April 22, 2025 | updates

Term 1: Update 2

Adelaide Botanic High School students engage in learning tasks which are about connecting, creating, communicating, co-ordinating and collaborating.

April 22, 2025

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EMBRACING YOUNG PEOPLE’S CURIOSITY

Update from the Principal

I hope you are all enjoying a restful and family-filled Easter holiday. As I reflect on my first term at ABHS, I am truly grateful for the warm welcome I have received. It has been a joy to meet many of you and to witness the vibrant energy that defines our school. More than that, it is the deep sense of community that provides the foundation for our school. Many times throughout the term, I was asked whether I was glad I made the change. My response has always been, absolutely! It doesn’t just feel like changing schools; it feels like I have come home.

At ABHS, we are committed to cultivating a sense of belonging at the heart of everything we do. We know that when students feel connected to their school community, it positively impacts their learning, engagement, and overall well-being. Every student deserves to feel known, valued, and truly part of our community. Belonging comes from having your voice valued and heard as a contributor to your community. The energy and enthusiasm in “our house” show that our students are active contributors. Whether it be our Cultural Ambassadors representing our school at various events or the 150 students who supported our exceptional Showcase evening, I hear our students’ voices shining and making a difference. This is what belonging looks like.

Our school has been buzzing with exciting events and activities throughout Term 1. The House Leaders’ enthusiasm was infectious as they organised the first House Community event, bringing students together in a spirit of camaraderie. Our Sports Day and the final Colour Run official House launch exemplify the opportunities for students to connect and contribute to the energy and enthusiasm that make ABHS a place to be.

Community is at the heart of everything we do. It was wonderful to see so many parents and caregivers at our “Morning to Connect,” strengthening the bonds between families and core teachers. The “Splash Out! Carnival” was another highlight, celebrating community spirit among our middle school students, thanks to the hard work of the Lifestyle Choices and SAS team. Harmony Day was a beautiful celebration of our cultural diversity, filled with traditional games and activities. It was a powerful reminder of the strength in our diversity and the importance of inclusiveness and respect.

Looking ahead, I am excited about upcoming events like the Hukarere Quiz Night and “The Future Looks Brighter” exhibition. These events are wonderful opportunities for our students to shine and for our community to come together.

Please mark our upcoming Learning Conversations dates in your diary. We have considered parent feedback and hope to provide times where all families can participate either online or in person. These Learning Conversations are a vital opportunity for our students to work in partnership with their families and teachers to identify the behaviours for learning that are supporting their success and where they need support and encouragement to improve. Please endeavour to make time to be a part of this important event.

Term 2 will see the start of the colder weather. It is at this time we see uniform standards tending to lapse. The ABHS uniform is highly versatile, flexible, and very smart. We know that it is an important aspect of our students feeling an enormous sense of pride in their school and being part of our community. We ask that our students are supported to fully meet the uniform expectations, including correct shoes and outer layers. We will follow up with families in the first weeks of school to support all our students to represent our community with pride.

Thank you for your continued engagement in your child’s education at ABHS. We are committed to supporting each and every one of our individual students to be successful and reach their potential. But it is only in partnership that we can do this, with school and family caring deeply about the success of each of our students. Together, we can support the well-being and success of our young people, ensuring they flourish and thrive.

Sarah on behalf of our whole team

Upcoming Dates - Term 2

Monday 28 April WEEK 1 First Day Term 2	Tuesday 20 May WEEK 4 Student Free Day
Tue-Wed 29-30 April WEEK 1 Year 8 AFL Max Camp Group 1	Wed-Thur 21-22 May WEEK 4 Year 12 Camp
Wed-Thur 30 April - 1 May WEEK 1 Year 8 AFL Max Camp Group 2	Thursday 22 May WEEK 4 Year 10 Immunisations
Fri-Sun 2-4 May WEEK 1 Generations in Jazz	Tue-Fri 27-30 May WEEK 5 Year 11 Outdoor Education Kayaking Camp
Wednesday 7 May WEEK 2 Learning Conversations	Monday 9 June WEEK 7 Kings Birthday Public Holiday
Friday 9 May WEEK 2 Hukarere Quiz Night	Wed-Fri 11-13 June WEEK 7 Year 10 Outdoor Education Deep Creek Camp
Wednesday 14 May WEEK 3 Learning Conversations	Tuesday 17 June WEEK 8 The Future Looks Brighter - Yr5-10 Art Exhibition
Wednesday 14 May WEEK 3 Certificate II in Cookery Immersion Day	Mon-Wed 23-25 June WEEK 9 Year 11 Biology Whyalla Cuttlefish Camp
Thursday 15 May WEEK 3 Learning Conversations	Mon-Fri 30 June - 4 July WEEK 10 Year 11 Exams
Monday 19 May WEEK 4 Learning Conversations

Save the Dates: Learning Conversations

We are excited to share with you important details regarding the upcoming Student Learning Conversations scheduled for Term 2.

At Adelaide Botanic High School, we believe in fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration among students, parents, and staff. These conversations are designed to empower students to take ownership of their learning journey and to promote open communication between home and school. During these sessions, ABHS students, with the guidance of their Connect teachers, will lead discussions with parents about their learning progress, goal setting, and understanding of themselves through the Behaviours for Learning.

Wednesday, 14 May 8:20am – 11:35am – online via Microsoft Teams

Thursday, 15 May 4:20pm – 7:15pm – in-person at ABHS

Monday, 19 May 4:20pm – 7:15pm – in-person at ABHS

The structure of the Student Learning Conversations and booking details will be provided at the beginning of Term 2. Parents will be able to schedule appointments with Connect teachers through DayMap. Should you have any questions or require further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s Connect teacher.

Upcoming Hukarere Quiz Night

Join us for an exciting evening of fun and games at the Hukarere Cultural Experience Trivia Night, hosted by the students of Adelaide Botanic High School attending the 2025 Hukarere Cultural Experience. Gather your friends and family to form teams of 8-10 and compete in a series of trivia challenges, games and an auction. The trivia night will be entirely run by the students attending the trip, showcasing their organisational skills and enthusiasm for this unique opportunity.

The Hukarere Cultural Experience is a learning experience for 40 Year 11 Students visiting Queenstown, New Zealand in July 2025.

Event Details:

Date: 9 May 2025
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Venue: Adelaide Botanic High School Gymnasium
Cost: Tickets $10 each or $90 for a table of 10. Nibble boxes available to pre-order for $20 when you book your tickets.

We look forward to seeing you there for a night of fun!

Ticket purchases can be made by clicking the button below.

Purchase Quiz Night Tickets

Save the Date – The Future Looks Brighter Exhibition

Since early 2024, we have eagerly awaited the arrival of the Chihuly Exhibit at the Botanic Gardens. We feel incredibly fortunate to have such a remarkable opportunity to experience Chihuly’s work right in our own backyard. As a school community and neighbour to the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, we recognised the importance of creating a special response to this event. Our Arts team has developed a learning program for students in Years 7 to 10, allowing them to experience the Chihuly exhibit and respond creatively. Students have been creating both 2D and 3D artworks inspired by Chihuly’s masterpieces. These artworks will be showcased in our exhibition, “The Future Looks Brighter,” at the end of Semester 1, 2025. We would love to see you at the exhibition and hope you can ‘Save the Date’. Further information will be provided soon.

Eden McEwen
Assistant Principal – Conditions for Learning Year 7 and Transition

Yr10 Psychology - Old Adelaide Gaol

During March and April, our Year 10 Psychology classes went on an engaging excursion to the Old Adelaide Gaol. These students had been studying Criminal Psychology and took the opportunity to take their learning beyond the classroom by exploring the hallways, cells, and prison yards of the gaol that closed in 1988. The students took a guided tour, hearing and experiencing some of the exciting stories of the gaol’s long and dark history, including audacious escape attempts, prisoner’s daily routines and the grueling conditions experienced by prisoners. “The gaol excursion was very interesting and gave me useful insights into the rehabilitation of prisoners” – Hannah G. The excursion was an enjoyable and engaging way to conclude our criminal psychology unit and connect student learning beyond the classroom.

Ethan Murphy
STEM Teacher

WOMAD 2025

ABHS was a part of the WOMADelaide festival once again, providing an amazing opportunity to showcase our fabulous school and its students on the world stage. Over the 4-day weekend, the school hosted events on Botanic Terrace (Taste the World), as well as two different performances in the gym. These were the moving and poignant Hewa Rwanda, and the joyful Seeing Through Darkness by the Restless Dance troupe. These performances supported by our on-site student volunteers. In addition, other WOMAD venues throughout the park hosted dozens of ABHS students through work experience opportunities. Students gained experience in areas ranging from backstage AV tech support, to art play in the KidsZone and even as content creators, taking photos and conducting artist interviews. In all, over 50 students participated, volunteering over 600 hours of time to support the festival.

It was great experience for all students involved and a fantastic way for ABHS to connect with our community!

Dr Rogan Tinsley
Assistant Principal – Curriculum Innovation and Community Connections

Aboriginal Education Update

Meet Our New Cultural Ambassadors

We are excited to announce the official launch of the Cultural Ambassador Program. This initiative, proposed by students Jaylah and Celestina, has been developed and implemented with the dedicated efforts of the Aboriginal Education and Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Teams. Nominations for the program opened late last year, and we are proud to introduce our four selected leaders: Ivy in Year 9, Celestina in Year 10, and Blake and Jaylah in Year 11. These students are actively engaged in various projects, with a significant focus on enhancing our Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week observations and celebrations. The Cultural Ambassadors played a vital role in running traditional Aboriginal games during Harmony Day in Week 8. On this occasion, they adorned themselves with traditional body art, representing their cultural heritage. They have also delivered the Acknowledgment of Country at whole school events such as Sports Day. The Ambassadors have joined the school’s RAP team to share their perspectives on Aboriginal history and culture in our school’s curriculum, providing valuable insight on student experiences. They are working diligently alongside the Aboriginal Education Team and Synergy on numerous projects to foster cultural understanding and reconciliation within our school community. Their involvement in this program also contributes to their EIF and AIF projects. We look forward to the positive impact this program will have on our school and the broader community.

Kaurna Day at the University of Adelaide

In Week 6, the Aboriginal Education Team took the Year 8 and 9 SAASTA Connect students to the University of Adelaide for Kaurna Day. This event offered students a meaningful opportunity to connect with Aboriginal culture through engaging stalls that highlighted educational, artistic, and business initiatives. The students were particularly inspired by the vibrant music performances, which added to the sense of community and celebration. This experience fostered a deeper understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal heritage and contemporary artforms.

YASTSA Roadshow Workshop

A group of year 8 and 9 students were selected to represent Adelaide Botanic High School as Young Aboriginal STEM Thinkers of South Australia (YASTSA). As a part of the YASTSA team, students will work to explore Indigenous connections to STEM content, developing curriculum that can be taught all over South Australia. Their first YASTSA commitment was an incursion during week 9. Students were visited by staff from the STEM Aboriginal Learner Congress and received professional development on how to collaboratively design and deliver curriculum. This included participating in an exemplar workshop, and activities that encouraged students to build their capacity as public speakers. Looking forward, these YASTSA will also attend a 3-night camp in term 2, and present their workshop at a conference in Term 3. Wish them luck!

The Aboriginal Education Team

House Communities

Throughout Term 1 the House Leaders have orchestrated a variety of events that have provided multiple entry points for students at ABHS to engage with House Communities. So far this Term House Leaders have organised House Communities Day, supported with SplashOut and Sports Day, run Capture the Flag, MasterChef, Middle/Senior School Futsal, and have supported with our brand-new concept ‘House Communities in Connect’, where all Learning Areas have run a competition during Connect time. On the last day of Term 1, ABHS hosted a Colour Run at Park 12, where the entire school community celebrated a fantastic Term with our official House Communities launch. We are looking forward for more events throughout the remainder of 2025.

Peter Bouzalas
Lifestyle Choices Teacher

Year 12 English Accelerated

A big thank you to the English Accelerated class for their fantastic contribution in leading this year’s Senior English Interactive Workshop at the 2025 Showcase Evening. As part of their class work on Descriptive Writing, students led a 15-minute workshop focused on guiding audiences through the different types of imagery—visual, auditory, olfactory, tactile, and gustatory—and demonstrating the power of “show, not tell” through engaging and interactive games.

This experience not only deepened their understanding but also helped them build valuable transferable skills like teamwork, public speaking, collaboration, and critical thinking—skills that will serve them well beyond the English classroom. Well done to all involved for your enthusiasm, professionalism, and for bringing the written word to life!

Here is a testimonial from two of our students:

“We found that the 2025 Showcase Evening was a great opportunity to meet future students here at ABHS and get to know them as well as their parents. Talking them through what we’ve been learning in class this year was a fun experience as we helped them discover new things, especially regarding new concepts they have yet to become familiar with (e.g. types of imagery). This process also helped us reinforce our current knowledge as well as develop it further as we were asked questions. We found that the experience helped us interact with people coming from a variety of schools and age groups where we had to adapt to their levels of interest. Overall, we would definitely recommend students to volunteer for the Showcase Evening as this was a great way for us to develop our skills, engage with, and get to know our future ABHS community.” Jennifer and Alanna

Tania Zebian
Global Perspectives Teacher

Celebrating Harmony Day at Adelaide Botanic High School

On Friday of Week 8, our school came together to celebrate Harmony Day—a meaningful occasion that recognises the rich cultural diversity within our community and reinforces the importance of inclusiveness, respect, and standing up against racism.

The day was filled with colour, connection, and creativity. Students took part in a range of activities, including traditional Aboriginal games and sports, making orange bead bracelets and ribbons, decorating “orange people” chains, and enjoying delicious orange cupcakes. The school was a vibrant sea of orange, with many students proudly wearing the colour to show their support. Others embraced the opportunity to wear traditional cultural dress, and it was wonderful to see the range of outfits proudly on display.

A big thank you to Mackenzie, Olive, Claudia, Minma, Nina and Eliza, Synergy students who collaborated closely with the wellbeing team to help bring this special day to life. Their efforts played a big part in making Harmony Day such a success.

It was a joyful and powerful reminder of the strength found in diversity and the importance of kindness, unity, and belonging.

Amy Broham
Senior Leader Health and Wellbeing

Showcase Evening

The 2025 Showcase Evening was a fantastic opportunity to present our four learning areas, studios, and diverse extracurricular activities to the wider community. Over 200 students welcomed guests and brought the event to life with captivating performances by the ABHS Big Band Ensemble, live drama and musical rehearsals, cooking demonstrations, interactive exhibits, immersive VR experiences, and chemistry competitions.

Loren Carbone
Student Leadership and Transition Leader

Year 7 DNA Action Days

Earlier this term, the Year 7 students enjoyed an exciting day at West Lakes Aquatic Centre, engaging in a variety of water-based activities. The DNA Action Days provided a wonderful opportunity for our newest students to bond, face challenges, and embrace new experiences.

Loren Carbone
Student Leadership and Transition Leader

Year 11 Psychology Inside and Out - University of Adelaide Workshop

This term, the Year 11 Psychology Inside and Out students participated in an engaging workshop titled “Psychology Memory and the Mind,” run by psychology students from The University of Adelaide. This interactive session explored key topics such as cognitive processes, social norms, and memory formation through hands-on activities, including games and memory tests. Students gained practical insights into how cognitive processes shape behaviour and deepened their understanding of the brain’s role in memory, particularly working memory and information storage.

The workshop also connected theory to practice by demonstrating how different brain regions contribute to memory formation and retrieval, building upon students’ prior knowledge from Year 10 Psychology. By expanding on their current understanding of neuropsychology and the complexities of the human mind, students gained valuable insights into improving memory and overall well-being.

Here are two student testimonials:

“I enjoyed being able to learn outside of a school environment. Since the presentation was from an Adelaide Uni student, the excursion gave us a glimpse at a potential future pathway. There was a section of the presentation we saw dedicated to social norms. We saw a video of a guy walking backwards on an escalator and had a discussion about how psychology applies to how we reacted to it. In class, we’re doing a unit on neuropsychology currently, so connecting things like social norms to some of our learning during the discussion was interesting!” Shade

“I enjoyed the memory game. It was a game I used to play with my cousins. The challenging part and the way I got to know my peers was how they remember things and what their perspective is on certain psychology aspects. The workshop was related to memory, linking back to class and how we were discussing the brain.” Kayden

Tania Zebian
STEM and Global Perspectives Teacher

Year 7 Media Arts - Stop Motion

Our Year 7 students had an unforgettable day at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, turning nature into their film set! With perfect weather and Canon DSLR cameras in hand, they captured 120 photos each to create their own 15-second pixilation stop motion films. Before heading out, students used Todorov’s Narrative Theory to plan their stories on a storyboard—thinking like real filmmakers as they shaped their narratives with a clear beginning, middle, and end. It was a brilliant mix of creativity, storytelling, and hands-on learning in one of the most beautiful classrooms we could ask for!

James Almond
The Arts Leader

Student Virtual Reality Champions

Student Virtual Reality Champions Patrick Hall and Aarchi Shah, with the VR Manager Heath McCallum, were kept busy showing prospective students and their families the amazing technology available at the school during the recent SHowcase Evening. Families explored the Egyptian Pyramids, dived with sharks, explored canyons and landscapes across the world, walked in space, and created 3D art. Aarchi found it “fulfilling to see everyone so excited about the technology we have available” and Patrick “enjoyed helping everyone play with the cool technology and providing a student perspective to parents.”

Heath McCallum
VR Manager and Global Perspectives Teacher

2025 Musical - Guys and Dolls

A group of 50 students from all year levels have been working hard to put together the 2025 ABHS musical- Guys and Dolls with the help of teachers Lauren Scarfe, Sarah Bradley, Kerrin White, Rebecca Williams and Matt Chapman. They have also experienced Latin dance workshops by Latin dance teacher Val Alonso and are looking fabulous. The onstage cast have worked on music, dances and scenes to put together Act 1 by the end of this term.

Progress is going well and students have shown lots of collaboration and hard work. They particularly enjoy celebrating the efforts of costars when songs are performed at rehearsals for the first time. Next term the backstage team will join us after school to prepare the costumes, sets and props required for the performances. This will add to the community atmosphere created by such a large project and we look forward to meeting all of our new collaborators and working towards our common goal to produce excellent entertainment!

Lauren Scarfe
Musical Director and STEM Teacher

VET Certificate II in Cookery Course

In Semester 2, Adelaide Botanic High School will host a Certificate II in Cookery Course. This opportunity is open to students from our Eastern Schools Alliance (EASVA), and we are hopeful that many ABHS students will participate. The course is available to Year 11 and 12 students interested in pursuing a pathway in hospitality or cooking.
If you are interested, please speak with Jake Blunt, our current VET coordinator. For students unsure if cooking is the right path, we have an upcoming Immersion Day. This “come and try” session will be hosted by the VET Cookery Registered Training Organisation. Please refer to the attached flyer for more details. If you wish to attend the Immersion Day, contact Jake soon, as spots are filling up quickly!

Jake Blunt
Senior Leader – Identities and Futures Pathways
Lifestyle Choices Teacher

NAPLAN

After 80 test sessions and 1684 tests, students in Year 7 and Year 9 have completed their NAPLAN tests around Reading, Writing, Conventions of Language and Numeracy. The results of these moment in time tests are useful for parents, students and teachers to understand where they are at, in regards, to each of these four areas and teaching and learning can be adjusted to support students as a result. Our students all gave their all throughout the tests, so when you work hard you should celebrate hard and that’s what the students were able to do.

The Middle School Student Achievement and Success team with the Synergy group recognised the amazing effort put in with a great NAPLAN Celebration at the end of tests. Congratulations again to all the Year 7 and 9 students for completing NAPLAN 2025.

Justin Kentish
Assistant Principal – Innovation and Equity in Conditions for Learner Success and Agency

Sport

Swimming Championships

Adelaide Botanic High School put on an impressive performance at the Secondary Schools Swimming Championships, competing in Grade E and securing 6th place overall. The boys’ team finished 4th, while the girls’ team placed 9th, contributing to the school’s strong showing.

Several swimmers achieved Standard of Excellence (SOE) awards, which are given to the top 5% of swimmers in each event, for their outstanding times. Eugene K earned an SOE with a time of 33.78 seconds in the 50m breaststroke, while Reiner G achieved one with a swift 27.31 seconds in the 50m freestyle, both in the Open Divisions. A special mention goes to Phoenix T, who dominated his events, winning every race and posting a remarkable 1:03.09 in the 100m freestyle.

ABHS excelled in the Open Division relays, taking first place in both the 4x50m medley and 4x50m freestyle relays by significant margins. The girls’ 16 and under 4x50m freestyle relay team also delivered a strong performance, securing second place. Honourable mentions go to Milla B and Cacia C, who both finished in the top three in at least one of their events.

Congratulations to all swimmers on their achievements, and we look forward to seeing even more competitors next year as ABHS continues to grow in strength!

Reiner G
Year 12

Yr10-12 Baseball

During the Baseball Knockout Day, the team faced challenging matches against two teams from Seaton High School. The team combine of students from various year levels and experience worked hard to compete against strong opposition. Charlie L and Tyler D, Year 12, took lead of the group to continue working hard during the matches. Ky E and Lucas W, presented their experience with competitive play on the field. Although the team was knocked out after losing the two games, they displayed resilience and teamwork throughout the event, gaining valuable experience for future competitions.
Thank you to Kira G using her softball experience to coach the team on the day.

Holly Cunningham
Lifestyle Choices Teacher

Year 11 Outdoor Education Surf Camp

In Week 9, our Year 11 students went on a 3-day, 2-night Surf Camp at Berry Bay on the Yorke Peninsula. Prior to the camp, students engaged in comprehensive planning for safe and sustainable outdoor activities. This included developing risk management plans, preparing equipment, conducting skills pre-assessments, and enhancing their environmental awareness.

During the camp, students participated in practical surfing lessons, developing their skills while learning about local conditions that affect surfing safety and comfort. They analysed the beach, tides, rips, swell, and wind, all of which influence surf conditions. Accommodation was in tents, and students prepared their meals using Trangias (outdoor cooking stoves).

The camp was a great success, with every student able to stand up on a surfboard and ride a wave by the end of the three days. Students will now reflect on their experiences before turning their focus to planning and preparing for their upcoming 4-day, 3-night kayaking expedition in the Ral Ral Creek area, just outside of Renmark.

Jake Blunt
Senior Leader – Identities and Futures Pathways
Lifestyle Choices Teacher

Learning with Visiting Educators

We continue to welcome many guests into our school who are interested in learning with us. This picture is of International University Students studying to be teachers with their head of Education Dr Walter Barbieri. Our teachers are wonderful and generous in opening their doors and allowing guests to get a true sense of the student experience at Adelaide Botanic. Other visits this term have included, a group of 8 Principals from New Zealand schools, a group of school leaders from Perth, and most recently a long term ABHS partner Anne Knock from The Learning Future with leaders from a Brisbane school. ‘If not us the who?’ represents our belief that to be in such an amazing school compels us to give back to education on a global scale, sharing the great things we do and the innovations we lead.

Donna Mason
Deputy Principal

Yr7 STEM with Georgia and Alex

In these images Year 7 students are watching and listening to a demonstration by Alex about measurement. Alex is using a camera to project onto the large screen his modelling with simple equipment ways to measure and understand relationships between diameter and circumference.

Donna Mason
Deputy Principal

Staff Professional Learning at the forefront

Leveraging Technologies is an important consideration in our Learning Design for student to enhance student engagement and understanding. Our daily morning CoLab time is a unique construct in schools and enables staff to experience a high volume of professional learning and skill development. Below STEM teacher, Simon, demonstrates to teachers his application of VR learning, supported by our VR Manager, Heath. Ryan, our ‘Capabilities and Futures Design’ Leader, has teachers on their feet to respond to his provocations about AI developments and their confidence in applications for learning.

Donna Mason
Deputy Principal