We acknowledge that Renmark High School students, staff and community live, study and work on Erawirung Land. We acknowledge the First Peoples of the River Murray and Mallee as Traditional Custodians of the Riverland region and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We respect the deep connection Aboriginal people have with land, animals and waters. 

We honour the Lores and customs that cross this traditional Country, the Ancestors who taught and still teach the knowledge that is embedded forever with Aboriginal people today. 

SACE Presentation Night

We are well underway in our planning for 2024. Students have been busy selecting their subjects for next year (or if they are in year 12 looking at future study or employment pathways). 

In week 3 we held a very successful SACE Information Night for year 10 and 11 students and their families. It was a huge success with over 100 people attending, along with surrounding career pathway providers. 

During week 4 we provided subject selection interviews for year 9, 10 and 11 students. These interviews are a valuable opportunity to discuss student options and pathways and we appreciated the parents and caregivers who were able to attend with their student to support them and be involved in the process. 

The next step is for us to use this information to make subject and staffing decisions, so the more accurate the choices are in this time the better.  Students are much more likely to get their choice of subjects next year if they make an informed choice this year.  We aim to accommodate student preferences in order, but keep in mind that where necessary we will go to subjects a student has included on their reserve list if needed.

Paedatric Clinic

As announced last week, we are very excited with a Paediatric Clinic initiative that is being introduced by the Renmark Medical Clinic to our schools. 

Dr James McLeod and Dr Hamish Eske, from the Renmark Medical Clinic, have been looking at ways to support local Renmark families.  As a result, children and teenagers in Renmark will have access to free healthcare consultations with a local doctor at school.  The service is called the Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence and Renmark Medical Clinic Rapid Access Paediatric Clinic – or RAP Clinic for short. This initiative will include a doctor on each of our sites on a rotational basis to support children with specific needs, concerns or health related matters.

What it will look like:

All 4 Department for Education schools in Renmark will be involved - Renmark High School, Renmark West Primary School, Renmark Primary School, and Renmark North School.

• A Junior Doctor based at school from 8.30am to midday, on a rotating basis
• Booking appointments with the doctors for the morning visit will be arranged through the school
• No cost for the service at school in the morning
• Parents will be required to attend appointments with children (younger than 16 years)
• The Junior Doctor will support health education for students in small groups, with parent permission, on topics such as sleep, screen time, hygiene, and healthy eating
• From 2pm to 5pm, the junior doctors will see paediatric patients at the RAP Clinic at the Renmark Medical Clinic. These bulk billed appointments can be booked through the Renmark Medical Clinic, directly via school staff in liaison with the students and family members, and by the Junior Doctor themselves.

This is a fantastic initiative and opportunity for our students and their families!

Mobile Phones at School

In line with the State Government’s ban, students are required to keep their mobile phones and other personal devices, such as smartwatches, off and away for the whole school day whilst at school.

This policy helps to:

• limit the times students may be exposed to negative impacts from inappropriate or unsafe use of devices, such as cyberbullying or harmful content.
• promote classroom environments where teachers can teach, and students can learn, free from distractions caused by personal use of devices.
• encourage use of breaks as quality time away from screens for more physical activity, play, and face-to-face connections.
• students can still bring phones and use them before and after school for contact with their families, friends, and out-of-hours commitments such as part-time employment.

Please contact Student Services if you need to get in touch with your child during school hours, and any cases where your child needs to leave school early. Likewise, school staff will contact you directly whenever needed.

Students are encouraged to always report to a school staff member in the first instance if they become unwell or experience an issue at school. This is so staff can provide appropriate support, including contact with parents and following formal processes for early collection from school where necessary.

Student Assessment and Reporting at RHS

In our continued endeavour towards reporting in an ongoing way throughout the year, we encourage you check Daymap for teacher feedback on assessments. By keeping track of student progress on Daymap, you are able to support your child in an ongoing way to make changes in their efforts or to challenge themselves to achieve at a higher level.  In Daymap you will currently find the traffic light indicators for week 5 and we encourage you to use these to prompt conversations with your child about their progress at school. Please do not hesitate to contact teachers at the school with any concerns or questions, especially if you see a yellow or red rating.

Mat Evans
Principal

The year 12 students are mostly working well as we head towards the pointy end of the year.

Renmark High School continues to support students with academic coaching, academic recovery, catch up study sessions and information about SATAC university applications. Families should be aware that SATAC applications should be entered by the end of term 3 on Friday 29 September. University courses can be entered after this date but the application fee will increase. Once students have applied and paid for their SATAC application, they can then change and update their selections. Students should also be applying for university accommodation, looking at potential scholarships, and checking any Centrelink support they may be eligible for.

Mid-term traffic light reports have been released. Some students who have poor results will be contacted by either myself or their Care Group teacher to discuss their goals for the remainder of the year.

I am continuing to advertise local career opportunities in the school and we will support students with their resumes, applications, and job hunting over the coming weeks.

Year 11 Students

Year 11 students have been granted home study this semester. Every family should have received, signed, and returned a permission letter to Student Services, which is entered into the student’s Daymap. We will monitor individual students and inform families if we believe this is not working for their child. This home study is only allowed in the morning and at the end of the day. Students must not come and go during the day and they must attend Care Group at 11.00am each day. This will be followed up with a phone call home if rules are not followed. 

At the start of this term, year 11 students have made their subject selections for 2023. All students received a form which needs to be signed and approved by parents or caregiver before returning it to their Care Group teachers. We will then look at subject numbers, staffing priorities, and student choice to ultimately deliver a broad and flexible timetable for students in 2024. 

Elevate Education

Elevate Education will return this term to deliver two sessions in Beyond Tomorrow. The first session is to the year 11 students called 'Study Sensai' and the year 12 students will receive information on 'How to ACE your exams'. These will both be held on Friday 15 September in Beyond Tomorrow. 

Joe Dix Memorial Lecture

Our annual Joe Dix Memorial Lecture will be hosted in the Chaffey Theatre on Friday 22 September in week 9. Year 10, 11 and 12 students will participate in this session during their Beyond Tomorrow lesson from 11.10am - 12.05pm.

I look forward to sharing more information about our senior school in the upcoming newsletters. 

Marina Pater
Assistant Principal
Director of Operations

Hi families!

For our new families here to Renmark High School, my name is Alicia Thackray and I am the Social Worker at Renmark High School. My role here is to support our students who are struggling with their wellbeing. I can meet one-on-one with students, facilitate groups and sometimes organise trainings for our amazing staff.

Two of the incredible groups I work with regularly are a year 8 girls group and the Renmark High School Pride Group.

The year 8 girls group meets weekly to learn vital life skills, discuss any concerns they have about friendships and relationships and all other aspects of being a teenager. Last week we spoke about the importance of having a balanced diet and the girls chose to make delicious fruit salads where some our girls tried different fruits for the first time.

The Renmark High School Pride Group is a lunch time group which runs every Friday where allies and those who identify as LGBTQIA+ can come together in a safe space to chat about life. Last term Pride Group raised an amazing $93 for the Riverland Youth Theatre’s Ally Program. On Friday 25 August, Renmark High School celebrated Wear it Purple Day. This day is an annual LGBTIQA+ awareness day, especially for young people based in Australia. Supporters wear purple to celebrate diversity and young people from the LGBTIQA+ community. Thank you to everyone who got involved.

This term I will also have the opportunity to take a group of year 11 students to the Riverland General Hospital to spend a day with a team of nurses, doctors, and support staff to participate in the Prevent Alcohol Related Trauma in Youth Program. This program aims to bring participants face-to-face with the consequences of risky decisions. The program is an up-front, true to life experience of the impact of trauma. The program emphasises that the choices they make can cause life-threatening injuries to themselves or others, which not only affects them, but you as their parent or caregiver and the rest of your family and friends.

As always, students and families can always get in contact with me via Daymap or by contacting the school on 8586 6974 if there are any issues students need support with.

Alicia Thackray
Social Worker

Football Goal Posts

New football goal posts have been installed on our school oval for students to enjoy during recess and lunch times, and to utilise during PE lessons. Year 12 students Hannah and Toby think they're a great addition to our school. 

5 a -side soccer

On Wednesday 20 September (week 9) the Riverland High School's 5 a-side soccer carnival is being held in Berri. Information will be sent home to those who have registered their interest.

School Sport Knock Out Volleyball Competition

Our open boys and girls volleyball teams travelled to Adelaide in week 4 to participate in the School Sport SA knock out volleyball competition. Both teams were competitive against the other schools, with our open girls team going through to the finals in week 8. We wish them all the best for their next round in the finals.

The year 7 and 8 students will get their opportunity in week 3 of next term, to compete in preparation for the end of year event.

Volleyball SA Smash Event - Adelaide

Thank you to those that have made contact with the school and have paid the deposit for the end of year event. From here, we will finalise teams, accommodation and transport before sending home further information. We will also hold a parent information session on a Monday night at the Alan Coulter Recreation Centre (TBC) to meet coaches and ask any questions. Teams and parents can also start to talk about any fundraising opportunities they can do over the next few months in preperation for the trip. It is important that students continue to train at the scheduled time during lunch time and out of school hours to best prepare themselves for the competition.

Student Sporting Successes

Images courtesy of Grant Schwartzkopff

Congratulations to Jack L on placing 1st in the Riverland Dirt Kart Championships which was held over four seperate rounds in Blanchetown, Loxton, Morgan, and Renmark last weekend.

Over the past week Lachlan K was in Perth representing South Australia in the School Sports Australia 16 and under basketball championships held at the Willeton Stadium, Perth. He was one of two bottom aged children to be selected in the team. Lachlan played hard and strong all week and represented his state proudly. 

Congratulations to Bailey W who won the U18 Whillas Medal (3 way tie) on 15 votes, with Harry P finishing on 14 votes as Runner-Up. 

Local Sport

All the best to the many staff and students participating in a variety of sports over the next few weekends in finals.

Kind regards, 
Aaron Camplin
HPE & Sports Coordinator

In week 3, four students attended the two day 2023 Aboriginal Learner STEM Congress at the Adelaide Convention Centre. The Congress is a South Australian Department for Education's initiative to engage and inspire the next generation of young Aboriginal scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians.

The congress celebrates First Nations peoples as the first Scientists in Australia, the first astronomers, forensic researchers, chemists and ecologists. The Congress connects Aboriginal learners to STEM through a range of interactive and challenging STEM experiences designed to demonstrate that Aboriginal learners are powerful STEM learners and lead thinkers.

Martine Turnbull
Aboriginal Education

Aboriginal Career Exploration (ACE) has been happening in Adelaide this week for year 10 SAASTA students. Our students chose an industry they were keen to get an immersive experience in, including hospitality, animal care, automotive, trades, screen & media, trades, health, education and childcare.

Our students have visited and experienced a variety of work places and training organisations around Adelaide. This has enabled them to listen to industry experts and get hands on experience in a career of their choosing.

Late last term, all year 7’s participated in a debating unit in their English classes. From there, students were selected to represent their class in an interclass debating competition. The first round commenced on Wednesday of week 2 where 7.1 took on 7.2, debating the topic:

“That parents should limit the amount of time children can use technology outside of school hours”

7.2 finished victorious on the day in a close debate, with special mention to Jack who filled in for a sick group member.

7.2 then took on 7.3 on Wednesday of week 4 in the next round, debating the topic:

“That corporal punishment should be reintroduced in schools”

It was an extremely close result with some excellent points and rebuttals on both sides. Congratulations to Sarsho, Maria, Emily, Levi, Victoria and Sophie from 7.2 who came out victorious.  

Daniel Clark
English Teacher

The year 7 Food Technology class designed their own low fat muffins where they met the design brief of being appealing, low in fats and a low cost to adolescence aged 12-17.

"Our muffins are very innovative and creative as they are a unique blend of peanut butter and dark chocolate and were also vegan and gluten free. On top of that these were amazing muffins to eat." - Sarsho

"My blueberry and raspberry muffins were healthy and tasted good at the same time." - Victoria

Wendy Matulic
Food Technology Teacher

The year 9 Science classes all participated in a hands-on experience thanks to Landscape SA and their education officer, Cindy. They had the opportunity to listen to Cindy talk about our local turtle species and populations and learn about the huge impact that foxes have on these species. They were also able to hold some real turtles, including some very cute babies! The students were able to link this experience to their current topic of food webs and energy transfers.

Rachel Bor
Science Teacher

Students in Miss Caputo's year 9 HASS class have been learning about the judicial system in Australia. Students engaged in a role-pay mock court trial - the case of Dorothy Gale. Miss Gale was charged with two crimes, the theft of the ruby slippers from the Witch of the East, and second-degree murder of the Witch of the West.

Students were allocated a role and solidified their knowledge and understanding of court proceedings, the intention of the prosecution, defence, judge, and jury to sentence the accused. Unfortunately for Miss Gale, the jury returned a unanimous guilty vote, and she has vowed to never return to Oz!

Kardinia Caputo
HASS Teacher

Frida! Yes, Frida Kahlo! In week 5, Ms Atsaves' year 10 Photography students visited the colourful, exciting and thoroughly insightful exhibition Frida & Diego: Love & Revolution at the Art Gallery of South Australia. The day was filled with lots of fun, laughter and insightful learning. We attended a studio workshop inspired by South Australian artist Alice Lindstrom creating paper cuttings and paper flowers. Our passionate and knowledgable tour guide Margaret took us through the exhibiton showcasing artworks by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and their artist friends, depicting love, passion, and politics in post-revolution Mexico from the 1920s to the 1950s.

Darija Atsaves
Photography Teacher

Mr and Mrs Elliott's year 10 English classes are mentoring year 4, 5 and 6 students from Renmark Primary School with buddy reading. Many positive connections have been formed already with students commenting that they are building confidence, reading fluently and using their oratory skills during literacy games. 

Biljana Elliott
Leader of Literacy and Global Perspectives

Students in Miss Caputo's Stage 1 Essential English class have begun their next unit this week - procedural writing. Students worked independently to follow a variety of written and visual instructions to create origami pieces and reflected on the quality of the instructions. 

Students then worked collaboratively in pairs or small groups to build Lego vehicles. Relying on the power of communication, one student was the 'builder' and the other was the 'instructor'. The builder could not speak, and the instructor could not point, touch or influence the builder in any way other than through descriptive language. 

Learning will be transferred in their next assessment task where they will be required to adapt the language conventions of an instructional text.

Kardinia Caputo
English Teacher

In week 4, Mr Camplin's Stage 2 Outdoor Education class participated in a First Aid Course in preperation for their two-day self reliant expedition in week 8. Students obtained their First Aid Certificate in a day's training, where they learnt the basic operations of emergency first aid and CPR.

Gain valuable insights into a career in visual effects, and discover what it takes to step into the global VFX industry, and work on cutting-edge Hollywood films. This VFC information session will be hosted on Tuesday 5 September from 6.00pm. Follow the link to register and to find out more information: 

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/rising-sun-pictures-university-of-south-australia-vfx-information-session-tickets-690685949267?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_campaign=CMK%20-%20AdHoc2023%20-%20RSP%20Event%20invitation%20-%20teachers&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

From 2024, UniSA and RSP are expanding their program offerings in Visual Effects to include:

• Bachelor of Visual Effects

• Graduate Certificate in Creature Effects

• Graduate Certificate in 3D Animation

These are offered alongside the already established Bachelor of Film and Television, Graduate Certificates in Dynamic Effects and Lighting and Compositing and Tracking.

Each program has courses taught onsite at RSP. This event is your opportunity to experience RSP’s new, purpose-built simulated learning studio first-hand.

Join us to:

• learn more about the new visual effects program offerings and careers in the industry

• talk with RSP and UniSA staff and students about their experiences in the VFX industry

• view some of the amazing work students have been a part of

• explore RSP’s purpose built simulated studio and see your future study location