Congratulations to Ben Files who has won a position in the support services division of our DfE Regional Office based at Berri. In his new role, starting next year, Ben will be supporting schools across the Riverland with inclusive education for students. While we wish Ben all the best in his new role it does mean however that we have a vacancy for a Wellbeing Leader to begin next year.

For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.education.sa.gov.au/page.php?pageID=160&windowUID=0&AdvertID=41594

Parent Survey

The annual parent survey is underway and closes midnight Sunday 8 September. For more information please visit the department’s website.

This survey aims to get your views on:

• what we’re doing well
• where we can improve
• what’s important to you as a parent/carer.

Your answers won't identify you or your child and only collated feedback is provided to our school.

You should have already received a link to the survey via email or SMS. Reminder emails are currently being sent to you unless you have completed a survey or have unsubscribed.

Please take the time to complete the survey, this is valuable information for our school. If you cannot find the previously sent link, then please use this one: https://survey.education.sa.gov.au/sc/rdMx-1uhg96bZfDSAA2VZA2

Flinders University Assessment Centre

Renmark High School hosted the Flinders University Assessment Centre Entry Pathway program recently, where nominated year 11 students from Renmark High and the other Riverland Secondary Schools Alliance high schools (Berri Regional Secondary College, Loxton High School and Waikerie High School were invited to be assessed). The assessment process considers methodologies for admission to higher education as an alternative to their ATAR. University staff observed student interactions throughout the day in a range of group and individual activities designed to demonstrate characteristics and aptitude for a study pathway at university. Well done to the selected senior students who were involved. It was a successful day and an amazing opportunity for our region. 

Subject Selections

We are well underway in our planning for 2025. Students have been busy selecting their subjects for next year, or if they are in year 12 looking at future study or employment pathways. Last week we also 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 or caregivers who were able to attend with their student to support them and be involved in the process. If you weren’t able to attend your child would have a selection sheet to be signed and brought back to school. This can be given to their Care Group teacher.

Last week we held our Future Planning Expo for year 10 and 11 students and their families to hear about SACE and senior school pathways, and we also had a range of other agencies there to discuss future options with students. 

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 so make sure these reserve choices have also been carefully considered.

Doctor on site

We are coming up to one year of operation for the very successful paediatric clinic initiative introduced by the Renmark Medical Clinic to our schools. Dr. James McLeod and Dr. Hamish Eske, from the Renmark Medical Clinic, continuously explore ways to support local Renmark families. As a result, children and teenagers in Renmark have access to free healthcare consultations with a local doctor right at school. The service, known as the Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence and Renmark Medical Clinic Rapid Access Paediatric Clinic—RAP Clinic for short—brings a doctor to each of our sites on a rotational basis to address specific needs, concerns, and health-related matters. This doctor is onsite at Renmark High School every Friday then also available to book appointments in the afternoon back at the Renmark Medical Clinic.

We sincerely thank the Renmark Medical Clinic for their ongoing dedication to the health and wellbeing of our students and for providing this invaluable on-site service.

Mat Evans
Principal

Year 12 Students

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 27 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. For students involved with the Flinders University Inspire program, their application fee will be paid for by Flinders University. Students must forward their reference number to Chloe in Senior Study, so we can collate and send to Flinders University for the fee to be paid 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. Students are encouraged to look at the student bulletin or come and see me to discuss any interests so we can keep them up to date with any career opportunities that we receive from surrounding Riverland businesses. 

Year 11 Students

Year 11 students have been granted home study this semester. Every family should have received, signed, and returned via Edsmart forms, 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. 

Future Planning Expo

Last week was a fantastic showcase of opportunities and resources at our Future Planning Expo! We had the pleasure of hosting 12 incredible service providers who brought their A-game to help guide our students toward bright futures. It was great to see so many valuable resources, study options, training facilities and service providers available to students throughout the Riverland region.

A huge thank you to all the experts who took the time to share their insights and to everyone who attended. Your participation and enthusiasm made the event a resounding success!

Flinders University, Flinders University Rural and Remote Health SA, JMA Engineering, Novita, Mas National, Mobo Group, Murray River Study Hub, SMGT, Sureway Employment & Training, TAFE SA and WISE Employment.

Here’s to empowering our students with the tools they need to shape their futures!

Subject Selections

Following a successful Future Planning Expo last Wednesday evening, year 9, 10 and year 11 students have just made their subject selections for 2025. 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 2025. 

Elevate Program

The Elevate program will return and deliver its final program to the year 12 students this term. They will receive information on ‘How to ace your exams’. This session will be held on Friday 13 September at 11.00am before The Great Debate at 12.00 pm.

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

Marina Pater
Assistant Principal
Director of Operations

On Thursday 22 August we had our termly Family Firepit Night, in which our staff, students and families come together and catch up with a sausage sizzle and activities. Thank you to those that came along, it was a great evening. 

Daniel Giles 
Aboriginal Secondary Education Transition Officer (ASETO)

On Monday 19 August we had Port Adelaide Football Club Community Programs visit us and Berri Regional Secondary College at Renmark High School to run a cultural session aimed at personal identity, storytelling through art and connection to Country. After the classroom session they ran a football skills session to prepare students for the SAASTA Connect Power Cup in Term 4. Students will need to be achieving the SAASTA KPI's (Respect, Pride, Behaviour, Academic Performance, Teamwork and Attendance) to receive an invite to attend.

Daniel Giles 
Aboriginal Secondary Education Transition Officer (ASETO)

Last Friday, our two senior teams travelled to Adelaide for the School Sport SA Knockout Cup Volleyball Competition. Our Open Senior Girls team excelled, finishing in 1st place and advancing to the finals, while our Open Senior Boys team secured 3rd place out of 7.

This event served as excellent preparation for both teams as they gear up for the Australian Schools Cup on the Gold Coast in December. We wish our Open Senior Girls the best of luck in the School Sport SA finals coming up on Thursday 12 September in Adelaide.

Aaron Camplin
HPE and Sports Coordinator

Renmark High School students Angus and Kieran were very lucky on Monday to meet with Roger and Megan Lill, son and granddaughter of former Renmark High School student and Second World War veteran, John Lill. 

Angus and Kieran are preparing entries for the 2024 Premier's ANZAC Spirit Prize and the focus of their essays is John Lill. John fought in the Battle of Singapore, before being captured by the Japanese and spending 3 and a half years as a POW. Remarkably, John survived, returned to Renmark and lived to the age of 95. Roger and Megan kindly spent some time with Angus, Kieran and Mr Files today, sharing stories about John's life and helping them understand his life and what he stood for a little better. For the students and Mr Files it was a truly amazing experience to learn even more about a former Renmark High School student and a great Australian. 

Renmark High School would like to thank Roger and Megan very much for their time and extremely valuable information they shared. We would also like to once again thank John and the Lill family for the service they have given Australia. 

Ben Files
History Teacher

Last week, the library has been abuzz with exciting Book Week activities! This year's theme was 'Reading is Magic'. On Wednesday, Daniel Giles and Uncle Barney captivated everyone with their enchanting 'Dreaming Stories', weaving imaginative tales that sparked creativity and wonder. Thursday brought a touch of magic, as Mr Young and Mr Branford dazzled the audience with their impressive magic tricks, leaving both students and staff amazed!

Students also had the opportunity to win a box of chocolates by entering into the 'Guess the emoji to the book cover' and 'Match the book and teacher'. Well done to our Library Officer, Kerrie Pyers for organising these terrific activities for the students and staff.

Miss Caputo's year 9 HASS class has been diving into hands-on learning with a mini wetland activity as part of their unit on Biomes. Students created their own miniature wetlands using sponges and plastic bottles to explore how wetlands retain water. By incorporating clean water, dirty water, and paper to represent infrastructure, they visually demonstrated the role wetlands play in managing water and filtering impurities. This activity highlighted the crucial importance of wetlands in ecosystems, especially in the Riverland where these environments are vital for managing floods and supporting native wildlife.

Kardinia Caputo 
HASS Teacher

If you have any further general enquiries or questions, please contact our front office administration. 

The Edstart Achievement Awards Program is a great chance for those students to be recognised for their achievements in an area they’re passionate about with an award and a $1,500 grant.

This is the fourth year of Edstart running these awards and students can nominate in a range of categories, including technology, entrepreneurship, sustainability, sport and arts, with winners selected by a judging panel of education leaders. Finalists also receive a $250 grant.

Nominations close Friday 30 August - students can find out more and submit a nomination at https://edstart.com.au/award.

From 1 March 2024 new regulations will extend the smoke-free and vape-free areas to within 10 metres of site boundaries.

This includes:

• school drop-off and pick-up zones that are within 10 metres of the school fence, gate or boundary
• school ovals and sporting fields and within 10 metres of the boundary of the oval or sporting field
• footpaths, roads, public nature strips and public recreation areas that are within 10 metres of a school boundary.

E-cigarettes

E-cigarettes, or ‘vapes’, are not safe for young people. They come in many shapes and sizes and can be hard to spot as they can look like everyday items including highlighters, pens, USB memory sticks or watches.

Key vaping facts

• Many e-cigarettes contain nicotine despite being labelled as not. Nicotine can cause long-lasting negative effects on young people’s brain development, including impaired learning ability and altered mood, and can increase the risk of depression and anxiety.
• E-cigarettes can contain the same harmful chemicals found in cleaning products, nail polish remover, weed killer and bug spray, which can lead to serious lung diseases.
• Young people who vape are 3 times as likely to take up smoking cigarettes.
• E-cigarettes are harmful to the environment as they contain single-use plastics and lithium batteries, cause pollution and can start fires.

The laws around selling e-cigarettes

It’s illegal to sell or supply e-cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18 years. Young people often purchase vapes online, from retail stores, or from friends and contacts on social media. There are a number of retailers who sell e-cigarettes to young people. This is a crime.

Talk to your child about vaping

It’s important to take the time to talk to your child about the risks of vaping. Try to start the conversation in a relaxed easy-going way, and remember your goal is to have a conversation, not deliver a lecture. Parenting SA provides a Parent Easy Guide on talking with children and young people about drugs and alcohol – visit parenting.sa.gov.au.

Get the evidence and facts about vaping at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/vaping.

Find out more about how we manage alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in schools at www.education.sa.gov.au/vaping

Students and families who have inadequate or no access to internet at home are eligible to apply for a free internet connection to support learning.

There are 2 options available to eligible families:

• wireless internet access from the Department for Education through the student home internet program
• NBN broadband internet access until December 2025 from the Australian Government through the School Student Broadband Initiative.

You might be eligible if you:

• have a school aged child
• don’t have reliable home internet access or have no active NBN broadband connection.

Find out more about what options are available and how parents and carers can apply by visiting the department’s website.