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Firstly I would like to thank everyone for your ongoing support, patience and flexibility as we negotiate through these unprecedented times. The effort of our school community to manage the many challenges currently presenting has been noticed and appreciated.
I would like to particularly acknowledge the support and ongoing professionalism of our amazing staff team who remain committed to teaching and learning and ensuring that students are successful.
Supporting each other during these times is essential, which is why it has been so pleasing to see staff, students and families working together to support each other and to support student learning. We need to make this work and this will be difficult the less contact that we have with students and families, so please make sure you ask for help.
Continuation of Learning
Despite the changing world we are keen to maintain the learning for our young people. However, it appears that it will look different than we are used to for the time being.
There is considerable work being done in this space at a school, departmental, state and national level.
What we are working with at the moment for student learning:
- Daymap is our primary source of curriculum information for students and parents.
- Teachers are using Daymap to communicate with students, upload assignments/worksheets etc for each class.
- Some information was posted home today to make sure all students have their Learnlink details.
- Learnlink will give access to Office 365 (including Word and Excel), Teams and Minecraft for Education.
- Teams is the Department endorsed live platform, is accessible from the website or from the download app.
- If students are working at home please refer to DAYMAP for information on all subjects.
- Daymap access is very important for students so please contact us if your student has trouble accessing Daymap at home.
- Daymap messages can be sent to individual teachers.
The following are important messages adapted from those that have come out via Facebook and/or Daymap and/or text:
Family contact details
While it is always important to have up to date contact details, it is even more important at the moment. Please assist us in updating our school records by ensuring your contact details are correct. If you have previously only supplied work details, please contact the school on 8586 6974 with a home or mobile phone number. This is to contact you in an emergency or to keep communication available should students be working from home.
Student Attendance
Renmark High School is open, however please let admin know if you have decided to keep your children at home, thank you to those families that have already done so. Students should refer to Daymap for all subject information. Please let us know if students are having trouble accessing Daymap at home for any reason.
In order to keep both students and staff safe, Renmark High School will only permit essential visitors/services at this time. If you wish to report an absence or speak directly to staff please contact the school on 8586 6974 or email dl.0794.info@schools.sa.edu.au or via Daymap message.
Parent Teacher Interviews
Following advice from the Department for Education and SA Health, RHS Parent Teacher Interviews will be postponed for Term 1. In place of this, traffic light interim reports will be sent posted home in Week 11, as well as published on Daymap.
If you would like to also discuss your student’s learning, please send a Daymap message to the teacher, or contact the school and leave a message to speak with their teacher.
Student Free Day
A reminder we have a student free day Week 10, Tuesday 31st of March.
NAPLAN 2020 cancelled
NAPLAN has been cancelled for 2020 so school leaders, teachers and support staff can focus on the wellbeing of students and prepare for the continuity of education.
Social Distance and visitors
We ask that the only people who come into the school are those who are essential (predominantly staff and students).
We encourage you to like us on Facebook as it is a valuable way to keep update.
Thank you once again for your support in working together for students. Look after yourselves and each other, practice good hygiene and social distancing and you will hear from me again before the term has ended.
Mat Evans - Principal
Renmark High School is open, however please let admin know if you have decided to keep your children at home, thank you to those families that have. Students should refer to Daymap for all subject information, please let us know if students are having trouble accessing Daymap at home for any reason!
In order to keep both students and staff safe, Renmark High School will only permit essential visitors/services at this time. If you wish to report an absence or speak directly to staff please contact the school on 8586 6974 or email dl.0794.info@schools.sa.edu.au or via Daymap message.
Thank you for your understanding during this uncertain time.
Immunisation Program Reminder
The immunisation team from Renmark Paringa Council will be visiting the school on Friday 27th of March to provide the following scheduled vaccinations;
Please find below a class schedule for student immunisations
It is important for your child to arrive 10 mins prior to their scheduled time slot and present themselves to Student Services who will mark them as present. Students are expected to remain on site for a minimum of 15 minutes after their immunisations as a precaution against possible side effects.
To limit the number of people on site and to adhere to social distancing regulations, parents/caregivers will not be permitted to enter school grounds during this time.
A notice from Lenovo!
Due to global events Lenovo has had to increase their pricing. We have been informed that there will be at least a 7% price rise on all products as of 1st of April. If you are looking to purchase soon it is advisable to order prior to the 31st of March. If you purchase before the 31st of March, Lenovo will honour the price no matter the delivery date.
Please contact us to discuss your options. We are here to help
**Please contact Student Services for a comprehensive price list
The SRC had an induction assembly on Friday the 6th of March.
Congratulations to our SRC members for 2020;
Ben Files & Lucinda Yates - Wellbeing Leaders.
Year 9 Visual Arts
Students have been working on sculptures inspired by the style of Keith Haring.
Artists: Back - Michael S. Front left to right - Froso B, Summer T and Lachlan G
Heidi Stanojevic - Visual Arts Teacher
Year 8 Music
Over the past eight weeks, our Year 8 students have been learning a variety of brass, percussion, and woodwind instruments as part of the Department for Education's Instrumental Music program. Our enthusiastic class have worked in small groups with Mr Geddie, Mr Heuzenroeder, and Ms Roberts to practise playing their instruments, reading music notation, and learning how to take care of their instruments. All of this hard work has lead to the students forming a class band, where they have been performing as a ensemble. It has been great to see how the students have embraced playing a variety of new instruments, building the capacity to work collectively, and improving their aural skills. Make sure to ask our skilled Music students to play a tune for you, as I'm sure they'd be happy to have a bit of a jam!
Alistair Ward - Music teacher
FLO Report
Over the past weeks, our FLO students have been busy engaging in the exciting programs that we have been running to support their alternative learning pathway. Working with our FLO teachers, students have been keen to complete their Literacy and Numeracy requirements, with many on track to receive the 10-credits for Stage 1 Essential English and Mathematics. Their positive attitude to these subjects has transferred into other programs, including working with Erin to show their artistic flair through a variety of art forms. Our students have designed, painted, and presented skateboards which capture their own unique style. Papier-mâché has also been a big hit, with our students creating exciting pieces out of paper, which they have painted and are displayed around the classroom. While the paints and glues are drying, our students are putting their cooking skills to work with Rhett in our kitchen each week. Students have learnt how to make some of their favourite meals including lasagne and brownies, they're learning new cooking skills, healthy meals, and safe hygiene practices. We look forward to continue this success into next term, as our students are keen to learn and develop lifelong skills.
Lori Sandland - FLO Coordinator
OzCLO 2020
Australian Computational and Linguistics Olympiad
On Wednesday 4th March, 16 students from Years 9 to 11 competed for the third year in a row in the Australian Computational and Linguistics Olympiad (OzClo).
This year we entered five junior teams in the first round competition across South Australia.
The OzCLO contest is held in two rounds, with the first round; a three-hour competition held at exactly the same time online nation-wide. Participants work in teams of four on a range of language analysis problems.
This year our students had to decode five languages unfamiliar to all of them. These languages included; Cuneiform, the oldest known writing system dating back to 3400 BC, which was invented in Babylon (modern Iraq), Dutch, Ligurian (a descendent of Latin and still spoken by 500 000 people in Northern Italy), Kolyma Yukaghir, a dying language with only five speakers remaining and Sámi, spoken by around 20 000 people in Northern Norway, Sweden and Finland. Teams collaborated effectively, sharing their deep thinking and reflections with each other to find solutions to each question. Peculiarities were discovered about other languages, including one in which small accents or marks completely changed the meaning of a word.
Congratulations to our Renmark High School representatives who undertook the challenge over the course of three hours; Lachlan G, Tyrone A, Alex T, Kelly W, Jorja K, Sakina Q, Wyatt N, Armandeep K, Kalyssa P, Michelle M, Tom Y, Connor S, Cooper M, Hadlee H, Charlize F, Georgia K, Maddy M, Ashlee L, Emma S, Chloe B.
Jasmine Sotiroulis- OzCLO Coordinator
Student Support Team – Sensory Room
Our SSO staff are an important part of our Renmark High School team, as they support our students with learning, social skills and development, and one-on-one support with identified students with high level needs. With the implementation of the Learning Hub this year, our SSO staff have been able to use their expertise in student support pedagogies to provide new learning support. The introduction of our Sensory Room has been of great success to many of our students. The Sensory Room is designed to help students self-regulate their feelings by using tactile props to support their emotions. These include the use of music equipment to create a sense of calm, creating objects from Magnetic Sand and Lego, or using various materials to build safe spaces. This space has empowered our students to regulate their behaviour, which has allowed for them to feel safe, and complete work from their subjects in a space that promotes healthy emotions. We look forward to developing this room, and letting our students who need support find success in their learning.
From our SSO Team: Ashlea, Brett, Connie, Joanna, Melek, and Tara
Our River
– A Collaborative Poem by the ‘Strong Futures’ class
The current – it flows – like culture flowing together as do we all work together.
You feel a part of the environment, it’s a connection, like stepping into another world washing all your troubles away.
The river, she feels serious.
The waves calm my anxiety.
I get so anxious I shake.
Not near the river and with these people, I am comfortable with these people and I trust them.
The river is a she because she’s beautiful.
Sparkling when the sun hits the water.
The river, a sense of freedom, of peace – the water flowing in the rhythm of continuity.
Peaceful, calm, relaxed.
I need that calm in my life, especially when I’m angry. The river soothes me.
Like the river, life has its ups and downs, but it always keeps flowing on.
It has a feeling of belonging, providing food and water, bringing people together. It’s good to pass on knowledge about fishing. How to fix the rods, finding the best place to cast.
It feels empty, no bites.
There are too many lines in the waters.
That Callop we caught, we put it back. Why take the small ones? There’s no point, they need time to develop. Throw them back, let them grow and keep the river strong
Don’t disrespect the river, the environment, the animals.
We belong here, clean it up.
The river is full of stories, Ngaut Ngaut, Mulyawongk, Witj Witj and the story of Ponde
Going fast on a biscuit. The river, the trees, go by so fast.
We can see the fish jump, but it’s hard to catch them. You wait till they bite. The river teaches you to be patient. You need patience to fish, actual! You need that in your life.
Relaxed, cool.
I want to jump in.
I swam here since I was a kid, the memories are strong.
A cool breeze, never too hot or too cold.
Let it glow, like your culture………….
Clean Up Australia Day
Wednesday 11th of March, the Cub division of the Renmark Scout Group pulled up their sleeves and put on their gloves to give our school a big clean! They searched through bushes, under trees and around buildings in a competition to see who could find the most rubbish! All while smiling and having fun!
Renmark High School thank you for your contribution to keeping our school clean!
Hello everyone. What difficult times we are all going through at the moment. Things may get more difficult but I believe that the human spirit is strong and as a community we will all support each other. What a good time to be able to show love, kindness, care and compassion to our fellow man. We can reach out to each other, smile and encourage one another.
Our students are amazing! They are doing their school work with dedication and commitment and getting on with it.
I believe we will come out of this situation stronger and more committed to being the best human we can be. I, for one, am going to go home and be grateful for all I have. Grateful for my dogs (I have four Cavaliers!!) my family and my home. We can do this and get through these times. Many people before us have done just that and come through the other end.
Say hello to someone (from a distance) and smile, even when we don’t feel like it.
Cheers Pammy
Following several requests from younger year levels who couldn't wait for our Video Game Design subject in Year 10 and Year 11, the Coding Club was formed. Students work in teams to create a game to enter into the Australian STEM Video Game Challenge, national competition with over 3000 participants each year.
We start by analysing existing games and discussing how the game mechanics support the story. Then the group create their own game ideas and choose the best game mechanics. The teams use Blender and other software to create 2D and/or 3D assets (characters, backgrounds, icons, menu screens and more). They also use industry standard programs such as Unity, and use C# as our language of choice (although the concepts are transferable to other languages). The group further develops the game while always considering their target audience and aims to manage the difficulty curve, ensuring that it’s not too easy (boring) and not too hard (frustrating).
Nic Tubb - Science/Maths Teacher
Online Information Sources
Our library has a number of online resources which students can use to assist them in research tasks. These are all available via the RHS library webpage from the Quick Links box. The information within these databases is not available from a Google (or other search engine) search and they are regularly updated and provide authoritative and reliable information.
A quick overview:
Australian New Zealand Reference Centre – includes full text access to Australian and international newspaper articles, magazines, journals, books and encyclopaedias.
Science in Context – provides information about hundreds of Science topics across a range of information sources.
Gale virtual reference library – includes access to a range of specialised reference sources for a wide variety of subjects.
Gale Health and Wellness - provides information on a range of health-related issues.
Clickview online – enables RHS staff and students to access video programs to support their teaching and learning.
In addition…
The Online Referencing Generator (ORG): a web tool that students use to generate references for their bibliographies or reference lists.
I have recently sent all students the appropriate usernames and passwords required to access these databases and web tool via Daymap.
Other Reading ideas
Apart from our physical school library collection, the Libby eBook and audiobook collection, available via the Public Libraries of South Australia, has a huge range of titles (both fiction and nonfiction) to choose from when students are looking for their next read. Students just need to be a member of a S.A. public library and have downloaded the free ‘Libby’ app onto a smart device. For more information contact our local Renmark Public Library.
Mandy Smith - Librarian
After a record breaking win by Chaffey in 2019, everyone was keen to see if they would do it again. It was looking promising after the 1500m and 800m races were held as the Chaffey boys dominated, although the Murray girls were just as strong with only 1 point separating the two teams.
It was a beautiful day and the oval looked great (thanks to Mr Rothe). Once each of the armies arrived there was plenty of colour which added to the special day. Well done to the house captains who worked hard to ensure their teams were prepared and ready after holding many challenges during lunchtime and filling the events on the day.
It was still neck and neck throughout the day with regular score updates highlighting it was close. In the end despite the efforts from every student in each house Murray claimed back the 2020 Championship Shield.
It was a clean sweep for Murray as they were successful in winning the Ball Games Shield and Most Improved Shield. Congratulations to the Murray team and captains.
One record was broken in 2020 with many others challenged. Congratulations to Chloe B for setting a new record which was set in 2017 in the challenging Open Girls Hurdles event. She smashed the record by just over 3 seconds, setting the new time as 17.65 (100m Hurdles). Unfortunately many events have been postponed but we are hopeful that the Interschool and School Sport SA events will be held later in the year.
As highlighted earlier the day was a great success with many students supporting their house in any way possible. The day had a great feeling and, most importantly, those that attended had a great day. Another highlight of the day was seeing some of the girls get involved in the football relay and we look forward to seeing this over the years.
Special thanks to all of the RHS staff, Pammy Main and the SRC for the BBQ, Rob Johnston and the many families who attended on the day.
Thank you to our valued major sponsors BusBiz and Emmetts, Leonie Whitehead (Most Dedicated sponsor) and the Fusion Health Club and CrossFit Renmark who sponsored every age group for this event.
Secondary School Sports South Australia Swimming
A few weeks ago the Renmark High School Swimming team travelled down to the Marion Swimming Centre to participate in the Secondary School Sport SA Swimming Championships. After a busy start to the year with our own carnival and the interschool event the students were keen to challenge themselves against some of the stronger schools in S.A. in the B Grade (first time for the RHS).
It was a long day for the students as they attended their normal lessons until 12:00pm where they jumped on the bus and travelled down. Mrs Pater and Mrs Long said that the students were great and similar to the interschool event, each student was happy to represent the school in their event, making sure every event was filled.
Throughout the evening there were many positive results and personal bests, although when they announced that we were currently in second place (prior to the relays) everyone was surprised.
In the end it was a very successful day for the RHS Swimming Team and everyone involved. Overall the team finished 4th (Girls – 3rd and Boys – 6th) which is a great result. Thank you and congratulations to all of the students for their efforts.
Congratulations also goes out to Dylan W - U20 50m Freestyle (25.86) and Jordan W – U16 50m Breaststroke (34.76) for achieving a Standard Certificate in the above event.
Stage 1 Outdoor Education Canoe Expedition
Last Monday the Stage 1 Outdoor Education students were fortunate that their canoe expedition went ahead, allowing them to break away and enjoy the many beautiful sections along the River Murray and surrounding creeks.
Throughout the term students participated in practical lessons to prepare them for the demands of the trip, along with completing the planning stages (menu plans, risk assessments, route plan, leadership, equipment lists and packing).
The group set off from just below Lock 6 and paddled downstream past the historic Chowilla Station before entering Native Box Creek. From here they powered down Hunchee Creek and finished day 1 at the Windmill Bend campsite (Calperum Station).
It was slow to get moving on day 2 and the feeling was quite different however this soon changed once we got going. The group paddled through the top of Ral Ral Creek and in the wide waters before entering the Nelbuck Creek. This was a challenge as the heat was increasing and the creek kept on going. They all deserved a well-earned swim and break on the sand bar before finishing off day 2 at the Lindners campsite.
The last day was a casual paddle down river before entering the Kylie’s Creek. Once the group made it back to the Jane Eliza Lagoon there was a positive feeling amongst the group, as they completed the paddle and were obviously looking forward to having a shower and good sleep.
It was a great trip with many laughs and memories along the way.
Bailey White 3000m Record Holder
Bailey recently competed in the 2020 Athletics SA State Championships where he competed in the 3000m run. After many hours of training and hard work he was looking forward to the event and is now the record holder for the U14 boys after running a time of 9:05.04 (previous record was set in 2003 – 9:11.14). Congratulations Bailey on another magnificent achievement!
Staying active
For many of us the next few weeks, months or even longer will be a challenge due to the threat of Covid-19, as something you really enjoy and allows you break away (sport) has been taken away. It is important that we all take care of ourselves, family and friends, along with following the directions by the Government, but it is also important that we stay as active as possible.
It’ll be quite easy to sit around, relax and not do much while there are some restrictions set in place but please make the time to be active. There are many benefits (physically, emotionally and socially) for individuals that are physically active which is why it is so important for everyone to dedicate some time each day.
Be creative and make it hard, challenging and fun and before you know it (fingers crossed) everything will hopefully be back to normal.
Stay safe and active.
Aaron Camplin - Physical Education Coordinator
