The first half of Term 1 has had a number of whole school events. A whole school assembly was

held on 24 February to induct the 2016 Student Representative Council (SRC) and the four House

Captains and Vice Captains. It is always wonderful to see our students take on leadership

opportunities within Blackwood High School. Our annual Whole School Athletics Day was

planned for 4 March. Students have been involved in nominating for individual and team track

and field events. On the day, in addition to track and field, there will be novelty events and

house team events. Some of the students will support behind the scenes catering, acting as

runners and setting up and dismantling the event. All contributions will again result in an

enjoyable day with a stream of costumes and colour as students show their allegiance to their

houses. Due to the forecast of 36° C on 4 March the Athletics Day will be held on 11 March.

Year 8 to 12 Parent Evenings The first few weeks have been very busy with meetings with our parents/caregivers. My sincerest thanks to those families

ho atte ded the ea le el pa e t e e i gs. I e alued the oppo tu it to eet ou, hea ou ie s and strengthen

the connection between our staff and families. Whilst these formal occasions have occurred parents and caregivers are

welcome to contact the school at any time. Our next formal parent meetings will occur on Wednesday 13 April for Parent-

Teacher interviews. This occasion will focus on the progress of student learning. Please keep this date in mind. Interviews

will occur between 1.30 and 8.00pm.

Connections with our community Blackwood High School has continued to be linked with The University of Adelaide for the Early Start Program. This year,

sixteen Year 12 students will attend sessions at the University which are related to Science and Mathematics. Our strong

association with the Blackwood Rotary Club will continue with expanded opportunities for Blackwood High School

students to be involved in community based program, co-curricular opportunities and interactions with members of the

Rotary Club.

Open Night A significant forthcoming event is the S hool s Ope Night o Ma h f o 4:30 – 7:30pm. Students will have the

opportunity to demonstrate their learning, act as tour guides and assist with organisation of the event. Our students are

our greatest asset in talking about their education experiences at our school. Consent forms for student involvement will

be sent home through individual teachers.

Bus Issues Thank you to the parents and caregivers who have made contact with me about school bus issues. Each issue is followed

up and we are working towards a solution that is in the interest of our student s safety.

The University of Adelaide Special event for Parents and Guardians A parent seminar will be held on 20 March from 11.00am to 1.00pm or 12.00noon to 2.00pm. The Parent Information

Seminar will present the opportunities and e pe ie es a aila le fo the U i e sit s stude ts to stud o e seas du i g their degrees. Bookings are essential and close as 12.00noon on 18 March. Go to www.eventbrite.com.au/e/parents-

information-seminar-march-2016-tickets-20931899876.

Southern Cross Cultural Exchange (SCCE) SCCE offers a range of opportunities for students from Years 9 to 11 to undertake programs

overseas. The programs vary from two to ten months to 20 different destinations. Further

information www.scce.com.au.

No 2 – 4 March 2016

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Congratulations Congratulations to Tom Oliphant on the birth of his daughter Mia Louise.

Write 4 Fun Students can enter the Write 4 Fun Competition. They can submit either:

Poem of 16 lines or less

Short story of 500 words or less

The competition has a range of 8 prizes. Enter online at www.write4fun.net or mail to

Write 4 Fun

PO Box 2734

Nerang DC

Queensland 4211

Entries close 5pm on 31 March 2016.

Future Leaders Writing Prize Year 11 and 12 students can submit a piece of writing which is 800 to 1000 words to enter the Future Leaders Writing

Prize 2016. The topic can be fiction or non-fiction on any topic. Entries need to be submitted electronically to

helen@futureleaders.com.au and close on 1 June 2016.

2016 Eden Prize Yea stude ts a e te fo the Ede P ize. The eed to ite o o e tha o ds o the topi What a lo al go e e ts do to i p o e the ualit of o u it life a d the happi ess of g oups a d i di iduals? Closi g date September. For more information please see page 13 of this newsletter or students can talk to their English and

Humanities teachers.

Marion Coady, Principal

BLACKWOOD HIGH SCHOOL HIGH ACHIEVERS Congratulations to Madeleine Green who completed Year 12 last year. She has been awarded the

Sandy Congdon Student Scholarship through the Lions Club of Aberfoyle Park.

SAPOL STAR FORCE YOUTH LEADERSHIP CAMP 2016 During the summer holidays I attended a six day leadership camp run by the South Australia Police Specials Tasks and Rescue (STAR) Force. It was held at the Echunga Police Training Reserve and in total there were 24 of us, from all over the state, attending the camp.

During the week we faced both physical and mental challenges which allowed us to develop our leadership and teamwork skills. For example, on the first day we had the chance to go abseiling and rock climbing at the Netley Police Station which was a very memorable experience. I learnt many skills in relation to goal setting, organisation and communication. These skills, along with the new mindset I developed on the camp, were invaluable preparation for Year 12. Over the course of the camp I developed strong friendships with the others on the camp, including people who I

ould t talk to otherwise. This was great because everyone came from a different background and brought a unique set of skills. Attending the camp was an amazing opportunity which taught me a great deal about myself and how I can develop my leadership abilities in the future. Maya Tlauka, Year 12 Student

BLACKWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

PRINCIPAL’S TOURS TUESDAYS

9:00am – 10:30am

29 March 28 June

3 May 2 August 24 May 6 September 31 May 1 November

Bookings required. To book phone 8278 0900 or email blackwood@bhs.sa.edu.au

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SRC NEWS On Wednesday 24 February a whole school assembly was held in order to celebrate the 2016 student leaders. This year we have had a large turnout of students interested in being part of the SRC, especially in the middle years. Under the guida e of this ea s S‘C Leade M s. Aule t, a tea of S‘C leade s e e ele ted. The follo i g e e i du ted at the assembly:

President Kate Westphalen and Kabilan Venkatasalam Vice Presidents Isobel Stolinski and Ryan Williams Year 10 Rep Yaqi Wei Year 9 Rep Aimee Tulloch Year 8 Rep Kasey Bruer Secretary Jhye Hembury

This year the SRC already has many plans already starting to develop about what we wish to do and accomplish. So far we plan to have three casual days, with one possibly being a pyjama day, for students as well as teachers. As well as this, we hope to continue using positive education by filling the blackboard we installed last year with messages for everyone to read. Also SRC members will attend events throughout the year. Currently we have plans to send students to the Halogen Conference, St Pete s Leade ship Da a d Wo e s Da B eakfast. After attending these days we hope to have the students come back with new ideas to help the school, and new information which they can bring back to the SRC. We also have plans to run a

alkatho . With the renovation of the outdoor area we have plans to start a buy a brick initiative, where students and families can buy a brick then decide what to write on it. It will then be laid in the courtyard. This year we hope to prove ourselves to the Blackwood community and school by steering the SRC in a focused direction. Kate Westphalen, SRC President 2016

On Friday 26 February, a group of five SRC members from our school had the pleasure to attend the fifth National Student Leadership Summit. The day was held in the beautiful Memorial Hall on the grounds of St Peter's College. The day consisted of six sessions, most of which focused on leadership and the components that make up a good leader. Other topics that were discussed included the importance of followers, role models, the strengths of peers, and the personal character strengths of every student present. At many points throughout the day, we were given compelling questions, which often revolved around personal or leadership goals. To answer these questions, each of us worked alongside nine others students. This worked extremely well, as we were able to compare and discuss ideas with people from a variety of schools and places. There were even several students from Perth and Melbourne! Towards the conclusion of the day, we were privileged to hear from Guest Speaker, Hunter Johnson. Hunter is the Partnership Manager at the Foundation for

Young Australians, as well as the Director of Innovation at Kids in Philanthropy. He gave a very inspiring and engaging talk about our abilities as young leaders to shape the world that we live in. Every session was thought provoking, making us consider our roles in our schools as leaders. While I enjoyed every session, the most memorable moments of the day for me, and probably many other students, too, were the games of Celebrity Heads and Pictionary. Those of us who attended had a wonderful time, and are looking forward to sharing everything that we learned with other members of Blackwood's student body.

Imogen Deller-Evans, Year 11 Student

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WELLBEING AT BLACKWOOD Our School says 'Bullying. No Way!' on the National Day of

Action.

On Friday 11 March, our school will be taking a stand

together for the National Day of Action against Bullying and

Violence. The official date is 18 March however we have

chosen to acknowledge this day on 11 March to fit in with

our school activities.

The National Day is an annual event for Australian schools

where school communities across the nation stand as one

against bullying and violence.

Blackwood High School is dedicated to creating safe and supportive school environments, free from bullying,

harassment and violence in order to support the full diversity of students and adults in our school community.

Together, we can send clear messages to young people and adults that bullying and violence, in or outside the

classroom or home, are not okay at any time.

At our school we will have a casual day, run by the SRC, to aise fu ds fo the I te atio al Wo e s Asso iation. This

will be used to raise awareness of the issues of violence and bullying in our society.

Further information on the Bullying No Way campaign can be found by accessing these links. http://www.bullyingnoway.gov.au/national-day/about/index.html http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org.au/who-we-are

Lee Knight, Assistant Principal Whole School Wellbeing

SCIENCE NEWS Congratulations to the following Year 12 students who have been accepted into The University of Adelaide Science Early

Entry program 2016. This program provides them with guaranteed entry into a range of Science degrees upon successful

completion of Year 12.

The Early Entry Program (EEP) provides an opportunity for students to reserve their place in an undergraduate program

in the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Adelaide.

In addition to their guaranteed place to study Science at the University of Adelaide, students in the program have access

to University library resources and to various tailored events and experiences on campus throughout the year designed

to prepare and support students in their journey towards University study.

Alec Brothers Jaimee Bruer Ian Douglas Adrian Hammer Abbey Hutton Shahin Javadifir Kathryn Laity Emily Lauritsen Arshad Mohammed-Jehangir Melissa Pisano Emma Roberts Parsa Shorofi Mitchell Smith Maya Tlauka Kabilan Venkatasalam Georgie Waters Kate Westphalen

We wish them all the best in their journey through this innovative program and future tertiary endeavours.

Science and Technology Competitions

Once again, Blackwood High School will be participating in a number of Science and Technology competitions in 2016. See below for the dates of these competitions. Registrations will close at the end of Term 1. Further information will be dist i uted th ough stude ts S ie e a d/o Te h olog teacher. ICAS DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES: 17 May BIG SCIENCE COMPETITION: 18 May ICAS SCIENCE COMPETITION: 31 May If you would like any further information or would like to register for any of these competitions please do not hesitate to contact me. Jarrod Chave, Science Senior Leader

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NATIONAL YOUTH SCIENCE FORUM At the beginning of the year I was fortunate enough to be one of 200 students Australia wide who was able to attend the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF). NYSF is a science program for students going into Year 12, and involves two weeks away at the Australian National University, staying on campus at Burgmann College. I was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Blackwood to attend, and I honestly cannot thank them enough for providing me with such an a azi g oppo tu it . The issue I e been having when someone asks me to describe NYSF is simply I cannot think of any way to do it. The entire experience was indescribable. I can easily say it was the best two weeks of my life. I was able to meet and spend time with students with a passion for science and make connections with people from almost everywhere in the country. We were exposed to many inspiring visits and lectures. I was in the Chemistry group, Cornforth and we were able to go on multiple laboratory visits which related to the fields which we were all interested in. The laboratory visits included the CIT Forensics Unit, Geoscience Australia, ADFA, Icon Water, ANU Chemistry Laboratory, Therapeutic Goods Administration and Capitol Pathology. During the visits we learnt large amounts about Chemistry and how it is applied to careers and real life compared to the classroom and equations. We also learnt about the other sciences as well and how they are intertwined with Chemistry.

We attended lectures by incredible speakers such as Professor Tanya Monrow, who I personally found to be an inspirational speaker. The lectures we heard were about topics such as Year 12 and University life, as well as issues that are found in the world which can be helped by science and the applications of science. As well as these insightful activities, we participated in other exciting, friendship building activities. We learnt how to swing dance, experienced some friendly competition in the form of a relay quiz, danced the night away at a disco and attended formal Rotary and Science dinners where we got to meet many amazing people. Whilst at the NYSF we had a perfectly mixed experience of science and career information as well as fun and games with each other and the staff. Attending NYSF has changed my perspective on not only my own future, but the way in which I see the world. It has made me become more open-minded and interested in the issues which are unfolding around us. The memories I have from NYSF are ones which I will never forget, and I sincerely hope that more people from Blackwood High School are able to experience this incredible opportunity. Kate Westphalen, Year 12 student

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2016 WESTERN FRONT TOUR Dear students, parents and friends, in late September 2016 we will take a group of Blackwood

High School students to Le Quesnoy in north-eastern France. The trip, running from Week 9 of

Term 3 through to the end of the Term 3 holidays, will celebrate the anniversary of Australian

military service on the Western Front during World War One. This exchange will be reciprocal in

nature, so while our group will make the trip to France in 2016, a French group will make a

return trip in 2017. The French group will stay with the same students who hosted them in Le

Quesnoy.

In Le Quesnoy, students will be involved in a full program of activities organized by our

exchange partner school, Cité Scolaire Eugène Thomas. The focus of the tour will be the shared Franco-Australian

heritage that has developed from the experience of the Western Front in World War One. Students will participate in

commemorative activities around that heritage. They will also experience French culture and life, while sharing some of

our Australian values and traditions with their French hosts. They will attend school with their host/buddy on 2/3 days

each week, join in social and community activities and enjoy a final weekend in Paris, in addition to visiting a range of

French villages and towns.

While in France, teachers will be accompanying the

students; ensuring their welfare, guiding their

participation in all of the exchange activities and

supporting them if they have any problems during the

stay.

At this stage we expect costs to be in the range of

$3,500, which will cover flights, transfers, a weekend in

Paris, tour coach fares and insurance.

Interested students and parents are invited to contact

me on 82780949, or Amanda Aulert on 82780922 for

further details.

Raphael Zadey, Leader English and Humanities

YEAR 8 SPORTS DAY 2016 The annual Year 8 Sports Day was held on Thursday 18

February. The day included a range of track and field events

a d as u as a Sta da ds da , with students receiving a

point for participation and either a score of 1, 2 or 3 based on

their performance.

The results for the day were:

House Results Care Group Results

1st Russell 901 1st 8B & 8C 21.958

2nd Ashby 804 2nd 8F 21.174

3rd Madigan 795 3rd 8G 20.04

4th Mills 628 4th 8D 18.92

5th 8E 17.32

6th 8A 13.34

Congratulations to all students on their enthusiastic participation on the day.

Glen Little, Leader Health and Physical Education

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SANFL VISIT FOR YEAR 8 FOOTBALL CLASS On 23 February the Year 8 Specialist Football Class participated in a coaching development session run by SANFL staff Daniel Joyce and Paul Streatfield.

The aim of the class was to introduce students to basic coaching principles and methodologies. By the end of the session students had participated in and trialed a range of Auskick activities.

The session provided an excellent introduction and valuable preparation for when the class conducts Auskick sessions at Blackwood Primary School (BPS) later in the term. Students now have the task of completing their individual coaching plans and refining their coaching skills to ensure the smooth running of the BPS Auskick sessions where they will be responsible for coaching 123 junior primary students. Glen Little, Football Program Coordinator

YEAR 8 HUMANITIES EXCURSION On Friday 26 February four of our Year 8 classes attended a Humanities Excursion to Seacliff and Brighton beaches. The students have been studying Landforms and Landscapes in Humanities lessons, focusing on the coast. The students filled in Field Work Booklets and sketched images of the coastal management strategies along the coastline. Students worked well and were praised by the public on their behaviour. A massive thank you to the staff who helped organise and who attended on the day: Adelle Matthews, Sam Thomson, Renee Daish, Nick Gillies,

and Jess Rogers. Renee Daish, Humanities Teacher

HIGH SCHOOL EXCHANGE SCHOLARSHIPS & EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE APPLY BY THURSDAY, 31 MARCH 2016

Scholarships valued from $2,500 up to $3,500 are open to students between 15-18 years of age and offer the unique

opportunity to live and study overseas for a semester or year.

Students can also make a saving of up to $1,000 off their exchange program fee with an Early Bird Discount:

Deadline for scholarship and early bird discount submissions for all programs departing

between October - March 2017

Thursday, 31 March 2016.

Visit www.studentexchange.org.au or call 1300 135 331 for more information

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MFS RAP (Road Awareness Program) During Extended Care Group time on Monday 29 February,

Year 11 students heard from guest presenters and the

Metropolitan Fire Service. The presenters challenged us with

their confronting and essential message about Driver Safety

and Road Awareness. During the presentation, students were

asked to think about the implications of their actions on road

as a driver, a passenger and as a pedestrian. This presentation

included a powerful guest presenter who lost his wife and

children to a road accident and comes to speak in schools in

the hope that the message about safe road use is heeded by

all of our students.

This was a timely reminder and eye-opening experience for many of

our students who are embarking on the journey to attain their license

and the freedom that comes along with it. The main message was that

all students should enjoy the privilege, but recognise their

responsibility to themselves and to other road users.

Although challenging, the message was overwhelmingly well received

by all students who were a fantastic audience. This also reinforced the

importance of students returning their Driver or their Passenger forms

to school. If they have not already done so, please help them to follow

this up.

Also included in the pack distributed at the end of the presentation

was a Parent / Student Driving Agreement – a wonderful tool for

families to use as your children begin driving.

Luke Northcote, Senior School

Vocational Education & Training (VET) Once again we have a large cohort of students undertaking valuable training with organisations outside of Blackwood High School, meaning that many subjects and timetables have been reviewed and changed to accommodate VET training days.

This year I have been thrilled by the number of students organising their study programs to cater for their involvement. The majority of our students have seen myself or Ms Buesnel to discuss changes and how these might affect their studies. Stude ts ho ha e ’t yet ade a time must do so as soon as possible. Students making these decisions must keep in mind that coming out of classes may have an impact on their ability to:

undertake certain subjects with a prerequisite in the following year.

meet the minimum requirements for an ATAR at Stage 2.

Impact on SACE Completion of VET courses are not fully completed by the SACE Deadline.

Students should have negotiated with their subject teachers how and when they will access any missed work. Teachers will commit to supporting the students at appropriate times.

During Extended Care Group time this year we will also have presenters from a range of learning institutions including TAFE, Universities and other institutions. Many students completing VET Courses are not aware of pathways to university, Apprenticeships or further training their courses offer and I strongly encourage them to attend these sessions in order to hear this vital information that will assist them in making decisions for their future.

Luke Northcote, Senior School

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BLACKWOOD HIGH SCHOOL - HIMEJI CITY YOUTH AMBASSADORS EXCHANGE PROGRAM 2016 This program is an exciting opportunity to represent Blackwood High School on a two week cultural exchange visit to Adelaide s siste it i Japa – Himeji. WHEN: In late July/early August this year a group of Japanese students will travel from Himeji to Adelaide and stay at Blackwood High School for 12 days. Five selected Blackwood High School students will make a return visit to Himeji in the October school holidays. WHO: Five students will be selected to participate in the program. Students with a demonstrated commitment to promoting inter-cultural understanding and friendship between young people from other countries and culture are invited to complete a selection process. This includes attending an information meeting in Room 7 at lunchtime on WEDNESDAY 23 MARCH (Week 8), completing a written application, due Friday 1 April (end of Week 9), and attending an interview. Students do not have to be studying Japanese to apply for the exchange program. COST: Airfare to Japan (approx. $1850), passport, travel insurance, spending money, gifts for host family. PROGRAM IN HIMEJI: In Himeji, students will attend school with their host/buddy, join in club activities, enjoy an excursion to another city (e.g. Kyoto, Nara, Kobe or Hiroshima) and experience a range of Japanese cultural traditions such as Shodo (calligraphy) and tea ceremony. They will also have a tour of the World Heritage listed Himeji Castle. The exchange is reciprocal in nature: participating Blackwood High School students will be expected to host a Japanese visitor in their home during their stay in Adelaide or make arrangements for another family to host the student. The group travelling to Japan will be accompanied by teachers from Blackwood High School and hosted by their Himeji exchange partner. Check out the film clip of a previous trip to Himeji on the Blackwood High School homepage – click on the International tab and then 2014 Himeji Cultural exchange. http://www.bhs.sa.edu.au/international/2014-himeji-cultural-exchange/ Please contact Ms. Karyn Jones for more information or to answer questions.

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Work Experience: Important update for 2016 Work Experience arrangements as part of the Year 10, 11 or 12 programs have undergone significant changes, designed

specifically to ensure student safety in the work place.

This year, Year 10 Work Experience is Week 8, Term 2 (June 20 – 24)

Students and families need to be aware that:

All Work Experience Agreement Forms must be completed and signed by the end of Week 1 Term 2

Students undertaking Work Experience are required to complete a minimum of 5 hours of Work Preparation

which will address the relevant aspects of the:

Workplace Health and Safety Act 2012

Child e s P ote tio A t

Equal Opportunity Act 1984

This preparation must be signed off by Care Group teachers and Workplace Learning Coordinator before students are

able to complete their placement. As part of this process, the school will also assess ea h stude t s eadi ess for the

arranged placement.

Any student working with vulnerable persons (Child Care, Aged Care, Disability Care, etc.) are now required to

have a DCSI (Department for Communities and Social Inclusion) Clearance. These can take up to eight weeks

and cost $46 for school students at their own expense. Arrangements must be made before the end of Term 1

for students to receive their clearance in time.

Any student accessing a construction or building site as part of their Work Experience must have completed

the one day White Card Training. Opportunities are provided through the school in Terms 1 and 2 at a reduced

cost of $90 delivered by a TAFE SA trainer.

Students who have not met the time or training requirements will undertake an alternative program at school

during Work Experience Week.

Year 11 and 12 Students undertaking Work Experience, Structured Workplace Learning as part of a VET Course or a

School Based Apprenticeship will also be required to complete a mandatory refresher course. This was covered in part

by the Orientation Day held in Week 1 of this term and is further supported by student learning in the Workplace

Practices subject.

Completed Work Experience forms need to be completed and lodged through Student Services by the end of Week 1

Term 2.

If you have any queries, please contact Year 10 Coordinator, Ben Dening, or VET/Careers Coordinator, Luke Northcote

on 8278 0900.

Ben Dening, Year 10 Coordinator

Term 1 2016 Diary Dates

DATE EVENT TIME

Mar 8 Governing Council Annual General Meeting 7:00pm

Mar 11 Whole School Athletics Carnival

Mar 14 PUBLIC HOLIDAY – Adelaide Cup

Mar 15 Student Free Day – Mitcham Hills Partnership Professional Learning

Mar 21 Open Night 4:30 – 7:30pm

Mar 25 PUBLIC HOLIDAY – Good Friday

Mar 28 PUBLIC HOLIDAY – Easter Monday

Apr 13 Parent / Teacher Interviews & report distribution 1:30 – 8:00pm

Apr 15 Last day Term 1

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