2022 Term 1 Week 11

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Learning to live with uncertainty – our school value of RESILIENCE in action

Bouncing back, moving forward, staying strong, demonstrating character, never giving up, toughness, overcoming barriers, adaptability, persistence, continuing to try, being headstrong, recovering, pushing through, problem solving, showing durability

This year has provided our students, staff and families lots of opportunities to develop RESILIENCE as COVID-19 has impacted on health, attendance, learning and school operations.

From Week 2 of this term, we have had daily reports of COVID-19/close contacts from students and staff. 

This has meant interrupted learning for a number of students at various times as they have been isolating and quarantining at home.

With a number of staff also caught up in the isolating and quarantining regime and considerable difficulty accessing relief teachers, it has been a big logistical exercise to ensure that we have had teachers in front of classes.

In that context, I would like to acknowledge:

• the overwhelming majority of students who have been able to show resilience in such circumstances – still remaining focussed on their learning – even when their regular teachers have been away for long periods of time
• the commitment of our staff who have volunteered to take extra lessons, day in day out, to enable us to remain open
• our leadership team who have regularly ‘plugged holes’ and responded to the students who have struggled remaining ‘regulated’ in a time of such uncertainty
• our Executive Assistant, Kelly Bond, who is responsible for organising relief staff, communicating with families re COVID cases and issuing RATs to staff
• our families for communicating with us re COVID absences, monitoring symptoms and supporting other requirements such as mask wearing, etc.

Farewell, Mr Williams!

After almost 50 years, Maths and HASS teacher, Mr Roger Williams is retiring at the end of this term.  Beginning his teaching career in the early 1970’s, Roger has taught at a wide variety of metropolitan schools as well as a stint in Port Augusta.  Coming to Salisbury East High School in 2010, he was keen to stay around to welcome the Year 7’s into High School this year.

On our school Facebook page it’s been good to see a number of comments left by former staff and students.  Here are just a few:

“Enjoy your retirement, Mr Williams!  Definitely one of my favourite teachers during school.  SEHS is losing a great teacher and all-round top bloke”.

“What an absolute legend – all the best for your retirement, boss”

“Roger was a great teacher to work with and as an SSO I would come away from his classes knowing more than I did before”

“Taught my family – the 4 of us…thanks for being a fun teacher”

“Congratulations, Roger.  Your wealth of knowledge will be sorely missed”.

Term 1 reports

Term 1 reports will be available via ‘Day Map’ on Thursday, April 14.

Please note that with the exception of the ‘Arts/Technologies’ rotations at Year 7 and 8, all other grades are progressive.

In that context, I’d like to highlight the following:

If teachers find that they have insufficient evidence of learning to provide an accurate A-C grade due to absences resulting from illness/close contact, they will record current achievement as N/A – rather than a D or E grade – especially at Years 7-10.  Our focus will be on reporting what students have completed, rather than penalising for work missed due to COVID-19.

The SACE Board has already adjusted the number of assessment pieces required for senior students this year to take into consideration staff and student absences. 

Uniform Reminders

As we move into cooler weather, it is important that students have the necessary items for school – most particularly:

• a school jacket – two options available

These are available from our uniform supplier, Devon Clothing at Clovercrest Plaza, Modbury.

Link to website below or contact them on 8350 7930.

Please note the following items are never acceptable for school:

• non uniform jumpers
• leggings – unless worn under another item – eg dress or skirt
• denim

Short-term exemptions can be obtained while you are sourcing appropriate items.  See the link below or get a hard copy from Student Services or the Front Office.

We also have a small number of uniform items that we can make available to families doing it ‘tough’ at the moment.  Please contact Amelia Molnar (Middle School) or Sarah Afshin-Pour (Senior School) if you require support with this.

Advance Notice – Pupil Free Day – July 8

The final day of Term 2 will be a pupil free day.  Staff will be engaged in professional learning – specifically the Berry Street Education Model which will support us to better understand the impact of trauma on learning.

Term 2 arrangements

Term 2 commences on Monday, May 2.  At this stage it is unclear what the mask requirements will be for schools as this will be reviewed by the government towards the end of the holidays.  However, regardless of the circumstances, we will continue to have good supplies of masks for those who require them.

Kristen Masters, Principal

YOUTH GOVERNOR'S LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

One of Year 10 Student Voice members, Fahari, has been selected to participate in the Youth Governor’s Leadership Program for 2022.

This program is designed to help teenagers develop into confident, resilient and empowered young people who will be socially responsible change agents, making a difference amongst their communities. Students selected will participate in fun, challenging, collaborative activities where they will become more self-aware, be inspired to think ‘we’ not ‘I’, and learn how to help others through a hands-on project.

Fahari’s journey began last weekend with a two day ‘Foundations of Leadership’ camp in Mylor. From there she will spend the next four months working on a group project with other participants.

This is a great opportunity, and we as a school community are immensely proud of Fahari; a great young leader for not only SEHS but our community and our state!

STUDENT VOICE

National Day Against Bullying was held on Friday the 18th of March and Student Voice helped cook and serve the free sausage sizzle held at lunchtime. In addition, Student Voice also walked around the school handing out lollipops to students observed as undertaking random acts of kindness. This was a successful day that Student Voice would like to improve on and do again next year to promote a kindness culture in our school.

SEHS Open Night was held on Thursday the 17^th of March (Week 8), which allows us to showcase our school to prospective students currently in Years 5 and 6. As a preparation Student Voice went around the school picking up rubbish (with tongs and a bucket) and encouraging others to do the same, promoting pride in our school. Our school captains, and other Student Voice representatives were there on the night, ushering our guests, giving out goodie bags, and supporting tours and answering questions.

Recently some of our Student Voice representatives joined in a meeting with Devon Clothing, Ms Masters and Ms Shepherd to discuss future uniform options. Prior to the meeting, the Student Voice team collected suggestions from their peers and Mentoring groups about what they wanted see changed. Some suggestions included, a long sleeve polo top, bucket hats, feminine suited pants and shorts, and possibly bringing back sweaters/rugby jumpers. Results from the meeting at this stage are still under discussion – so watch this space for further news!

On the agenda in the next few weeks, we will be covering:

• Celebration of Harmony Day
• Sensory Path
• Team Building Excursion focusing on communication and team work skills

Chloe Lyons & Kate Mckinna, Student Voice Mentors

TRAFFIC LIGHTS

Dear Year 12 Parents/Caregivers,

Our school year is well underway, and we are already nearing the end of a busy Term 1! Year 12 is, of course, extremely important as our students work towards achieving the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) and, in many cases, an ATAR for university undergraduate course selection.

For this reason, we will continually monitor every student’s academic progress and achievement throughout 2022.

As well as interim and end of term reports, one way we do this at SEHS is through our highly effective ‘Traffic Lights’ system. This is a ‘live’ document that allows teachers to provide regular, ongoing, updates on the status of every student for every subject. If/when concerns arise, the Senior School Team can then ensure timely communication is made with parents/caregivers in relation to this, and appropriate support and intervention takes place.

Subjects on the Traffic Lights are marked ‘red’, ‘amber’ and ‘green’ and can indicate, for example:

Green: Tracking well; meeting due dates; passing assessments; no concerns

Amber: Showing some concerns; a change in attitude towards learning; missed assignment deadline; borderline standard submissions

Red: Some serious concerns around passing the subject overall; multiple assignments overdue; submissions not of a passing standard

Traffic Lights are published to students, Mentor Teachers and Area of Study Coordinators, which allows regular discussions to take place around what can be done to improve, if necessary, current levels of achievement.

In some cases, due to a student being potentially ‘at risk’ in more than one subject, we may wish to discuss this further with you, so you are kept informed of what intervention, support and other options are available moving forward. Therefore, a member of the Senior School Team or I may be in contact with you by phone.

Alternatively, you are always welcome to call me on 8258 2070 and/or a face-to-face meeting can be arranged if this would be more beneficial.

Conversations with parents/caregivers and students include:

• Why the Traffic Lights are not all ‘green’
• If the student intends to rectify that and, if so, what they will explicitly do moving forward to improve outcomes
• How serious the student is about being successful and obtaining their SACE (and an ATAR if applicable)
• How the student is using their study lines and if they are undertaking homework
• What learning and achievement support is available at SEHS
• What the student’s attendance is like (and, if necessary, how it can be improved)
• Other factors that may be impacting on the student’s academic achievement
• What the student’s future pathway is
• Other potential options away from SEHS

We are very hopeful that every Year 12 student can work to their maximum potential this year and, with our support and guidance, achieve – or exceed - what they set out to accomplish by the end of 2022.

Meanwhile, please do not hesitate to get in touch should you have any questions around our academic monitoring and intervention processes.

Jules Peck, Head of Senior School