with the workload and how you, as their parent, can support them.

Tips for Students

• Find the right study area with minimal distractions and somewhere quiet. If this isn’t possible at home, visit your local library.
• Ensure you have adequate lighting.
• Switch off mobile phones and avoid social media.
• Schedule your study time and stick to it.
• Make time to relax and spend time with family and friends
• Eating regular healthy meals and exercising will fuel your mind and wellbeing.
• Ask for help! You are not alone.

Tips for Parents/Caregivers

• Have plenty of fresh foods available such as fruits, vegetables and nuts and ensure they stop to eat their meals.
• Take an interest in what they are studying but give them space to get their work done.
• Speak encouragingly to them
• Don’t put additional pressure on your teenager, allow them leeway when it comes to chores.
• Keep an eye on them but do not interfere.
• Ensure they are getting plenty of sleep.

The South Australian Certificate of Education website have some additional tools to help you and your child get the most out of their study. https://www.sace.sa.edu.au/studying/support/study-tips

From your Pastoral Care Worker – Pammy

Hello to everyone, here we are in week 4 and there is only 5 weeks left until end of the school year.  Time seems to go very fast, probably too fast for our year 12’s.

I get some encouraging stories about life and people coming across my desk.  One recently spoke about how some of the world’s greatest people have faced great challenges.  For example: one man was a very slow learner and mentally challenged.  If you wrote him off as beyond becoming a high achiever then we would have lost Albert Einstein.   Also  Abraham Lincoln was raised in abject poverty and Helen Keller was born blind and deaf and still managed to achieve high honours and make an impact on the world.  Another example was a young Adelaide father who could not read or write.  He learnt with his children before later doing adult courses and he ended up becoming one of the first Aboriginal Podiatrists.

  All these people succeeded through sheer hard work and self-determination.   What do these people teach me I ask myself?   That success doesn’t depend on our circumstances – it is how we overcome our circumstances.  I am impressed and hugely encouraged.   How about you?  It’s something to think about.  Be kind to each other and keep smiling.  Til next time…cheers Pammy.