November 13, 2023 | updates

Term 4: Update 1

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

November 13, 2023

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Update from the Principal

Events that unfold annually within a school can evolve into valued traditions and become an essential part of the fabric of school life. These traditions serve not only as celebratory milestones but also as important transitions and significant moments in time. As a relatively young school, we are in the process of growing and valuing these traditions.

Term 4, the closing chapter of our year, has no shortage of these emerging traditions. The Year 12 Good Luck Breakfast, Farewell Assembly, and Graduation, along with Final Exams, Year Level Transition Activities, Big Days Out, Excellence Awards Presentations, Year 7 Welcome Days, Arts Showcase, and Final Day Connect Group Picnics. Collectively these experiences for our students provide for acknowledgement, celebration, rite of passage and a real sense of being part of a community together.

Term 4 is a mixture of emotions, as we bid farewell to our graduating Year 12 cohort. The Year 12 Good Luck Breakfast, now in its second year, is developing as a cornerstone event. This gathering not only wishes our students well as they head into their final assessment tasks and exams but continues to build a culture where our students and staff really enjoy just being together. During the breakfast, stories are shared, photos are taken, and signatures are exchanged, creating lasting memories. This year’s theme, ‘Dress as Your Future Self,’ added an entertaining and insightful dimension to the occasion.

Personally, I had the privilege of addressing the Year 12 cohort, extending my well-wishes for their final assessments and exams, and expressing my appreciation for the journey we’ve shared together since the inception of our school. It was a special and emotional moment as I reflected on their contribution to the culture of our school community. I was able to thank the Year 12’s for the positive way they had approached their final week, something many Principals have been unable to do due to poor behaviour and property damage. This group of students are to be commended as in my many years of leading schools, this year will stand out as the most enjoyable with students just having fun and enjoying the final week activities. Great role models for our younger students.

As we navigate through this term, I encourage our students and school community to actively participate in the events planned. Here’s to a Term 4 filled with celebrations, reflections, and the building of enduring traditions.

Alistair on behalf of our whole team

Upcoming Dates - Term 4

Mon 6 - Fri 17 November WEEKS 4-5 (TERM 4) Yr12 SACE Exam Period		Tuesday 5 December WEEK 8 (TERM 4) Yr10 Big Day Out
Wed 15 - Fri 17 November WEEK 5 (TERM 4) Yr10B Outdoor Ed Camp		Wednesday 6 December WEEK 8 (TERM 4) Student Excellence Awards (morning)
Mon 20 - Wed 22 November WEEK 6 (TERM 4) Yr10C Outdoor Ed Camp		Wednesday 6 December WEEK 8 (TERM 4) Last Day of Year 10
Thursday 23 November WEEK 6 (TERM 4) Yr7 Immunisations		Wednesday 6 December WEEK 8 (TERM 4) Yr7 2024 Start Well Parent Information Evening
Thursday 23 November WEEK 6 (TERM 4) Senior Arts Showcase		Thurs 7 - Fri 8 December WEEK 8 (TERM 4) Yr7 2024 Transition Days
Wednesday 29 November WEEK 7 (TERM 4) Last Day of Year 11		Monday 11 December WEEK 9 (TERM 4) Yr7 Big Day Out
Wednesday 29 November WEEK 7 (TERM 4) Yr12 Graduation Evening		Tuesday 12 December WEEK 9 (TERM 4) Yr8 Big Day Out
Thursday 30 November WEEK 7 (TERM 4) Yr8 Market Stall Evening		Thursday 14 December WEEK 9 (TERM 4) Yr9 Big Day Out
Friday 1 December WEEK 7 (TERM 4) Student Free Day		Friday 15 December WEEK 9 (TERM 4) Last Day of Term 4 (3pm finish time)

Punctuality

Punctuality is an important is an important life-long habit and plays a significant role in your child’s academic success and personal development.

Being on time:

Maximises Learning Opportunities: Arriving on time ensures that your child can benefit from our Connect program, the focus of which includes the ongoing development of capabilities essential for continual growth. The sessions are also a time to share notices and prepare for the day ahead. A sense of belonging is vital to our wellbeing and connection to our school community is fostered during Connect sessions.
Establishing Good Habits: Punctuality is a valuable life skill. Being on time for school sets the stage for your child to develop responsible habits that will serve them well in their future endeavours, both in education and in the professional world.
Respect for Others: Being on time is a sign of respect for our school community.
Reducing Stress: Rushing to school when running late can be stressful for your child. A calm organised start to the day helps them feel more relaxed and focused.

To support your child in arriving at school on time, you can:

Set a Consistent Routine: Establish a daily routine that includes time for breakfast, getting ready, and commuting to school. Consistency helps in time management.
Prepare the Night Before: Encourage your child to organise their learning materials, lunch and clothes to minimise the morning rush.
Monitor and Communicate: Keep an eye on your child’s daily routines and ensure they understand the importance of punctuality. Communicate with them about why being on time is important. We will reinforce the same message.

Let’s finish strong in 2024 to build this life long positive habit among our school community.

Andrea West and Brad Stubing
Assistant Principals – Conditions for Learning

Senior Arts Showcase - 'CHAOS'

Adelaide Botanic High School is proud to present the 2023 Senior Arts Showcase ‘CHAOS’

The Showcase will feature Visual Art, Design, Photography and Architecture projects by ABHS Stage 2 students, and will be supported by Stage 1 Visual Art, Design and Photography.

WHEN: Thursday, 23 November 2023

TIME: Doors Open at 6:15pm, Official Opening 7:00pm, the evening will conclude at 8:15pm

WHERE: ABHS (enter via the main doors on Frome Road)

Adelaide Paella Bar will be serving their famous Paella from 6:15pm, pre-orders are strongly encouraged to avoid missing out. Pre-orders can be made on the Qkr! App and close on Sunday, 19 November.

Refreshments and desserts provided by the Hukarere fundraising team will be available to purchase on the evening.

RSVP’s for the event are requested by Tuesday, 22 November. Register to attend below.

Andy Thomas Space Foundation Mars Challenge Showcase

Five ABHS middle school students went to the Space Discovery Centre on Tuesday, 31 October to man a display about Mars the Musical and share their work with students from 10 other South Australian Schools. Students who came on the day were Diya N (yr 8), Philip S (yr 7), Patrick H (yr 7), Olivia F (yr 9) and Gaion T (yr 9). The project came about as a result of winning a $4000 grant from the Andy Thomas Space Foundation who set a challenge for schools to use a Giant Mars Map to spark interest and enthusiasm about STEM and the space industry. As we had just finished a successful musical production and had plenty of keen students wanting more, we decided to produce a student-written musical. We worked with dramaturg Dr Matt Hawkins from Flinders University to write the script and lyrics in term 3 and have begun the process of staging the production. The showcase required our representatives to speak about what was involved and what they had learned so far about Mars. We received a certificate for our efforts and were close to winning the peer prize for communication on the day. It was a good chance to see how other schools are using the map and incorporating exciting STEM experiences into their learning. There will be more information about the performances of Mars the Musical later in the term.

Lauren Scarfe
STEM Teacher

SASTA Oliphant Science Awards

ABHS is thrilled to announce Shaya I (Year 8) is this year’s Oliphant Trophy Winner. This prestigious award is given to the most outstanding science content in the SASTA Oliphant Science Awards, an annual competition for South Australian school students that aims to support, encourage, and celebrate science education within South Australian schools.

Shaya’s VAMOS (Vehicular Autonomous Marine Observation System) is a working marine vehicle capable of collecting data on the health of marine systems. Shaya has been entering the award since year 5 and this is not her first successful entry, she has previously placed in other categories covering topics from AI to detecting viruses.

Shaya said in her speech:

“During the making of VAMOS I had to constantly juggle my engineering and problem-solving capabilities! I not only had to persevere with bringing to life the engineering concepts but also resolve practical troubleshooting such as waterproofing and balancing the device in the water. Through this project, I learnt the importance of persevering and trialling in scientific innovation.”

We are simply delighted with the excellent work Shaya has put in this year, she truly exemplifies our DNA of Curiosity and Excellence. She was presented the award by Monica Oliphant, Sir Mark Oliphants daughter in law and patron of the current awards.

Irene Willcocks
Health and STEM Pathways Manager

Year 9 French - La Creperie

In week 7, our Year 9 French students donned their chef hats and mastered the art of making delicious crêpes. These young culinary enthusiasts dived into the heart of French cuisine, learning to create mouth-watering crêpes from scratch while carefully adhering to the recipe in French. Beyond the cooking, our students deepened their appreciation for French culture as they embraced the French way of cooking and learning. This crêpe culinary adventure not only filled their stomachs but also their hearts with a taste of France.

Bon appétit!

Matilde Wiese, Alison-Jane and Tania Zebian
Year 9 French Team

Year 10 Silversmithing Concepts

The Year 10 Silversmithing Concepts students have completed their first major task, bezel-setting cabochon stones. Using skills acquired earlier in the Semester, such as soldering, polishing, texturing, shaping, sawing, and filing, they crafted personalised pendants and rings. Their final pieces showcase their growth and potential in all the skills they have learnt.

Julia Groutsch
STEM Teacher

Construction Industry Careers Forum Event with NAWIC and Lendlease

In October, NAWIC SA in collaboration with Lendlease and Adelaide Botanic High School held a combined student, parent and industry panel and site tour. The event brought industry, students and parents together to discuss pathways into and diverse roles within the construction industry via a panel discussion. Following the panel discussions, students and industry professionals heard from Construction Manager Matt Gooding before being taken through the ABHS expansion project and given an exclusive tour of the project site.

Images supplied by ABHS students Lily M and Charlie S.

Year 9 STEM: A Botanical Future

This term in Year 9 STEM, students are exploring how healthy ecosystems are key to addressing the major challenges facing humanity this centaury. To kick off the term, students counted mini-beasts (bugs) in our local community (The Botanic Gardens or Adelaide Zoo) as they demonstrate the health of an ecosystem. They engaged in a marine VR experience observing different organisms in the underwater ecosystem such as turtles and sharks. They also were fortunate enough to hear from Professor Sean O’Connell from The University of Adelaide, where he spoke about the amazing work they are doing using music to encourage baby oysters to grow in new areas around the coast of South Australia bringing back extinct ecosystems that used to once be flourishing off the coast of South Australia. There are many more amazing things in store this term where students will continue exploring our our future depends on the green and blue parts of our planet.

Sylvia Charalambous
STEM Teacher

Worlds Greatest Shave Fundraising

On Wednesday in Week 2, a brave group of ABHS staff and students participated in the World Greatest Shave for the Leukaemia Foundation. Some snipped their locks off for a stylish new bob style while others took it to the next level, and opted for a very close shave! Jeeves from Wellbeing left the decision up to the students, allowing them to vote on which bright colour he would dye his hair. Needless to say, the polls chose for the wildest, brightest colour they could, fluorescent pink!

The event wouldn’t have been possible (or nearly as entertaining) without the barber extraordinaire that is Tony from Da Gianni Barbers in North Adelaide. Tony has graciously donated his time and expertise to our annual World Greatest Shave Campaign for 3 years running and we are incredibly appreciative of his contribution.

The fundraising didn’t stop at the shave, members of the SYNERGY team created and delivered a delicious Bubble tea menu to raise extra funds for the cause. The dedicated group of students all arrived to school early, put on their aprons and set to work preparing the different Bubble Tea options available to purchase. Over 250 bubble tea were made and sold on the day.

The teams fundraising efforts saw them raise over $9,000, an exceptional amount to contribute to a great cause.

Well done to all!

Chinese Next Level

Students recently embarked on a creative journey exploring Chinese calligraphy. As they delved into this intricate art form, they crafted personalized calligraphy pieces, each a unique expression of their artistic abilities. These thoughtful creations were transformed into heart warming gifts for their chosen recipients, showcasing not only their newfound skills but also the care and consideration that went into each piece. It was a meaningful experience that fostered creativity, cultural appreciation, and the joy of giving.

Pei-Chi Wang
Global Perspectives Teacher

Year 9-10 Knockout Tennis

We’re thrilled to announce that our Year 9-10 Boys Knock Out Tennis team has advanced to the finals in Week 6, following an impressive performance against Nuriootpa and Faith at Nuriootpa. Showcasing exceptional skill and sportsmanship, the team only lost one set over two matches. Their success is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and team spirit. As they prepare for the finals, we’re confident they’ll continue to represent our school values with pride. Congratulations to the team on their achievements so far, and here’s to a strong performance in the finals!

Sam Ball
Lifestyle Choices Teacher

Year 7-9 Knockout Baseball

The Year 7-9 boys baseball team went out to West Beach and played two games against Seaton and Golden Grove. The first we played against Seaton on the second diamond. This was most of the boys’ first time playing baseball. We ultimately lost the game but had some highlights like Eddie’s catch, Leo’s double and Angus’ out at second. The second game we played against Golden Grove on the main diamond and this game we were much more competitive although the score didn’t show. We had multiple innings were we didn’t give up 7 runs unlike the first game. Thanks to Charlie, Luca and Tyler who came out and coached the team. Overall the boys had fun and got to learn a new game.

Sam Ball
Lifestyle Choices Teacher

Year 7/8 Boys and Girls Knockout Volleyball

On Friday of Week 2, our Year 7/8 Boys and Girls Knockout Volleyball teams travelled to The Lights Sports and Community Centre to participate in the first round of the Statewide tournament. Both teams spent several weeks trialling and training for the event and were very keen on competition day. The girls had a fun day out coming 5th overall and the boys were unstoppable, only losing one set, and moving forward to the finals in Week 5. It was a great day out competing against other schools and improving volleyball skills. Thanks to Toby and David (Year 10) and Wendy (Year 11) for coming along to coach our teams.

Ekiden Relay

On Thursday of week one a group of 16 students from Years 7-10 competed in the annual Ekiden Relay around the Karrawirra Parri. The relay had a record number of teams competing from a variety of different schools from all over South Australia. The 8 person relay involved different length running legs for each student which were 5.4km, 2.8km, 1.5km and 1km. Both the boys and girls teams successfully completed the course despite the hot weather and having a lot of runners performing against older students. We look forward to competing again next year!

Callan Hammond and Sam Ball
Lifestyle Choices Teachers