Welcome

Welcome to our first eNewlstter. This is an exciting opportunity to provide a modern, dynamic format to highlight the wonderful learning experiences and friendships that happen every day here at RHS.  I hope you enjoy reading about the many activities our students and staff have been involved in during this very busy start to the term.

Swim Carnival Success

Congratulations to our swimmers! Winning the Championship Shield at last week’s Interschool Swimming Carnival was a fantastic achievement by the RHS team.  Swimmers, staff and supporters (students, friends and family) all contributed to this success.  The night was a great example of a team working together showcasing our motto “not for ourselves alone.”  Students committed to their events, stepped in to fill gaps, and supported and encouraged each other.  Each individual gave their best performance to contribute to the team score.  Well done team, not only have you been recognised for a significant effort and achievement on the night but you have also helped contribute to a lot of positive talk about our school, increasing school pride.

Student Progress

As we are already half way through the term it is a good time for students to review their progress, recognising their strengths and setting goals for improvement.  We strongly encourage parents and caregivers to have a conversation with your child about their progress so far this year and plans for their learning futures.  You are able to check the traffic light rating that was given for each subject on DAYMAP and can use this as a starting point for your discussions.  Monitoring progress, reviewing what has worked and what needs improving, is a useful process to assist the successful learning journeys for all of our students year 8 to year 12.

Regards - Mat Evans

Renmark High School SRC visit to the Renmark Paringa Council Chambers

SRC Induction Report

In front of an excited and positive student body in the wake of Monday evening’s historic Inter-School Swimming success, the 2019 SRC was inducted. Record numbers of nominees across our 5 year levels saw 72 students put their hand up to be part of the SRC in a very positive sign for the promotion of student thought, leadership and ideas.

The 35 elected SRC members for 2019 were able to strongly demonstrate to their peers that they live and uphold the Renmark High School values of trust, responsibility, fun, respect and accountability.

The SRC leadership has already outlined their priorities for 2019 which includes a focus on fundraising events, lunchtime sporting events and challenges of many kinds between students and staff, a uniform review and the improvement of the school’s grounds – in particular the renaming of the main school blocks after Renmark High School graduates and staff as well as the renumbering of classrooms.

The SRC held its first meeting of the year and a Leadership Day at the local council chambers on Wednesday the 27^th of February to plan for the year ahead. The group is greatly looking forward to working with the Governing Council and the many existing committees to achieve the goals they have identified for 2019.

Mr Ben Files

SRC Mentor Teacher  

SRC Members List

Year 12

Head Prefects: Abbas Qambari & Christie Webb

Deputy Prefects: Dylan Bennet & Harshdeep Kaur

SRC Members: Jai Boon, Jaydn Mason & Jackson Webb

Year 11

Year Level Prefects: Haidar Qambari & Dana Hansen

SRC Members: Erin Ashby, Josh Goody, Rachel Humble, Damon Kassebaum & Eleni Tzanos

Year 10

Year Level Prefects: Charlee Webb & Christine Jonas

SRC Members: Kyle Camilleri, Maggie Glekas, Renee Johnson, Sukhdeep Kaur & Amber Winfield-Howell

Year 9

Year Level Prefects: Judd Hansen & Tarja Cesaro

SRC Members: Maddy Long, Kalyssa Plew, Tyron Stevens & Jordan White

Year 8: Bailey White & Sakina Qambari

SRC Members: Jade Crook, Lachlan Goody, Jaxon Lloyd, Jenna Lambert, Michelle Morris & Taj Saatze

Renmark High School communicates with our families in a range of ways. These include:

• Daymap
• Notes in Student Diary
• Schoolzine eNewsletter
• Website
• School Notice Board (on Thurk St)
• Facebook

Please make sure that you are familiar with our modes of communication, in particular our eNewsletter which is our primary whole school digital communication platform, used for a range of purposes. This includes the free SZapp which gives parents/carers access to the eNewsletter, the school website and parent calendar, surveys, Facebook as well as notifications.

It is also really helpful for parents to access Daymap regularly for up to date information on their child's results, classroom and attendance information as well as having direct contact with teachers.

Accurate family contact information and details ensure we are able to communicate with you in times of need. Please telephone the school on 85866974 if you need to update any of the details below:

• Phone numbers
• Emergency contacts
• Address details
• Medical information

A place for reminders & notifications

Uniforms

Are you passionate about the Renmark High School uniform? We are looking to review the school uniform choices, and plan to form a committee including parents, community members, students and staff. This will not be a big commitment. If you are interested in joining this committee please email Lucinda Yates on lucinda.yates934@schools.sa.edu.au, or contact the school to register your interest. 

This year our Music Faculty has begun delivering Year 8 Music in a new and exciting way. All year 8 students will participate in instrumental music tuition, provided by our Department for Education instrumental music staff.

To support our venture the Adelaide Youth Orchestra has increased our musical instrument collection, gifting a variety of brass, rhythm section and woodwind instruments to our school. This was made possible as a result of a generous grant provided by the James & Diana Ramsay Foundation and the RAA. 

Our first class of Year 8s has begun their instrumental lessons and are already making some musical sounds on their instruments.

At the conclusion of each term, participants will be given the opportunity to continue instrumental music lessons.

Kirralee Baldock
Director of Learning
Music Teacher

After a successful swimming carnival on Friday of week 2, the students changed their focus to the Interschool Event, held on Monday the 18^th February. Many students continued with their normal training with the Renmark Vitor Swimming Club, while others were invited to come and receive some tips.

The team selected by Jodi Long and Marina Pater looked strong and there was a natural buzz and excitement amongst the group. Students were aware of the necessary commitment, acknowledging that everyone selected, including reserves, had a vital role in it all coming together successfully.

The night started off with a bang, as Dylan White broke the Riverland Open 50m butterfly record set in 2018 and followed with another as he broke the U16 freestyle record set in 1997 (also a RHS record).

The U20 girls medley relay team also broke a Riverland record, set in 2009, smashing it by 3 seconds. The team consisting of Georgia Pater, Madelyn Long, Bree Lambert and Stella Anderson will have a few more opportunities to improve on this time in the years to come as they are a young group.

Two other RHS records were broken on the day by year 9 pocket-rocket Madelyn Long as she broke the open 50m butterfly record. Madelyn also broke the U14 freestyle record.

Throughout the night there were many special moments that contributed to the team's success. Every point was vital and students gave it everything they had. Other strong performers included: Bree Lambert, Jordan White, Stella Anderson, Georgia Pater and Tianna Ivanovic.

Even though Renmark hosted the event, the strong support from parents, RHS staff and most importantly the students (both swimming and cheering) gave the team added incentive to push themselves making it even more special when it was announced that RENAMRK HIGH SCHOOL were the ‘MOST IMPROVED and CHAMPIONS’ for 2019. The cheers and smiles on everyone’s faces highlighted this very special moment showing that when we have the support of everyone, we can do amazing things.

As well as the two major shields we were successful in winning a number of age group pennants. They included the Under 14 Girls, Under 16 Boys and Girls and the U20 Girls. We are looking to build on this success in the future. All the best to the team travelling down to the State Aquatic Centre on Monday the 4^th of March to compete in the C Grade Competition.

On Wednesday the 20^th February, 15 students travelled down to West Lakes to compete in the School Sport SA Triathlon event. It was another successful day for Renmark High School as we finished 3^rd overall.

Students competed as an individual (5) and/or as a team (5) against schools from across the state. All of the individuals placed in the top 3 with Madelyn Long and Bailey White being invited to compete in the South Australian Schools Triathlon team.

Under 15 Boys

1^st Bailey White

2^nd Maison Goodman

Under 15 Girls

3^rd Madelyn Long

Under 17

1^st Aidan Prokopec

3^rd Jordan White

The 5 teams battled hard as the temperature increased throughout the afternoon, all finishing within a reasonable time. The under 15 mixed team (Madelyn Long, Maison Goodman and Isabella Cant) took out the event with a great performance.

There was only the one casualty for the day, with young speedster Blake Pitman taking a corner at a high speed, resulting in the bike sliding out from under him. He bounced back quickly and you couldn’t remove the smile from his face as he watched team-mate Bailey step in and finish the race.

After a long and draining day, I anticipated the students would be set for a relaxing trip home. I was soon proven wrong as the karaoke started up in bus. Well done to all participants, who looked like they had a great day. Thanks to Nikki White for taking the individual participants and bikes down at 5:00am. Bring on 2020.

Welcome to 2019 from our Aboriginal Education Team. We are starting the term off on a positive note, having a room allocatedwhich we can call our own. This will be used by everyone as a break, gathering and learning room. We have decided to go with a traditional Ngarrindjeri name for our room, calling it Namawi Pulgi (num-a-wee pull-gee) meaning ‘our room’ as it is a room for everyone.

Please see below a flyer for an upcoming Junior Football Carnival and feel free to contact me for further information.

Daniel Giles - Aboriginal Secondary Education Transition Officer

Year 10 English Class - "Deadly Unna?"

Students in Mrs. Elliott’s year 10 English class busily prepared questions for Daniel Giles and Mrs. Turnbull based around their reading of ‘Deadly Unna?’ A range of discussions around Aboriginal perspectives were covered including the origins of football, family values, the role of Elders and the ways Renmark High School students can be advocates for social change in the future. A big thank you to Declan Johnson and Dylan White for providing an interview style environment for our visitors. 

Mrs. Elliott 

Home Economics – Year 9 Food & Nutrition

The Year 9 Food & Nutrition class has been learning about sensory evaluation of food with a focus on developing vocabulary to determine different characteristics of food such as appearance, odour, taste and texture.

Health & Physical Education

There has been plenty going on within all of the HPE classes, with many making the most of the hot weather and heading down to the Renmark Swimming Pool. Students participated in some lap swimming and splash events in preparation for the RHS and Interschool Swimming Carnivals. Advanced PE classes also enjoyed the pool, incorporating triathlon training (team and individual).

Mr Lindner and the Stage 1 PE students have started working through the new Stage 1 SACE course with a lot of emphasis on the analysis of individual and team performance. A new Stage 2 course will be implemented in 2020.

Both the Stage 1 and Stage 2 Outdoor Education classes have been working on their stroke technique (canoe and kayak) and safety, in preparation for their expeditions in week 8 and 9 of this term.

Important Dates

1. Monday 18^th February – Interschool Swimming (Renmark – PM)
2. Wednesday 20^th February – SSSSA Triathlon (Individual and/or team event)
3. Monday 4^th March – SSSSA Swimming (SA Aquatic Centre)
4. Thursday 7^th March – 1500m Event
5. Wednesday 13^th March – 800m Event
6. Friday 15^th March – RHS Sports Day
7. Week 8 Stage 2 Outdoor Education Kayak Expedition (dates TBC)
8. Week 9 Stage 1 Outdoor Education Canoe Expedition (dates TBC)
9. Wednesday 3^rd April – Interschool Athletics (Glossop)
10. Thursday 11^th April – SSSSA Athletics (Santos)

2019 RHS HOUSE CAPTAINS

Approval for Bus Travel

There is currently high demand for families wanting to use the school bus service.

If families have been approved but are not intending to use the service, please  contact Stacey at the Front Office on 85866974 to allow other travellers an opportunity.

Whilst waiting for the bus, it is important to wait in an orderly, sensible manner at all times. Make sure you are looking after your own safety as well as being aware of the safety of others.

All RHS bus travellers are reminded of the importance of wearing a seatbelt. Please, once you are seated, remember to fasten your seatbelt. Students are not to move around on the bus and are to REMAIN SEATED at all times.

Students 16 and over can also receive fines. For more information go to:

Thank you for your assistance.

Renmark Bus Committee

Hello everyone. I would like to tell you a bit about myself and how you can contact me if you need to.  I am at school on Tuesdays 9.00-3-30 and Thursdays from 8.30-2.30.  I can be contacted at school or a message can be left with the front office staff and I will always get back to you.   I believe that I am an extremely good listener and one of my roles is to support students and families and seek a positive outcome when issues arise. I am always open to support you in any way I can.

The year 8 camp was held a few weeks ago and I was lucky enough to be a part of the team. It was so wonderful to see students have a go at the activities and experience success. Some students had never tried water skiing and to see them literally just get up and ski - well it was the best. They were thrilled, pumped and so excited.There were others who didn't think they could get up at all but did, and others who were very nervous but overcame this the support of the amazing aquatics team. It was a wonderful camp with the weather being kind to us.

Keep smiling and be kind to each other.  

Pammy - your Pastoral Care Worker