Congratulations to Maria T (supported by teacher Jasmine Sotiroulis), Maddison P (supported by teacher Kardinia Caputo), and Annari M (supported by teacher Wayne Elliott), who have been recognised in the 2025 Eden School Prize essay competition. The Eden School Prize is open to Year 8, 9, and 10 students in South Australian government schools who want the opportunity to share their ideas about the world they live in. The 2025 essay question was inspired by discussions on how volunteering and being of service can make the world a better and happier place. A special congratulations goes to Maddison P, whose submission earned her a “merit” award as one of the top 10 submissions in South Australia.

Year 9 HASS students have been examining how wetlands function and why they are recognised as critical ecosystems for both the environment and human communities. Students engaged in a practical investigation where they constructed model wetlands using everyday materials. Plastic bottles were used to represent the wetland environment, sponges acted as soil and root systems to demonstrate how wetlands absorb and filter water, paper layers simulated sediment and vegetation that trap particles, and clean and dirty water illustrated the process of inflows and outflows.

The model allowed students to observe key ecological processes; how wetlands naturally filter and purify water by removing sediments and pollutants, how they mitigate flooding by absorbing and storing excess water, and how they sustain biodiversity by providing critical habitats for plants and animals.

Students produced explanatory videos in which they described how their models functioned and reflected on the wider role of wetlands in environmental conservation. The presentations encouraged students to use subject-specific language, connect their practical observations to real-world ecological systems, and consider the threats wetlands face as well as strategies for their protection.

Kardinia Caputo, Jacinta Coombe and Wendy Matulic
Year 9 HASS Teachers

As part of their Civics and Citizenship unit, Year 9 students attended a two-day camp in Adelaide during Week 8, where they engaged in a range of educational, cultural, and team-building activities. At Parliament House, students were given a guided tour through both the House of Assembly and the Legislative Council, where they discussed the roles and responsibilities of Members of Parliament and considered how state and federal levels of government interact in shaping laws and policies. At the Old Adelaide Gaol, students explored original cells and historic artefacts while learning how punishment and justice have evolved in South Australia over the past century. The South Australian Museum provided the chance to view significant exhibits, with many students particularly interested in the First Nations cultural displays and the natural history collections. Students enjoyed an all-you-can-eat dinner at Charlie’s Diner and took part in a fast-paced fitness and collaboration session at AFL Max.

Thank you to Miss Caputo, Ms Matulic and Toby for accompanying students on the camp!

On Friday 12 September, our year 9 students took part in the Riverland Field Days Career Exploration Trail, an event designed exclusively for RSSA Junior Secondary students. This hands-on experience gave students the chance to connect with professionals, discover new industries, and explore future career pathways in a meaningful and engaging way.

Each student was given a “passport” to guide them through the day. To complete it, they were required to visit at least five different exhibitors. At each station, students participated in interactive activities that showcased key skills and capabilities across a range of industries. Exhibitors then stamped the passports, providing students with both guidance and encouragement as they explored opportunities in areas such as agriculture, trades, health, technology, and community services.

The Career Exploration Trail encouraged curiosity, problem-solving, and teamwork, while helping students see the value of the skills they are developing at school. Many enjoyed trying new activities, asking questions, and gaining real-world insights into what different jobs involve.

Students who completed their passports were also entered into a prize draw, adding a sense of fun and achievement to the day. Overall, it was a positive and memorable learning experience, and our year 9s represented the school with enthusiasm and maturity.

Wendy Matulic
Year 9 Coordinator

Over the past six weeks, our year 10 music students have been preparing for an ensemble performance in week 9. Students chose songs that showed off their muscial skills, as well as ones which aligned with their favourite genres.

 “We chose to perform ‘My Own Worst Enemy’ because it is a banger and we love to play it. We also played ‘Fortunate Son’ because most people have heard this song, and it has a fun drum beat to play” Adem A and Jacob H

 “We performed ‘I Was Made for Loving You’ by KISS as it was a familiar, fun song to play. We also created our own original riff to play as we wanted to challenge ourselves with creating something new.” Dylan B

 “‘meant to be’ and ‘Francis Forever’ are the songs we chose to perform as we both like bbno$ and Mitski (artists) and felt we could perform these songs well.” Gia-Vy V and Savanna N

Alistair Ward
Music Teacher

In week 6 our senior Modern History class visited the South Australian Museum to view artefacts as part of their study on the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, analysing the legend of Sir Douglas Mawson. They took photographs and notes on the nature of these sources, and how they can be used to tell the history of this event.

Students also went to other exhibitions in the museum, looking at the important role museums play in re-telling history, as well as discussing the ethical implications around the collecting and housing of artefacts from around the world.

Alistair Ward
Modern History Teacher

Our senior girls volleyball team put in a fantastic effort throughout the School Sport SA Open Volleyball competition recently held in Adelaide, showcasing their skills and teamwork. While they didn’t achieve the result they were aiming for in the finals held last week, their determination and sportsmanship were outstanding.

The senior boys team also had a strong showing, securing two wins and narrowly missing out in a few close matches.

This experience has provided excellent preparation for the upcoming Australian Volleyball Schools Cup, to be held on the Gold Coast later this year. Well done to all players for your commitment and effort!

We are thrilled to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of students and teams in their respective sports over this past week.

Riverland Football League - Best and Fairest
Congratulations to Lachlan K on winning the U18 RFL Best and Fairest Award—a remarkable achievement and a testament to his hard work and dedication.

Riverland Hockey Association Awards
A big shoutout to Avani S and Jorji T, who were recognised with Junior Umpiring Awards from the Riverland Hockey Association. This is an incredible accomplishment, and we are proud of their contributions to the sport.

Premiership Success
Well done to the Renmark Rovers Football Club U13 and U15 junior teams for their incredible effort in winning the premiership grand final—a fantastic achievement for the players and their club!

As we head into the finals season, we extend our best wishes to all Renmark High School students competing in soccer, football, netball, and hockey over the upcoming weeks. Good luck to all teams—your dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship make us proud!

We have a number of students who will be applying for the Riverland and Mallee Vocational Awards this year. Please encourage an outstanding student that is currently completing a VET course, or is undertaking a school-based apprenticeship. Entry forms can be found in the Senior Study Space or online. https://riverlandvocationalawards.com.au/application-forms-2025 

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

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 three 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