July 7, 2023 | updates

Term 2: Update 2

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

July 7, 2023

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Update from the Principal

Supporting our young people to make informed choices regarding their futures is an intentional and important approach at Adelaide Botanic. The Learning Pathway Conversations that take place in Term 3 is an opportunity for you to share in supporting them with their choices.

This year we have chosen to make some changes to the Learning Pathway Conversations with the full support of our Governing Council. The Conversations will be held face to face at school with bookings held throughout the day and into the evening. Additionally, the length of time for each conversation has been extended, allowing for a deeper discussion where students, parents and teachers can explore more in depth the student’s future pathways.

To support these changes, the Governing Council approved Thursday, 7 September as a Remote Learning Day with the expectation that students will only attend school on that day for their chosen appointment. Students will be provided with remote learning tasks via the Daymap Portal to work on for the balance of the day. Where it is not possible for a student to be at home, supervision can be provided at school. The following day Friday, 8 September is a school closure day for the Royal Adelaide Show. This mean families now have the flexibility to choose the Learning Pathway Conversation time slot that best suits their needs in terms of attending the Royal Show or a long weekend if they wish.

The focus of the Conversations for students in Years 9 to 11, will be to discuss their career pathways and career action plans. These discussions will be used to inform subject and course selections as they move into Years 10, 11 or 12 in 2024.

For our Year 12 students, these Conversations will be part of the student’s Transition Plan into tertiary education, training or work.

Students in Years 7 and 8 will be able to use the Conversation to share their progress on their Learning and Personal Goal they set at their Term 2 Conversation. Students will also share aspects of their Career Action Plan that will help them identify the skills and pathways they may like to explore as they move through school.

Bookings for the Learning Pathway Conversations will be available through the Daymap Portal as it was for the Term 2 appointments, with more information provided early next term when bookings open.

As we move into the holidays, I would like to acknowledge and thank our staff team for their commitment and care for our students and wish them and you a safe and reenergising holiday break.

Looking forward to an awesome third term!

Alistair on behalf of our whole team

Upcoming Dates - Term 2 and 3

Mon 3-Fri 7 July TERM 2 - WEEK 10 Year 11 Exams		Sun 13-Sat 19 August WEEK 4 Year 7 Canberra Trip
Friday 7 July TERM 2 - WEEK 10 Last day of term (normal dismissal time)		Wed 16 - Thur 17 August WEEK 4 Student Pathways & Career Expo (Year 9-12)
Monday 24 July WEEK 1 First day Term 3		Thursday 24 August WEEK 5 Student Free Day
Fri 28 and Sat 29 July WEEK 1 ABHS Musical 'The Addam's Family'		Thursday 31 August WEEK 6 Year 10 Immunisations - 2nd dose
Monday 31 July WEEK 2 Yr7 Canberra Trip - Parent Information Session		Thursday 7 September WEEK 7 Learning Pathways Conversations / AT HOME Learning Day
Tuesday 1 August WEEK 2 Debating Round 4		Friday 8 September WEEK 7 School Closure Day
Wed 9 -Fri 11 August WEEK 3 Year 10 Camp		Wednesday 27 September WEEK 10 Yr10 Street Smart High

Uniform Policy Reminder

The Adelaide Botanic High School uniform reflects the contemporary nature of the school and offers a range of proven selections for a variety of weather conditions and student needs.

The uniform plays an important role in creating a sense of identity among students and the community whilst also supporting the safety and wellbeing of our students. The uniform gives students flexibility of choice in terms of what they wear in varying weather conditions, with no specified summer or winter items. In the colder month the school uniform puffer jacket is available to keep students warm, other popular brand puffer jackets are not part of the ABHS uniform.

All students are expected to uphold the school’s value of ‘Community’ by wearing the correct school uniform at all times as outlined in the Uniform Policy.

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

Professional Learning on Student Free Day

This term teachers took the opportunity to enhance their literacy skills building on the literacy focus at the previous student-free day! Guest speakers and our own teachers ran workshops in literacy education to share their knowledge and insights, and provided valuable perspectives, strategies, and techniques to support teachers in their literacy instruction.

One workshop provided teachers the opportunity for self-directed learning to explore academic journals, educational websites, and courses related to literacy instruction to stay updated with the latest research and gather new ideas.

Another explored the mechanics of sentence structure and functional grammar through practical activities. A guest from the Department for Education led a workshop to support teachers using student data to inform and enhance supported reading.

Tom Barrett from Dialogic Learning, who has supported professional learning at our school for the past 5 years, led a workshop with Ryan Westell from ABHS called ‘Seeing Beyond the Pixels: The Intersection of AI and Visual Literacy’, which explored the relationship between AI and visual literacy, examining how artificial intelligence can enhance our ability to interpret and communicate visual information. Through interactive activities and discussions, participants learned about the latest AI tools and techniques used in fields such as image recognition, computer vision, and natural language processing. They also gained insights into the ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI in visual literacy, its impact on society, and how AI is transforming the way we see and interpret the world.

Donna Mason
Assistant Principal – Conditions for Innovation, People & Culture

Year 11 Nutrition - Pickling Workshop

This term in Nutrition, students have been learning about safe food handling. Part of this includes exploring different methods of food preservation such as pickling. Pickling is the process of preserving food through acidification, protecting the food from pathogenic or spoilage microorganisms and extends the shelf life of food. The class was lucky enough to have the owners, Jessie and Taylor, of My Grandma Ben come in a run a pickling workshop. Students chose their own vegetables, cut them up and added them to their jars. They then flavoured their jars with whatever spice combinations they wanted, some options included mustard seeds, coriander seeds, fresh ginger and fresh herbs. Students then pasteurised their jars through a process of heat-treatment at high temperatures to push the air out of the jar and create a vacuum seal. This method is called canning and kills pathogenic microorganisms that can survive the acidic environment and prolongs the shelf life of the pickles. The next day students were able to collect their homemade pickles and enjoy them at home.

Sylvia Charalambous
STEM Teacher

Fleet Space STEM Week

Participating in the recent Fleet Space STEM Week, work experience was an incredible opportunity that exceeded all expectations. The program aimed to deepen the understanding of STEM career pathways and develop practical skills for students’ future.

From the very beginning, we were immersed in a diverse and inclusive environment, learning from experts across all departments. Engaging coding projects challenged our critical thinking and allowed us to explore the boundless possibilities of technology. Hands-on assignments in marketing and electronics expanded our knowledge, showcasing the powerful fusion of creativity and technical expertise. What made this experience truly exceptional was the unwavering support and guidance of the Fleet STEM Team. Their passion for sharing knowledge and dedication to fostering a collaborative learning environment were truly inspiring.

Chloe H.
Year 12

Read more about Fleet Space Technologies buy clicking on the image

Year 12 Visual Arts & Photography - Andy Warhol Exhibition

In May, our Year 12 Visual Arts and Photography classes were lucky enough to experience the Andy Warhol exhibition at the Adelaide Gallery. As part of this, a number of our students were interviewed and featured in the BTN High episode focusing on Warhol. It was a fantastic opportunity for our students to explore the artist and filmmaker which will support their practical works this year.

James Almond
The Arts & Innovative Pedagogies Leader

Year 9 Futures Ready

In Term 2, Year 9’s participated in a presentation about finding part time work, led by Futures Ready Student Pathways leader, Ben Dening.

Students spent some time in Connect sessions thinking about what questions they had about part time work. These questions were used to develop an information session for students and addressed topics such as: laws about working hours, how to write resumes, interview skills and maintaining a work, life, study balance. This was a timely presentation to inform students about the world of part time work with some students beginning or searching for their first after school job.

Ben has encouraged students to begin building experience by participating in school events and activities and demonstrating our ABHS DNA so that their teachers can be positive references for any opportunities.

Middle School Student Achievement and Success team

SchoolTV Updates

Nina Tanner & Justin Mitchell - Student Engagement and Wellbeing Leaders

Social Media Influencers

Social media influencers wield significant power, shaping opinions, particularly among young people. However, their impact on youth mental health is concerning. Most recently, the controversial actions and statements of Andrew Tate and his rise to fame, has made him a polarising figure, amassing a significant following of mostly young males. Educators and families have raised urgent concerns about the damaging nature of Tate’s content, worried that his messages may radicalise students and create a generation of young men with regressive and harmful beliefs.

In today’s digital world, anyone can be an influencer, exerting influence through their audience relationship. Comparisons to idealised lives on social media can contribute to feelings of inadequacy, while exposure to inappropriate content and distorted body image perceptions exacerbate the issue. The fast-paced environment inundates young people with information, making them susceptible to certain beliefs and evoke strong emotions. Attention has become a valued commodity, therefore influencers design content to captivate their audiences.

Filtered portrayals of perfect lives create unrealistic expectations often resulting in dissatisfaction. Comparisons with peers intensify insecurities and anxiety. Social media algorithms may also expose a young person to inappropriate content, fostering negative and divisive narratives which can then lead to cyberbullying and online harassment, further harming their wellbeing.

United Nations Youth Association Evatt Trophy Competition

Adelaide Botanic High School was well represented in the recent preliminary rounds of the United Nations Youth Association Evatt Trophy Competition, which took place at Flinders University over several days of competition in early June. This competition involves teams of two students from schools across the state representing an allocated nation in a model UN Security Council. Teams debate assigned resolutions from the perspective of their country. The competition is not only about public speaking, but also rewards students for their skills in diplomacy and negotiation, as well as for their understanding of their nation and its values and stance on issues of international political significance. We were pleased to have three outstanding teams in the competition this year, consisting of Jack L. (Yr 11) and Lily J. (Yr 10), Nimrat K. and Raina R.(Year 11), and Claire H. and Harry L. (Year 9). After scores were finalised for all preliminary rounds, we are proud to congratulate our Year 11 team, Nimrat and Raina, and our Year 9 team, Claire and Harry, who have been selected to compete in the semi-finals. We wish these students the best of luck!

Global Perspective Team

U20 Young Matildas Soccer star Grace heading to Vietnam

CommBank U20 Young Matildas Goal Keeper, Grace Wilson and her team have been successful in securing a win in the recent qualifying Rounds in Kyrgyzstan (March 2023) and Vietnam (June 2023). Grace will represent Australia at the 2024 Asian Cup to be played in Uzbekistan, next March. Her recent accomplishments on the field follow on from her success in July last year, where she was part of the CommBank U18 Junior Matildas Team, which won the Asian Football Federation U18 Womens’s Championship in Indonesia. As well as playing soccer for the national team, Grace plays for the SA state team and will represent South Australia in the NTC (National Training Centre) Challenge 2023 in Melbourne. For the last two seasons Grace has been contracted to the A League, Adelaide United Women’s team which involves playing in both Adelaide and interstate. Over the years of attending ABHS, Grace’s soccer commitment has grown significantly. The continuing support, flexibility and understanding from staff at ABHS has enabled her to continue to achieve both her sporting and academic goals.

Inaugural ADFC Tri-Service Leadership Summit

In May this year ABHS Peer Elevate Mentor, Sophia L. was nominated to attend The inaugural Tri-Service Leadership Summit in Canberra. The Summit brings together the highest performing cadets from The Air Force, Navy and Army. Sophia was one of only 30 cadets selected from units across the nation within the Australian Defence Force to attend. Cadets engaged in a range leadership sessions hosted by senior officers in the Defence force, these sessions focused on developing leadership with a practical, theoretical and experimental approaches.

Highlights included, participating in the Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial, skill testing on the Leadership Reaction Course and meeting with General, the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove. Cosgrove served as the 26th Governor-General of Australia, in office from 2014 to 2019. He was Australia’s Chief of Army from 2000 to 2002 and Chief of the Defence Force from 2002 to 2005

” I was very excited about the whole experience, and most importantly I’ve learnt a great deal more about leadership and working with others this weekend, along with making some great mates from around the country.” – Sophia L.

State Beach Volleyball Competition

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news about Toby and Cate, they recently competed in the State Beach Volleyball Competition held at Coolangatta Beach, Gold Coast from the 27th -30th March, and we couldn’t be prouder of them!

The competition was intense, with top players from all over the state, but Toby and Cate didn’t let the pressure get to them. They showed amazing skill, dedication, and sportsmanship throughout the tournament, and it paid off big time.

It’s always fantastic to see students from our school competing at the state level, and we hope Toby and Cate’s success will inspire others to chase their dreams too.

Congrats to Toby and Cate on their amazing win – we know they have a bright future ahead of them.

Samuel Ball
Sports Manager/Lifestyle Choices Teacher

13 to 19 years 2023 Triathlon National in Tasmania

Hey there!

I’m Milla, and I’m currently in Year 7. I recently had an amazing chance to take part in the 2023 Triathlon National for 13-19-year-olds in Tasmania. It was a big deal for me because I got to represent South Australia alongside 17 other athletes from different schools. We left Adelaide on March 13th and returned on March 16th.

Our journey to Tasmania was pretty cool. First, we all hopped on a plane to Melbourne, which took about an hour. Then, we caught another flight to Tasmania and had to drive for about an hour and a half to reach Devonport, where the competition was held. Throughout the trip, we wore matching red South Australia uniforms to show our state pride.

When we finally arrived, we were all exhausted, but we had to set up our bikes. Unfortunately, some of the athletes had their bikes stuck in Melbourne, so they didn’t get them in time.

The next day was super exciting! We had to wake up super early at 4:30 am. It was a special day where we got to meet athletes from other states, explore Tasmania, and be part of the opening ceremony. Later in the day, we even went for a ride to test our bikes, and we covered a distance of around 20 km. The following day was race day, so we had to wake up early again. We parked our bikes and set up our stuff in the transition area. In the afternoon, I raced in the individual event and proudly finished as the top South Australian athlete. I’m not sure about my final score, but it felt amazing. After the race, we had a ceremony where we saw the winner of the individual event.

The day after that was all about the relay. It was so much fun, and it was our last day in Tasmania. We did really well and finished 4th overall, which was pretty awesome. Unfortunately, I injured my ankle during the race, and I haven’t been able to walk for the past three weeks. But overall, it was a fantastic experience. I loved competing in sports and getting to know new people and make friends. If you’re interested, you should totally join the championship in term 4 and try to qualify for the next national event in Perth. It’s a great opportunity to challenge yourself and meet more amazing athletes.

Milla B
Year 7

Australian Junior National Track and Field Championships

At the end of last term I went up to Brisbane to compete at the Australian junior national track and field championships. I ran well in the Under 18 3000m event running a time of 8:54.14 placing 2nd in my heat and 8th Australian overall. It was a great experience and will hopefully be used as a stepping stone for future events.

Hudson M.
Year 12

2023 Cross Country Championships

June 8 was the date for the 2023 Cross Country Championships held at Oakbank Racecourse. As per usual the weather was notoriously bad, with rain, mud and wind making the running conditions extremely challenging for all competitors. Adelaide Botanic High School had fourteen students compete across five different age groups. Our team comprised of: Year 7 – Scarlett, Arnav, Isaak, Milla and Claudia Year 8 – Jackson, Evie, Emily, Sakura, and Sophie Year 9 – Harry, Daisy, and Sarah Year 12 – Hudson. Notable performances on the day were: Hudson finishing in 4th position out of 50 competitors, Jackson finishing in 20th position out of 156 competitors and Sarah finishing in 33rd position out of 100 competitors. Despite the poor weather, all students put their best foot forward and represented the school proudly and were fantastic ambassadors for our school. I would strongly encourage all keen middle school runners to choose Run Forest Run for a studio option and I look forward to watching the cross-country team grow in the coming years.

Kylie Trenordan
Lifestyle Choices Leader

Year 7/8 Girls Knock Out Netball

On 9 June the Year 7/8 Knockout netball team played a very competitive Saint Mary’s and Saint Peters girls College. The team consistently fought hard to win their goals and kept their heads up and fighting to remain competitive. The first game ended with a 60 to 27 score versing Saint Peters and the second game against Saint Mary’s 61 to 29. Thank you to all the girls that participated!

Ashley Whan
Lifestyle Choices Teacher

Mountain Biking

Taking place on 11 and 12 May, the recent mountain biking competition brought together a total of 7 ABHS teams. Although victory eluded our teams, their unwavering resilience and determination was truly remarkable. I would like to extend our thanks to teachers Alex, Dan, and Joel, as well as the parent helpers, for their invaluable support during the event. A special shoutout goes to Matjia, who displayed impressive composure by changing his tyre twice without getting flustered. The spirit of sportsmanship and the valuable lessons learned from facing challenges will continue to shape the growth of our students. Kudos to all the participants for their incredible efforts!

Sam Ball
Sports Manager/Lifestyle Choices Teacher

Year 9-10 Knock Out Volleyball

We’re here with an update on the KO Volleyball competition held on Monday, 29 May. We proudly entered two teams into the tournament. Our girl’s team secured a commendable 4th place out of 8 teams, displaying impressive teamwork and determination. The boy’s team gave it their all and finished in 6th place out of 8 teams. A special shoutout goes to Toby, who coached the boy’s team and provided valuable guidance. We extend our gratitude to all the players and supporters who made this event memorable. The competition showcased growth, sportsmanship, and the passion for volleyball that our teams embody. Well done, everyone!

Samuel Ball
Sports Manager/Lifestyle Choices Teacher

Just Launched - Lot 14's Boundless Magazine

The wait for the much anticipated Boundless magazine from Lot 14 is finally over! Issue 1 features articles on the Future of AI, NASA’s Visit to South Australia and a deep dive with Cobber founder and cover star, Roann Junio-Hartmann. It’s an exceptional first edition and the scope of what is to come for our neighbours at Lot 14 is truly exciting.