We acknowledge that we are on the land of the First People of the Murray and Mallee.We pay our respects to the Elders both past and present and honour the laws and customs that cross this traditional country, the ancestors who taught and still teach the knowledge that is embedded forever with the Aboriginal people today.

Social Worker

Welcome to Alicia Thackray who begins with us this week.  Alicia will join our wellbeing team and is based on-site at Renmark High School.  Alicia will be working with students to assist them in reducing barriers to engage with their learning.  It is fantastic to have Alicia on board so she can be here to meet students at our first year 6/7 'Come and Try' high school visits next week. We will have more information on Alicia and the new role in our next newsletter.  

Year 6/7 students 'Come and Try' visits

We are excited to welcome the current year 6 and 7 students into our Renmark High School community next week, the 20th of May, for the first of the high school visits and 'Come and Try' lessons.  It is an exciting time, showing new students our amazing school and introducing them to new staff members who will take them forward in the next 5-6 years of their learning journey. Across the 'Come and Try' sessions students will get to see first-hand our range of classrooms and practical work spaces.  Students from Renmark Primary, Renmark North and Renmark West Primary schools will visit as a part of their regular school program. Students from schools outside of the Renmark area, or from non-government schools will need to register their attendance by emailing dl.0794.info@schools.sa.edu.au or calling 8586 6974.  If you have any questions please let us know.

Vacancies

Renmark High School has 2 leadership and 3 permanent teacher vacancies on the Department for Education job website at the moment https://jobs.education.sa.gov.au

In Leadership we have a B2 Leader in Creative Technologies and Entrepreneurship and a B3 Director of Learning.

For teaching positions we have permanent (ongoing) vacancies in Mathematics to year 12, HASS (History and/or Geography), and Middle School (HAT)

Building works

If you have been to our school lately you will have seen the next stage of our developments under construction.  This stage includes new extraction in Technology workshop, air conditioning in Art Studio, renovations in the Music rooms and the Health and Physical Education office, and the construction of our two new student learning hubs.  As of last week we are on track for having this stage finished over this term, including our new learning hubs that will be ready to move in by the end of this term. It is exciting that after 18 months of construction our current $5million renovation project across the school will be completed and fully operational by term 3.

Attendance

Year 8 students as a year level have the poorest attendance across the school this year.  This is unusual as year 8 students usually have the strongest attendance across our school.  We are keen to improve this situation as attendance by students is an important factor in their success at school. If your student is having time off from school please have a discussion with the caregroup teacher about the reasons for this and if not for sickness please build new habits of being at school on time each and every school day.

Flu shots for students

After a successful program last year we are pleased that once again Renmark High School has partnered with the Renmark Medical Clinic to facilitate student flu shots on Wednesday 26th May from 9.00am – 10.30am at Renmark High School (forms should have been returned last week). We thank Renmark Medical Clinic who are the providers of this service, as through their support the flu shots are administered to students by doctors on our school site.

COVID planning

We are extremely fortunate in Australia regarding COVID-19 and our thoughts are with those who have family and friends in less fortunate countries. 

The COVID-19 pandemic can be unpredictable, however, it is important that we remain well prepared.  It is important that the school has the most up-to-date contact details (including phone number) for all parents/carers so they can be quickly contacted in the event of a temporary closure or regional closure. With winter approaching it is also timely to remind everyone that we also require students to stay home if they are unwell and if they have symptoms of COVID-19, no matter how mild to please get tested.  Please take some time this week to make sure that students can find their subject information in Daymap, that they can upload assessments, and can access Microsoft Teams and Learnlink emails.  If there are any troubles with this please have students contact their teachers or contact us on their behalf.  As always, we are appreciative of our students, families and staff who have been extraordinarily supportive throughout this pandemic to ensure continuity of learning for students, so thank you.

Mat Evans - Principal

Renmark High School Student Representative Council Mural Committee is excited to initiate a new mural that is going to be painted on the wall of A block that faces the middle of the school. Students will be working with local artist Jacqui Mason in the creation of the mural. We would like to gain your feedback and ideas on what you think mural should represent. Please take some time to take a survey below.

Thank you,

SRC Mural Committee

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8C8XL67

During the school term break 3 year 10 agriculture students from Renmark High school attended the Sheep Expo 2021, which was held on the 14th -16th of April. This Expo was aimed to:

“encourage the next generation in to the sheep industry by promoting opportunity, understanding and knowledge.”

The Sheep Expo offered young people a platform to develop a better understanding of the sheep industry, the opportunities the industry offers and to encourage students currently studying Agriculture to engage at a grassroots level within the industry.

Agriculture students including Phoebe, Hannah and Tom attended the Expo and gained valuable knowledge in regards to sheep handling and the sheep industry.

Tom and Hannah listening to Expo presenter.

Students were given tips to handle and “show” sheep in preparation for Royal Adelaide show. (in Pic: Tom)

Phoebe ‘presenting' her sheep for show experts.

Agriculture students from various SA school had their Expo photo taken by agriculture magazine “Stock Journal”.

During term 1, Renmark High year 10 Agriculture students were invited to attend SA Precision Agriculture Expo organised by SPAA (Society of Precision Agriculture Australia) held at the Loxton Hotel on 25th of March last term. Various Agriculture experts from leading agricultural business and progressive farmers presented hands-on information about precision agriculture in broad-acre cropping, livestock and horticulture.

Attending students from left: Stuart, Summer, Phoebe, Colby, Froso, Cody, Hannah, Tom B and Tom Y.

Rajender Singh - Agriculture Teacher

Athina Papametis - Greek Teacher

The four year 10 Care Groups competed in the annual Year 10 Newspaper Fashion Parade during Beyond Tomorrow on the last day of term 1. This year’s theme was holidays and each Care Group randomly chose a season to inspire their newspaper creations. Students worked cooperatively in their respective Care Groups crafting accessories and the main ‘haute couture’ outfits to produce two creatively dressed models. With holidays in autumn as their inspiration, 10.1 with the support of their Care Group teacher Mr Ward claimed the trophy. While it was a lot of fun, it was an opportunity for students to work together as a team in their Care Group to build relationships between themselves and their Care Group teachers.

Mandy Smith Year 10 Beyond Tomorrow Coordinator

Welcome back everyone! How were your holidays? Mine were very quiet, a first for a lot of years. We stayed home and just puddled around. I played with our dogs, read some books, went kayaking and generally just enjoyed my time. I often wonder is everyone’s life is as busy as mine? I seem to go from one thing to another, one meeting to another,  and so it goes on. But I have decided to change that and slow down and look after my wellbeing, and myself. I wonder if I am alone in this.

It’s great to be back to school, with lots of things happening in different classes.

I was in Strong Futures yesterday and it was so good. We looked at caring for River Country and learnt about how things have changed so much and what needs to happen to bring the river back to its former glory. It was so interesting and challenging. We then did some art work and the vibe in the classroom was one of interest and learning. Thank you Martine and Daniel.

I want to leave you with this: – I heard it on the Headspace site and I so believe this to be true – it is very simple and am trying to live it every day.

Be who you are and be grateful for who you are. The things that make you different are the things that make you unique. Don’t forget that – little food for thought, eat it up. Remember we are uniquely and wonderfully made.

A student said to me today, "how do you always make me feel happy?" and I simply said "I try and make my small space in this world a really happy place no matter what happens.  I choose not to dwell on negative things, even if its hard."

Keep smiling and have a lovely week full of lovely things

Pammy Main - Pastoral Care Worker