Start of Term 1 2025
Monday 27 January- Public Holiday
Tuesday 28 January -Student Free Day – Professional Development for Teachers and SSOs
Wednesday 29 January – Year 7 . Year 12 and all new students attend school.
Year 12 Retreat
Thursday 30 January – All Students attend school.
Year 7 Incursion
Year 7/8 Parent information Night
Friday 31 January - Year 7 Incursion
Term 1 Calendar will be sent at the start of 2025
Dear Parent / Caregivers
As the year draws to a close, it is the perfect time to reflect on all that we have achieved as a school community. At Modbury High, we are proud of the successes of our students and staff, both in and outside the classroom.
This year, we celebrated academic excellence, with students demonstrating a strong commitment to their learning and achieving outstanding results. Beyond the classroom, our students have thrived in a range of extra-curricular activities, showcasing their talents, dedication, and teamwork.
Term 4 Highlights
F1 in Schools
A standout highlight for this term was our F1 in Schools team, which recently competed at the Formula 1 World Championships, representing our school and South Australia on the global stage. This remarkable achievement is a testament to their hard work, innovation, and perseverance.
Congratulations to Kahlan Mashford, Mason Green, and Luke Zawada for their exceptional work. It was with great pride that I watched teams from around the world speaking to these three students and congratulating them on their performance.
A very big thank you to Mr. Karl Read, Steve, and Kate Read for the countless hours they have spent supporting the students. Thank you also to all the sponsors, mentors, and parents for the invaluable support they have provided to the team.
Visual Arts
Our Visual Arts students also achieved great success, demonstrating their creativity and skill. Earlier this year, they decorated tiles inspired by drawings from students in Asakuchi, Japan. These tiles have been installed in Tea Tree Gully Council’s Civic Park. In recognition of their work, our students and their teacher, Ms. Moeller, attended and spoke at the launch of the Sister City Tea Tree Gully Council and Asakuchi Arts Project. This was a wonderful opportunity to showcase their talents and strengthen cultural connections.
Prize Giving Assembly
On Friday, November 29, we held our annual Prize Giving Assembly. Over 100 students were awarded for their academic achievements, school service, and for upholding the school’s values. Congratulations to all the award recipients for their commitment to their learning and to our school community.
Farewells
As we approach the end of the year, we bid farewell to several valued members of our teaching staff who will not be returning in 2025.
Mr. Martin Smith, who is retiring, has dedicated 50 years to the education of young people. He is a respected, committed, and much-loved teacher.
Mr. Glen Mackie, an excellent Mathematics teacher, has won a position at another school. He will be greatly missed for his ability to inspire and earn the respect of both students and colleagues.
Mr. Gareth Budd, an exceptional Music teacher, is moving to Queensland, having lifted our Music Program to new heights with his talent and passion.
Mr. Brendan Schiller, who has secured a coordinator’s role at another school, is a well-respected and loved teacher whose passion and commitment to sport have provided countless opportunities for students to engage in extra-curricular activities.
Miss. Casey Rendell, though with us for a short time, has worked tirelessly to support students, families, and her colleagues, leaving a meaningful impact.
Mrs. Maida Zelma, who is taking leave with the intention of retiring in 2025, has worked diligently over her 27 years at Modbury High School to support our EALD students.
Ms. Seema Rani, who joined us on a one-year contract teaching Science, has shown great dedication and hard work during her time with us.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each of these teachers for their invaluable contributions to our school community and wish them all the very best in their future endeavors.
Start of 2025 School Year
Please note the following starting dates for 2025.
As per every other year we will have a staggered start. See important dates.
More detail information will be sent to parents in the middle of January.
Wishing everyone a safe and restful holiday season!
Ms Joanne Costa
Principal
The Muriel Matters Award profiles and recognises the work and life of South Australian born suffragist, educator and social reformer Muriel Matters.
She is renown as a person made a difference in the early 20th century through her work and activism to further the rights and freedoms of women, promote universal access to education and have careers open to talent.
This award was established in 2021 as an award program under the guidance of the Speaker of the House of Assembly and the Minister for Education. Each school can nominate one student each year as a recipient. The award is aimed at identifying and recognising young people in our schools who display the qualities of self-initiative, determination to make a difference despite personal challenges, and a commitment to make the world a better place for all.
This year, we as a school nominated Caitlin Fraser (Year 12) for this award.
Initially, Caitlin was acknowledged for her contributions at the Year 12 Valedictory Assembly and was presented her award by Mrs Frances Bedford (Secretary of the Muriel Matters Society, former parliamentarian and long time supporter of Modbury High School).
Caitlin was then invited to a special presentation for this award at Parliament House. At this ceremony, 16 of the 76 recipients for 2024 were specially recognised for their contributions. Caitlin received further recognition from Speaker of the House of Assembly, Leon Bignell MP, and our Minister for Education, Mr Blair Boyer MP. Also present t the ceremony was Mrs Frances Bedford, and Ms Olivia Savvas MP (Member for Newland).
Congratulations Caitlin for your significant contributions to the school and community.
Modbury High School has started using a platform called Edsmart, which allows us to send digital consent forms and important broadcasts directly to your email. Please ensure your email is up to date with the school and that our messages are not sent to your junk folder.
Daymap is another important tool Modbury High School uses everyday with students, staff and parents. We ask that our parents/caregivers all have access to their parent daymap, not the student's daymap. This is where parents/caregivers can communicate with teachers, message the school about absences, check student reports and notes. It is important that you are signed into the parent/caregiver account and NOT the students as there are functions such as booking parent/teacher interviews that is not available on the student's daymap.
This term, our Year 7 Humanities students have been exploring how the Australian government operates and the significance of voting in our democracy. As part of their studies, students were tasked with creating a political campaign speech and running for "presidency" alongside their self-formed political parties.
In an exciting competition, classes 704 and 707 went head-to-head, presenting their speeches to both groups. The event culminated in a student vote to determine their next "Prime Minister."
Throughout the activity, students showcased impressive presentation skills and a deep understanding of Australia's political system. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to put theory into practice and engage with the principles of democratic participation.
Ms Sheahan
Humanities | Cross Discipline | English | 1012 HG Teacher
Ms Hoppo
English | Humanities Teacher
On the evening of Wednesday, December 20th, the annual exhibition saw a great turnout of students, parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends gather to celebrate the creative work of 14 Art and Design students. The gallery was a hive of people engaged in viewing the variety of 2D and 3D works on display. Seeing the students relaxed and proud to show off their year’s work to their friends and family was great to see.
The caliber of work this year was very varied, and high quality, including a mixture of painting, drawing, sculpture, digital art, architecture, 3D printing, and photography.
It was a proud moment to see it all come together in such a professional and positive manner.
Mrs Amanda Lewis
Visual Art Teacher
In weeks 6 and 8, the year 9 and 10 Japanese classes each went on an excursion to the city. The year 10 class went on Friday November 22 and although it was a very hot day, enjoyed their Japanese lunch at Itsumo at the Stamford Grand. After eating, the students got to have some retail therapy at Daiso – the Japanese goods shop in Gawler Place. While in Japan all the goods at this shop are 100 yen ($1), most of the goods at the Australian version are $3.30.
The year 9 class went on Tuesday December 3. They started by walking to South Terrace to visit Himeji Garden. This is a traditional Japanese garden that was build in 1985 to commemorate the sister city relationship between Adelaide and Himeji. Students were able to sit by the pond, watch the turtles swim around while eating their recess. Next stop was the Central Market where students could have a brief look at what was for offer or as some did, have a quick ice-cream! We then walked to our lunch venue, Hotaru Japanese restaurant, where students found they had to remove their shoes to sit at traditional Japanese tables to eat their meals. Students had a variety of meals – including eel, udon, curry and tempura. The year 9s then also visited Daiso to round off their day.
Amanda Kampes
Year 9 and 10 Japanese teacher / Coordinator of Languages
On Friday 22 November the Years 9 and 10 Spanish class went on excursion into the city. We went to the Botanic Gardens to learn about plants from the Americas. We learnt that plants such as potatoes, corn, pumpkin and chocolate all originate from the Americas. Can you imagine a world without chocolate? I don’t want to! Thanks to the Aztecs we can enjoy chocolate. It was originally prepared as a spicy water-based drink used for ceremonies. The Europeans took it and added sugar and milk to make the bars we know today.
After the Botanic Gardens we caught the tram to the Argentine restaurant “La Boca” on North Terrace. Students had a yummy chargrilled lunch straight from the parilla (charcoal barbecue). A fun time was had exploring the city and making memories.
On a personal note, thanks to all the year 9 and 10 students for their commitment to learning Spanish. For some of these lovely students I have been their only teacher. We have cooked in class, been on excursions, discussed cultural celebrations and what intercultural understanding really means as well as watching telenovelas and learning grammar and vocabulary. I will be leaving Modbury High School at the end of this year and moving to Melbourne to be closer to family. I wish them all the best in their cultural and language learning journey and I hope they never lose the spark of interest in Hispanic culture and language.
Mrs Muggleton
Spanish and EnglishTeacher
Act I: The Curtain Rises
(The stage is set with students bustling about in preparation for a grand performance. A narrator steps forward, addressing the audience with enthusiasm.)
Narrator: In the heart of Modbury High School, on a crisp Wednesday, November 27th, the Year 9 drama cohort stepped into the spotlight. Their mission? To bring to life two extraordinary tales: Hansel and Gretel and Snow White and the Seven Entrepreneurs.
(Lights shift to a montage of scenes: students in casting meetings, measuring costumes, painting sets, and rehearsing lines. The hustle and bustle fill the stage with energy.)
Narrator: For weeks, these dedicated thespians poured their hearts into production. Casting was carefully deliberated, sets meticulously crafted, and costumes prepared with flair. Every sound cue was planned, every line rehearsed, until the big day arrived.
Act II: The Performances
(The stage transforms into a lively primary school audience. Bright-eyed children sit in rapt attention as the performances unfold.)
Narrator: And what a day it was! The young audience from local primary schools, including Ardtornish Primary and Modbury South, watched with wide eyes as the stories unfolded. From the dark woods of Hansel and Gretel to the modern twists of Snow White and the Seven Entrepreneurs, every moment was met with applause and laughter.
(Spotlight on Hasifa as Snow White, performing with grace. The backstage crew is shown in silhouette, coordinating with precision.)
Narrator: Every student, from the brilliant Hasifa as Snow White to the unsung heroes backstage, brought their roles to life with excellence. Even the parents, who attended the show, were astounded by the hidden talents of their children.
Act III: The Aftermath
(A stack of thank-you letters is shown on a desk, with students reading them joyfully.)
Narrator: The magic lingered beyond the performance. Letters of gratitude arrived from Ardtornish Primary students, brimming with joy and appreciation for the fun they had.
(The stage dims, and the narrator steps forward, spotlighted.)
Narrator: Drama is alive and thriving at Modbury High School. As we close this chapter, we look ahead to the excitement of 2025, where more performances await. Until then, the stage remains a place where imagination and teamwork shine.
(Curtain falls. Applause echoes.)
Mr Swain
Drama Teacher
The Modbury High School Governing Council recently recommended that parents/caregivers vote in favour of the legally recoverable Materials & Services fee to a ‘prescribed sum’, which is the core Materials and Services charge of $720 for year levels 7-12, plus any subject charge for those subjects chosen by the student for 2025.
The poll was successful with votes 30-12 in favour.
Modbury High School takes pride in our ability to offer a rich variety of curriculum options and we aim to continue to do so. We consider the income from these charges to be critical in the ongoing delivery of quality curriculum for students.
On Thursday December 5th, our Year 11 students dressed up and enjoyed an evening at the Paradise Hotel, celebrating the conclusion of Year 11. Some highlights for the night were access to the salad bar, humorous award certificates, some friendly competition with a Kahoot, fun playing Uno and enjoying a lovely meal and dessert. This event was a great occasion for students and staff to reflect on the year that was, and what is to come for this great bunch of students in 2025. Thank you to the Paradise Hotel for their kind hospitality and service and great meals!
We are thrilled to share some incredible news about the accomplishments of our Year 12 students who participated in university programs this year. Over the past two years, we’ve supported several students to undertake university subjects as part of their Year 12 studies, contributing to their SACE and/or ATAR, through both the UniSA Accelerate Program and Flinders University Extension Studies Program.
This year, for the first time, two of our students participated in the Flinders University program – Kaiwen He and Asha Duldig – achieving outstanding results. Kaiwen studied Finance and Accounting for Leaders and Marketing Principles in the Digital Era, achieving outstanding results, equivalent to a SACE Stage 2 subject 18.9/20 🎉. Asha Duldig took on Sex, Death, and Ritual in the Ancient World and History’s Killing Fields: From Medieval to Modern – a first for any SACE student in SA. Thanks to Asha, these subjects are now approved to count towards the SACE and she has paved the way for future students. She also achieved outstanding results, with the equivalent to a SACE Stage 2 subject score of 18/20 🎉.
Additionally, Hana Wong and Kahlan Mashford found success through the UniSA Accelerate program, also achieving commendable subject scores. Their hard work and achievements were celebrated at a special event, and some wonderful photos to commemorate this milestone can be seen below.
These programs continue to open new doors for our students, providing opportunities to challenge themselves and excel. Congratulations to all involved for their dedication and success!
Ms O'Brien-Dent
Year 11/12 Leader
In week 8, the MHS Big Band toured the Encounter Bay Region over three days. Over three days the group performed at local schools and sat in with the Victor Harbor Community Band. It was a great first-hand experience of being ‘on the road’ as a musician with all the highs, lows, and challenges that come with touring.
Thank you to Mark Heinjus for supporting the Trumpets, and to Shania Newstead and Theo Kelesis for volunteering their time (and experience) to help make the journey a success.
Next trip is GIJ 2025!
MHS Music proudly reports that two of our Year 12s have been accepted into tertiary music courses for 2025! Congratulations to Jack C-A for being offered Jazz performance at the Elder Conservatorium, and to Crystal H. for pursuing Music studies at TAFE.
The 2025 Senior Music Captains were announced earlier this Term, and we would like to recognise Rei Cook and Isabelle Cox for being awarded the Year 12 and Year 11 Music Captain badges. The Captains are chosen by the Music Staff and previous Captain(s). Our Music Captains are recognised for being responsible, reliable, mature, and support others’ musical development. Very well-deserved.
The 9/10 combined band performed to visiting instrumental students from Ardtornish Primary School in the Auditorium during Week 7. MHS Music students were tasked with planning and presenting their performance using the knowledge and skills learned at MHS. Students were responsible for stage planning, music selection, and compere script writing. The MHS students entertained around 50 primary school musicians with an hour-long show that inspired students to consider choosing Music in High School.
Mr Budd
Music Teacher
Families are invited to our Market Day where Year 7 students will be running businesses to raise money for their chosen charity. There will be a range of items and experiences on offer on the day - food, drinks, jewellery, arcade games just to name a few. Please enter from Australia Avenue gate and follow signs for parking.
When: Friday 8th November
Time: 9.30am - 11.00am
Where: In the Year 7 building at Modbury High School
Monday 14 October | Term 4 Recommences
Friday 25 October | Last day of Year 12 lessons
Tuesday 29 October | Valedictory Assembly
Thursday 31 October | Student Free Day
Monday 4th November | Start of Year 12 Exams
Wednesday 20th November | Start of Year 11 Exams
Monday 25 November | Start of Year 7-11 Exams
Friday 29 November | Year 7-11 Prize Givinig Assembly
Friday 13th December | Term 4 concludes. Students dismissed at 2:30pm
For more Term 4 Calendar dates: download the pdf version here
Dear Parents/ Caregivers
This term has been filled with many of extra-curricular activities that have provided students with diverse opportunities for personal growth, community engagement, and hands-on learning. From cultural celebrations to sporting events, our school has offered numerous platforms for students to extend their learning beyond the classroom and nurture their talents.
Valedictory Assembly
Our Valedictory assembly will be held on Tuesday 29th of October. It is a highly anticipated event that holds great significance for both students and staff as we come together to celebrate the achievements of our Year 12 graduating students. Invitations have been sent out earlier in the term, we hope to say many parents join us.
Cultural Event
On Tuesday, 10th September, Modbury High School, in collaboration with Modbury South Primary School and Modbury Special School, hosted a cultural event titled Pudnanthi Taikkurrinthi Mukamukarrinthi, which translates to "Come, Unite, and Celebrate." The event offered a meaningful opportunity for students and parents from all three schools to come together and celebrate First Nations culture. It served as a platform to foster a sense of community, strengthen cultural understanding, and honor the rich traditions and heritage of Australia’s First Nations peoples.
Pedal Prix
On Saturday, 21st and Sunday, 22nd of Septmeber, Pedal Prix students took part in the challenging 24-hour race held at Murray Bridge. The event was a true reflection of teamwork and collaboration, with students, parents, and Fast Cats Racing working together to support the riders through every lap. It was inspiring to witness how each group played a vital role, whether it was maintaining the vehicles, providing encouragement, or ensuring the wellbeing of the team. I had the pleasure of attending on Saturday and was thrilled to see the strong sense of camaraderie and shared purpose that united everyone involved.
Term 3 Reports
Term 3 reports have been uploaded to Daymap. As with every term, I encourage all parents to take a few moments from their busy schedules to discuss their child’s achievements and areas for improvement. Engaging in these conversations not only reinforces the importance of academic progress but also provides an opportunity for students to set goals and identify strategies to enhance their learning outcomes. Your support and guidance are invaluable in helping them reflect and strive for continued growth and success.
Holiday Sessions
During the upcoming holidays, several teachers will be conducting holiday classes to assist students in either preparing for their final exams or completing their final summative tasks. Ms. Woolford has shared the schedule for these classes through a recent communication sent to parents. While attendance is not mandatory, I strongly encourage parents to support and motivate their children to participate in these sessions. Attending these classes will not only help consolidate their learning but also provide an opportunity to seek additional guidance and clarification from their teachers, ensuring they are well-prepared for the final assessments.
Ms Joanne Costa
Principal
On the 12th of September, Modbury High School acknowledged R U OK Day by Year 9 and 10 SVC members working with Miss Shire to prepare a Bakesale and casual day. Students across the school spoke in home groups about how to be a good friend and reach out to support others.
The task given to the Year 9 and 10 home groups was to design shoes and t-shirts as a way of reflecting on the important themes that surround R U OK Day. The students were asked to create shoe designs represented things that impact youth mental health to help increase empathy and considering what it is like to walk in other people’s shoes how may be struggling. The purpose of the t-shirt design was to help students consider the different ways of connecting with others and asking if they are ok. Focusing on this way of reaching out to others increased students awareness of how to create those positive interactions that may help to go a long way in improving someone’s mental health. Ms Freeth has been wearing the designs to help increase awareness and visibility of mental health even further. In the picture 1010s t-shirt design is being worn by Ms Freeth and shoe designs from 911 and 1015.
The staff voted for the winning designs. 911 and 1010 won the shirt design as a great representation of the importance of supporting positive mental health and reaching out to others. The shoe design that best represented the pressures teens face that stop wellbeing being even better was 9A5 and 1010. See photos below of the winning designs.
Ms Lauren Freeth
Year 9 & 10 and Flexible Learning Leader
On Tuesday 10th of September, we celebrated our inaugural Pudnanthi Taikurrinthi Mukamukarrinthi Cultural Event. The event hosted by Modbury High School, Modbury South Primary School and Modbury Special School was a huge success. It was great to see it so well attended by our students, parents, school community and our local support providers. Everyone enjoyed Uncle Moogy’s moving Welcome to Country and dancing with the Tal-Kin-Jeri dance group. Animals Anonymous were informative and captured the audience’s attention with the vast array of native animals, including a crocodile. We can’t wait to see what happens in this space next year!
In week 9 a group of Modbury High School students completed a Business Cluster course in Commerce which gained the students 20 Stage 2 SACE credits and an excellent experience. The course centered around the students creating a business that would sell many coffee related items. Students not only made coffee for staff but also used the coffee grinds to create lovely face scrubs, candles, soaps and diffusers. Through the course students learned about the importance of developing an effective business name and logo and various marketing strategies. The students business name was “Brewed Awakenings” which is incredibly clever and a sign of how well they understood the importance of business design. At the end of the week the students reported how much they enjoyed the course which made the work easier to engage with. The students worked brilliantly together and put in a lot of effort over the week. We are extremely proud of their efforts and they should be proud of themselves too.
Shari Chipman (SSO) commented, “Such a great week, very proud of the students we support”.
Ms Lauren Freeth
Year 9 & 10 and Flexible Learning Leader
Click here if you would like to download the information in PDF version.
Dear Parent/Caregivers,
Below are watermarked notices of the proposed Materials & Services plus subject charges for 2025. These were also emailed to all families last week.
The notices also include an invitation to attend the Governing Council meeting scheduled for 6th November 2024, at 6:00pm in the Modbury High School Staff Room.
The proposed M&S Fees for 2025 is set at $720 for Years 7-12, excluding Subject charges
For 2025, Subject charges be set at;-
$35 -Japanese Workbook Yr 7* | $50-Chef’s Basic/Food Technology*# | $35-Yr 11 Metalwork*# |
$35-Spanish Workbook Yr 8* | $50-Yr 10 Chef’s Applications*# | $40-Yr 11 WoodworkA*# |
$75 – Basketball Academy* Yr 7, 9 & 10 | $35-Yr 9 Design Technology*# | $40-Yr 11 WoodworkB *# |
$95 – Basketball Academy Year 8 * | $30-Yr 10 Metalwork*# | $50-Yr 12 Metalwork* |
$40 -Yr 11& 12 English Literacy Studies Workbook* | $50-Yr 10 Woodwork*# | $80-Yr 12 Woodwork* |
$100-Yr7-12 Musical Instrument Hire*# |
*Only applicable for students that select this subject
# Cost per semester
The SA Government will also be providing a $200 M&S Rebate in 2025, these will be applied at the same time as invoicing occurs. Any families that still have remaining 2022, 2023 & 2024 M&S Rebate will also have this applied to their 2025 M&S charges.
Click here to download a pdf of school fees for Year 7- 12
Click here to download a pdf of Subject Levies for Year 7 - 12
What better way to reminisce about the good old days of high school than with a yearbook filled with articles and photos capturing memories for the year that was? Buy the yearbook for your future self! Don’t miss your chance to grab your 2024 yearbook! Pay on QKR! now!
In Week 6 of Term 3, the Stage 2 Modern History class had the privilege of a visit from Mr Fred Pritchard, a Vietnam War veteran, who shared his experiences of the war. Students were encouraged to ask Fred insightful questions about his time in the army, helping them develop empathy skills and gain a deeper understanding of those who served. Students also heard Fred speak about his involvement in the Montague Farm Estate, where he worked with the families of Vietnam veterans to honour their service by naming streets after soldiers who were killed in action between 1962 and 1973. Modbury High are very grateful to Fred for his ongoing support of our Modern History students by sharing his story.
Over the weekend of the 21st & 22nd of September the Modbury High Pedal Prix teams, along with Fast Cats Racing, raced in the 24-hour event at Sturt Reserve in Murray Bridge. With fantastic efforts from all participants.
The preparations for the race had been ongoing for some time, with the team managers and support crew working hard to ensure the trikes were well prepared and facilities were organised. This made scrutineering a breeze.
Throughout Friday we made our way to Murray Bridge, set up our pit area and camping sites. Practice that afternoon was the first ride on the Murray Bridge racetrack for a couple of our riders. We enjoyed Kym’s famous bolognaise and watched the footy on the projector, lamenting the loss by the Power. Then off to bed to ensure we were well rested for the big race.
With an early start on Saturday, we completed the last adjustments of the trikes, watched the top 15 shootout, over 80 of our group posed for our photos and walked the track. We gridded up with all 151 trikes for the 12pm start of the race, and we were off. The event was full of spectacle and close racing, with teams constantly competing for their place.
Our students remained competitive with quick rider changes and consistent riding efforts, cheering each other on and supporting each other throughout the race. Night came, so did the cold, but we were well prepared and with staggered sleeping, so some slept while others rode.
There were some flat tyres, and racing incidents but the trikes kept on performing. Sunday dawned cold, but clear with our trikes still racing. At the end of the race, 12pm Sunday, we had Lynx in fifth, the girls in Pink Panther fifth and Cheetah in 38th completing in the race beautifully.
We are grateful for the brilliant support from parents and volunteers, who worked together to make the event such a success. Thank you to Fast Cats Racing for their assistance and support all year. We also thank Adelaide Coachlines, Police Credit Union, Kennards Hire and Coles for their support this year. Look out for a full report in the 2024 school magazine.
-Wayne Ferguson & Jess Hanlin
For more information, click here to download the PDF
Friday 6 September | School Closure
Monday 16 September | Year 9 Debating Competition
SA Olympics Unleashed Yr7s
Yr 11 Drug Education Seminar
Saturday 21 September | Pedal Prix 24 Hour Murray Bridge Race
Friday 27 September | Students finish at 2:30pm - Term 3 concludes
Monday 14 October | Term 4 Recommences
Tuesday 29 October | Valedictory Assembly
Thursday 31 October | Student Free Day
For more Term 3 Calendar dates: download the pdf version here
Term 4 dates will be confirm and sent before the end of term 3
Dear Parents/Caregivers,
As Term 3 draws to a close, we reflect on what has been a highly productive period filled with several noteworthy events.
Final Weeks for Year 12 Students
Our Year 12 students have just five teaching weeks remaining: the final three weeks of this term and the first two weeks of Term 4. The next three weeks are critical, as students will be working diligently to complete all their school-assessed tasks. Weeks 1 and 2 of Term 4 will primarily be dedicated to revision. It is imperative that students use their time effectively from now until the end of Week 2, ensuring they meet the deadlines set by their teachers in order to achieve success.
Equally as important is the need for students to take care of their wellbeing by maintaining a balanced diet and avoiding late nights in an effort to complete their work. This is an area where parents can play a vital role by encouraging their children to take breaks for meals and to get sufficient rest each night.
Pedal Prix
This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending the Pedal Prix Races held at the Hanson Road Velodrome. It was heartening to see so many of our students participating, supported by their cheering parents. As always, our students received tremendous support from Fast Cats Racing and our dedicated staff members, Wayne Ferguson, Jess Hanlin, Ron and Lyn Gibbins. An event of this scale requires countless hours of planning, organisation, and training. A very big thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event a success.
ABODA Music Competition
Recently, our music students competed in the ABODA Music competition and proudly earned a silver medal. This is a significant achievement, especially considering the strong competition from students at private schools and special interest music schools. Congratulations to all the students and their teachers, Mr. Budd and Ms. Warrick, for this remarkable accomplishment.
Student-Led Conferences and Subject Selections
On Tuesday the 20th of August, we held our annual student-led conferences and subject selection day. The day was filled with energy and enthusiasm. Parents had the opportunity to listen to their children reflect on their learning and discuss strategies for improvement. As I visited different home groups, I was immensely proud of our students and how thoughtfully they reflected on their learning. It was equally gratifying to hear our Year 10 and 11 students discuss their subject choices for 2025 and their potential future careers.
Thank you to the 622 parents who took time out of their busy schedules to come in and support their children with subject selection and learning reflection.
School Uniform
I am asking for your support in ensuring that your child wears the correct school uniform each day. The school uniform is more than just attire; it symbolises our shared values of ‘we are united, passionate and accountable’. By consistently wearing the uniform, students learn the importance of adhering to rules and take pride in representing their school community. Your involvement in reinforcing this expectation at home will help create a positive and focused learning environment, where all students feel a sense of belonging and equality. Together, we can set a strong foundation for your child's success both in school and beyond.
School attendance
For some students, getting up every day and coming to school is challenging for many different reasons. They need our collective support to overcome these challenges and gradually learn to enjoy school. Attendance is critical, as it directly impacts students' academic performance. Additionally, regular attendance helps students develop important social skills, such as teamwork, communication, and conflict resolution, which are vital for their personal growth and future success.
If your child is struggling to attend school, please get in touch with us. We will work with you and your child to develop an attendance plan that will hopefully support their return to school.
Reminder there is a school closure tomorrow. Enjoy the long weekend and we will see you next week.
Ms Joanne Costa
Principal
Friday 16th was year 8 Languages dessert day. Students had the opportunity to pre-order Spanish or Japanese themed desserts and eat them for recess. Some students enjoyed alfajores (al-fa-hor-es) shortbread biscuits with a caramel centre or black sesame cookies. Another common dessert in Central America is tres leches (trays le-ch-s) which is a vanilla cake soaked in whole milk, evaporated milk and condensed milk with fresh cream. Tres leches means three milks in English. Next year we will change the desserts for the upcoming year 8 students and have more traditional Japanese desserts such as mochi.
“The Basque cheesecake was, so yummy, 10 out of 10,” Mackenzie.
Make sure you order your dessert next year if you are currently in year 7.
Ms Muggleton
Year 7, 8, 9, 10 Spanish Teacher
The MASA Quiz night was held on Wednesday 14th August, Modbury High School entered five teams of four students to compete at King's Baptist Grammar School, Wynn Vale. Here our students engaged in puzzles, maths challenges, and general knowledge questions, to compete against students from Pedare Christian College, The Heights, and King’s.
In the Junior division (Year 7/8) was Aarav Patel, Abbie Carroll, Sarah Kennedy, Payton Richardson and Angaddeep Singh. Then we had two Intermediate division (Year 9/10) teams, Paige Sharpe, Ella Taylor, Tyler Gaskin and Gargee Vyas along with Emily Totani, Isha Bane, Avnoor Kaur, and Tanish Yadav.
In the Senior division (Year 11/12) we also had two teams Anton Kastanos, Finley Bradtke, and Siddhartha Attaluri along with Oscar Elder, Lawrence French, Kaiwen He and Cooper Garland-McNamara who took out the title of Best Overall Senior Team.
It was great to see Modbury students having fun and collaborating, in an attempt to get the highest score for each of the four sections throughout the night.
Ms Sandra Gill
Mathematics Teacher
The ABODA Band festival was held during Week 4 of this term and our MHS band students hit the stage to compete against school bands from around Adelaide.
Concert Band students aimed high this year by entering the ‘Advanced’ Concert Band section; the first MHS Concert Band to do so in almost 15 years! Students were one division higher than last year and were extremely happy to receive a well-deserved ‘Silver’ award for their performance.
Big Band musicians returned the following day for their chance to take to the stage in competition. Special mentions go to our Year 12 soloists, Jack C.-A. and Crystal Hurcombe, for their amazing contributions to the performance. The band received a ‘bronze’ award and valuable feedback to reflect and continue to improve on as an ensemble.
MHS is extremely proud of all of our young musicians and everything they continue to achieve.
If you would like to hear the bands performing pieces from the competition, please save the evening of the 29th of October (T4, Wk3) in your diaries. We will be presenting our end-of-year concert in the school gym on the night.
Mr Budd
Music Teacher
A huge congratulations to our 7-9 Netball team who managed to play off for first place in the state going to down to Blackwood by just 4 goals. It was a massive effort, as the team was struck down by illness and injury prior to and on the day, sometimes playing with only 6 players. Great job placing 2nd in the state in all secondary schools.
Well done to our Year 10-12 Boys Netball Team for their incredible achievement in reaching the State Finals! The team demonstrated exceptional skill and sportsmanship, securing an impressive 4th place statewide.
We’re also thrilled to announce that four of our players, Noah Zaltron, Joshua Taylor, Seb Borgas and Noah Cook have caught the attention of the Men's South Australian Netball scouts. Both have been invited to attend the statewide trials. Well done boys!
Students and staff celebrated Wear It Purple Day with a splash of purple, purple cookies and some activities on the Purruna Kuu deck at lunch time. It was an opportunity to celebrate and support LGBTQIA+ young people in our school community and acknowledge that everyone belongs in our Modbury High School community.
More information about Wear It Purple can be found at https://www.wearitpurple.org/
Friday 30 August | Wear it Purple Day
Friday 6 September | School Closure
Friday 27 September | Term 3 concludes
For more Term 3 Calendar dates: download the pdf version here
Dear Parents /Caregivers
The commencement of Term 3 has been positive, with students and educators swiftly resuming their established learning routines.
Student Free Day
The third Student Free Day occurred on the first day of the term and was divided into two distinct sessions. The initial session was facilitated by our Behavior Coach, Ben Kha, along with two of his colleagues, who led a workshop on behaviour management and strategies for engaging with students who present challenging behaviours. In the subsequent session, teachers conducted audits within their respective learning areas, with a focus on task design. This audit aimed to ensure that the tasks offered provide ample opportunities for all students to excel and showcase their learning.
Balaklava Eisteddfod
On Friday, the 2nd of August, our music students travelled to Balaklava to compete at the Balaklava Eisteddfod. Not only did they enjoy themselves, but they also returned with outstanding results. The Concert Band secured first place, and the Stage Band, Choir, and Brass Ensemble received honourable mentions. Congratulations to all the students and Mr. Budd for their exceptional work.
Japanese Study Tour
On Sunday, the 3rd of August, a group of enthusiastic Japanese students from Osaka arrived at our school. The students were warmly welcomed by Ms. Amanda Kampes, the International Students Coordinator, along with their host families. The students spent a week at our school, participating in lessons alongside their designated buddies. On Wednesday, they had the opportunity to visit Adelaide University and the Adelaide Zoo. Although their stay was brief, the students thoroughly enjoyed their experience at our school. We extend our sincere gratitude to the host families for their hospitality and care.
Subject Selection and Student-Led Conferences
This is a friendly reminder that our subject selection and student-led conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, the 20th of August. All students are expected to meet with their homegroup teachers and parents to select their subjects for 2025 and discuss their academic progress and achievements thus far. If you have not yet scheduled a booking, we urge you to do so promptly. This presents a valuable opportunity for parents to engage in their children's educational journey.
Snow Trip
A contingent of 16 students is presently enjoying the snowfields of Mount Hoffman. Reports from Mr. Karl Read, who is accompanying the group, describe the experience as amazing and one that will be remembered for a long time.
Modbury High School’s Careers Day
Ms. Angela Stamati, supported by Dr. Swati Phatak and Mr. David Atterton, has invested considerable effort in planning and organizing the annual Careers Day event, which took place today, Friday the 16th of August. Students had the opportunity to engage with presenters from universities, various industries, and career pathway providers for students with disabilities. It was a highly successful day, with significant student participation.
Ms Costa
Principal
WEAR IT PURPLE DAY is just around the corner so dig out your purple accessories and dress to impress on Friday 30th August!
What is WEAR IT PURPLE DAY?
An opportunity to show support for and celebrate LGBTQIA+ young people and diversity in our community.
Students are invited to wear a splash of purple with their uniform – not a casual day. Socks and other purple accessories are welcome. No need to bring a donation, just show your support with a splash if purple.
More info at - www.wearitpurple.org
On Wednesday 19 June, students from Golden Grove, Highbury and Ardtornish Primary Schools joined Modbury High School participants and mentors in the Modbury Auditorium for the first IM Beginner Band Workshop of 2024.
This workshop was a great success and featured the pieces "Cango Caves” and "Tyrannosaurus Rocks”. Feedback included:
“It was definitely an eye-opener for my students and hopefully will encourage them to challenge themselves a bit harder from now on.”
“... great turn out from parents for the concert - the kids performed well”
Thanks to the following students that mentored on the day:
Rebekah Woolford, Liam, Crystal Hurcombe, Ariah Merrett, Shiraz Berhan, Emily Zhang, Jacob Richter, Scarlett Sachse, Rei Cook, Jack Rose, Luke Haskard, Louie San Gabriel, Ryan Williams, Elsie Zhang, Alex Brandon, Eli Carter, Hamish Hanlin, Liam Horn, Evan Lewis, Hudson Mentha, Joshua Merrett, Connor Montana, Kayla Murphy, Skye Parrish, Riley Parsons, Nicole Shinkfield, Angaddeep Singh, Jayden Taylor
Mrs Moeller
Arts Coordinator
The first training session for the Special Operations Car Wash Program was a great success! The students in Room 8 Special Options class were so enthusiastic and did such a stellar job with washing both a hatchback and sedan. It’s clear that this hands-on experience is not only helping them develop practical skills but also fostering teamwork and individual strengths, and some business acumen.
Their Teacher, Mr Peter, along with SSOs Jeff and Chez, are seeing positive results and are grateful for the support from Modbury High School staff. This collaborative effort is a great example of how community involvement can enhance educational experiences and teach valuable life skills.
Here’s to many more successful car washes and the continued growth of these students’ skills and confidence!
Arved (German Exchange)
The MHS school community is great and one of the reasons why I enjoyed my time in Adelaide so much. Music was the subject I liked the most because we had time to practice our instruments and have fun, which, in Germany, rarely happens in the scheduled lessons. For the last half-year, I have been part of the Concert Band and the Woodwind Ensemble, which I really enjoyed, not only because of the fun when playing my instrument, but also because of the amazing people that I met when being in band and music lessons. While here, I also learned to use a whole new clarinet system, which was hard, but I had lots of help from my peers, my instrumental teachers, and from Mr. Budd. In my opinion, the music program at MHS is great, and I am not really looking forward to going back to my music lessons in Germany because they are mostly theory-based and boring. I hope that they will change it to be like Modbury's soon.
- Arved Grotmaack
It was a pleasure and honour to have Arved join us not only at school, but for music. He showed extensive dedication and passion for band and for his solo practice, which is extremely admirable. He was an amazing addition to our band family, and we wish him well on his way home to Germany. Hopefully our time together will hold wondrous memories forever. We miss him already and hope to see him again soon!
Mia Ly – Year 11 Music Captain
Week 8
Instrumental Music Beginner Band Workshops provide an opportunity for students from adjacent schools to join musical peers in a large ensemble and perform fun and attainable repertoire within a short rehearsal time. Our Music Focus School Brass teacher, Mark Heinjus, lead the organisation of this years’ IM Beginner Band Workshop, held in the MHS during week 8. Approximately 115 students from Golden Grove, Highbury, and Ardtornish Primary Schools, including Modbury HS participants and mentors, were in attendance at the first workshop for 2024 to form a huge beginner band. Parents were entertained by a short performance displaying the Music they managed to learn in such a short time.
Thank you to all staff involved in making the day a success.
IM Staff: Lynn Sheridan, Sharon Burgess, Tom Hart, Robyn Paul, Mark Heinjus.
School Staff: Anne O'Dea (Ardtornish PS), Kirrabelle Lovell (Highbury PS), Michael McConnochie (G. Grove PS), Gareth Budd (MHS).
We are taking almost 50 MHS musicians to the Balaklava Eisteddfod at the end of week 2 as our students debut as first-time competitors in the event. The ABODA contest is coming up in week 4 and our Concert Band and Big Band will be representing the school, with the Concert Band entering the ‘advanced’ section for the first time. Happy practicing!
Mr Budd
Music Teacher
Over two sessions our Year 10 students engaged with presenters from Port Power; Brett Ebert, Ash Saint, Dylan Errington, Amelie Borg, Tim Tuikaba and Goy Lok, to hear Empowered presentations on domestic violence and respectful relationships. Students hear strategies on how to keep themselves safe in a relationship, how to determine if a relationship is respectful or not and, the biggest challenge of all, how to stand up to our friends if we see them being disrespectful to others. As young people it is important to challenge stereotypes that lead to a power imbalance and stop true equality in our world. If we are going to live in a world that is equal and safe for all, we need to pave the way now to develop the people who can make that change so we are truly grateful for Port Power and their presentation on such an important conversation. We invite all parents and caregivers to continue to conversation at home on this topic.
On Thursday, 8th of August, our Year 10 English class had the privilege of hosting four wonderful Japanese exchange students for a lesson. To make their visit both special and memorable, we organised an iconic Australian food ranking activity. Among the foods ranked were Tim Tams, Lamingtons, Twisties, Caramel Koalas, and Milo. Tim Tams came out on top as a favourite amongst our exchange students! With the assistance of our Modbury High students, we then created a small persuasive piece on why their chosen food was the best!
Ms Hoppo
English
Earlier this year when the year 12’s were on retreat, we had the honour of having Ms Freeth and Mrs Botten come talk to us about ideas that centre around wellbeing, with the main focus being “What is your WHY”. This saying allowed the students to look into why they are doing certain things in our life, this can be from the students personal life to school life. After this talk the students had the opportunity to draw on some hexagons, using images, symbols and words to represent who they are. Our hexagons, like the hexagons in honeycomb produced by bees, is a network that creates strength through unity.
Caitlin Fraser, Year 12 student
Monday 22 July | Student Free Day
Tuesday 23 July | School Recommences
Friday 6 September | School Closure
Friday 27 September | Term 3 concludes
For more Term 3 Calendar dates: download the pdf version here
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Welcome to our last newsletter for Term 2. Reflecting back to the start of this term, I am very pleased with all the achievements by our students and staff over this very busy and packed term.
Year 11 and 12 Exams
The mid-year exams for Year 11 and 12 students took place during Weeks 8 and 9. The exam results for Year 11 students will determine their eligibility to continue with the subject in Year 12. For most subjects, students will need to achieve a grade of C+ or higher. Year 12 exam results provide students with an indication of their understanding of the concepts taught and highlight any areas needing attention in preparation for their final exams.
Gardening
On Friday, 28th of June, students from the Special Options and Pathway classes, with the support of the Governing Council Chair, Mr Martin Crabb, their teachers, and SSOs worked tirelessly to transform an unattractive strip of land into a beautiful garden bed. It was delightful to see the students’ excitement and genuine pleasure in planting and working together. A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Martin Crabb, all the teachers, and SSOs for not only supervising the students but also for being excellent role models by actively participating.
End of Term Reports
A reminder that the Term 2 end-of-term reports will be published on Daymap today. I encourage you to discuss your child's results with them and to reflect on their achievements together. Support them in considering strategies to improve their grades for Term 3, which is particularly important for Year 12 students.
Subject Selection and Parent-Teacher Interviews
Subject selection and student led conferences will take place on Tuesday 20th August. Starting in Week 2, during home group sessions, all students will work with their home group teachers to start exploring subject selections for the following year. As part of this process, students will spend time considering various careers and subjects that may be relevant to their interests. For students in Year 7, 8, 9 and 12 as well as considering subjects for the following years, they will spend time reflecting on their learning and complete a presentation which they will share with their parents on the day. More information about the process and how to book a time for selection and the presentations will be sent home early in Term 3.
Farewell
Modbury High School says farewell to Mr Tim Hankin, Mrs Mary Fisher and Mrs Helen Thomas who after many years of teaching have decided to retire. Over the years they have supported many students and staff and I am sure will be missed by the Modbury High School community.
We also farewell Mr James Dundon has been successful in winning a leadership position at another school and has commenced in his new role at the start of the semester. Mr Dundon has led the Science faculty for many years and supported the implementation of the STEM program at the school. He too will be missed by his students and colleagues.
Ms Nianix Li, who has been with us replacing Mrs Kanter while on leave, is also leaving at the end of this term. We wish her all the best for the future and thank her for supporting our students.
Wishing everyone a relaxing, restful and happy holiday.
We will see you all back here all refreshed for another term on Tuesday 23rd July.
Ms Joanne Costa
Principal
Modbury High School Year 11 student Charlotte Bland has had a busy start to 2024 representing both South Australia and Australia at Rifle Shooting.
In January Charlotte was selected to attend a Junior Air Rifle Tour of Austria and Germany where she competed in 4 competitions. Charlotte went on to win The Meyton Cup in Austria where there was a field of 50 competitors.
February saw Charlotte compete at the first Australian Olympic selection trial in Sydney where she shot a new Personal best Score and finished in first place.
In March she shot at the National Championships in Brisbane and came away with 1st place in Women’s 10m Air Rifle, 50m Junior prone and State teams Air Rifle.
Charlotte was then selected to represent Australia at the ISSF Final Olympic Qualification Championship in Rio, Brazil. She finished 79th Individually and 18th in Mixed pairs. This was the final domestic selection shoot for the Olympic Games in Paris and Charlotte finished in first place for the Australian leaderboard.
9 days after returning from Brazil she again represented Australia at the ISSF World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, finishing 69th Individually and 26th in mixed pairs.
Then in May Charlotte attended a World Cup in Munich, Germany, which was the final opportunity to qualify for the Olympic games and an extremely large competition with 148 women competing in the Air Rifle, Charlotte managed 90th Individually and came 35th in the mixed pairs.
Charlotte’s goal for the remainder of 2024 is to compete at the Junior World Championship in Lima, Peru later in the year. Good Luck Charlotte! We are so proud of you and will be cheering you when you are in Peru!
Friday morning, 28th June, members of our Special Options and Pathways classes met with an expert landscaper to learn how to set up a garden. After a safety briefing and planning session, we set to work moving 6 tons of organic dirt and 8 cubic metres of mulch.
We learned about designing gardens, laying drip feed water pipe, spacing colourful plants, and layering dirt and mulch. Mr Martin Crabb shared his passion as he taught us about design and the processes to follow to complete a garden from scratch. We used shovels, forks, buckets, wheelbarrows, blowers, and our gloved hands to create a beautiful space from a barren garden bed.
It was great to work as a team to complete the whole job in one day, with the weather threatening to turn on us into the afternoon. To celebrate, we enjoyed some hot chips from a local store and viewed part of a movie related to the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which we finished reading earlier this term.
A huge thank you to Martin for his passionate expertise, Ms Costa for allowing us to show what we can do, and for helping on the shovel when she could, the staff and students of the Special Options and Pathways classes. Watch this space as we continue to work towards a few more projects in our various programs.
Congratulations to Year 8 student, Benika Kaundal, who has won third place in the secondary school category for the SA Refugee Week Youth Poster Awards! Benika’s work was one of 85 selected to exhibit from 340 entries and 55 schools.
Benika was invited to attend the exhibition launch today and to receive her award & prize.
“The artwork represents an Australia welcoming people and refugees from other countries with open hands. It shows the diversity of multi-cultures coming to Australia, adapting to new change, contributing towards the Australian community, and feeling as if they belong” – Benika Kaundal
SA Refugee Week is led by the Australian Migrant Resource Centre over 16th-22nd June and offers a range of programs, events and activities celebrating and connecting the refugee community with established communities.
While attending the Careers and Employment Expo this year organised by Ms Stamati for the Year 10 students. one of our students, Sienna, entered the competition that was running at the Expo. The competition encouraged students to engage and have conversations with several Automotive exhibitors about potential career pathways in the industry. The competition card said “The more stickers you collect the greater your chance of winning multiple prizes”. Dr Katerin Berniz, Pathways Advisor Schools Support notified Ms Costa and Ms Stamati one off our students had won multiple prizes including the first prize. As below.
“I’m very happy to announce that Sienna Peck was the diligent student who did this and as a result, has become the ‘first prize winner’.
The first prize is a voucher for V8 Front Seat Hot Laps at Mallala Motorsport Park + Sienna also won a $100 Repco Voucher!
Congratulation Sienna!
Congratulations to former Modbury High School student Lara Somfai for winning a gold medal at the u18 basketball Asia Cup this week. Lara was placed in the all-star 5 for the competition for her excellent play throughout the week.
It is amazing to see the hard work and dedication that Lara has put into basketball paying off on the big stage! She is currently playing basketball in the United States, with her next stop being to College basketball.
We wish Lara all the best with her future in basketball, and look forward to watching her grow even more as a person and a player.
The mural was a collaboration between Modbury High School, Modbury South Primary School and Modbury Special School. Young people came together to brainstorm ideas for the mural project. They wanted to tell the story of our journey, how each school is interconnected, walking together proudly side by side, to form a community spirit that is built on respect, safety for each other, responsibility, one that is strong in culture, strives for a positive learning attitude and acknowledges our history.
The artwork incorporates elements that were important to the three school communities.
There are many people sitting around the gathering places. Each school community is identified by the size of the people sitting. The circle to the right shows students from MSS, the next circle shows students from MSPS and the circle at the left shows students from MHS. Each school is on a journey to the middle circle that represents a meeting place where all three school communities come, sit together to share stories, knowledge and ideas, building on our strong collective spirit that will guide us into the future.
The star symbolises our ancestors watching over us, guiding us and protecting us. The shield symbolises that we are working and learning on Kaurna Country and that we recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land. The hills above symbolises strength and pride and the waters below symbolises deep feelings of community and connectiveness.
Dear Parents / Caregivers,
The last four weeks have provided many wonderful moments and opportunities for parents and staff to witness the amazing achievements of our students.
Music Night
On Tuesday, 11th of June, the Music Department held the end-of-semester 1 Music Performance. It was an incredible event where students showcased their musical talents. The audience was treated to an array of performances from individuals, small groups, and the entire year group. What was evident through each performance was the enthusiasm, passion, and commitment of both students and teachers, and more importantly, the growth and development of the students' musical skills. Many parents expressed how proud they were of their children and how impressed they were with their performances.
A very big thank you to Mr. Budd for the overall planning and organization of the evening, and to Ms. Geszner and Mrs. Moeller for supporting Mr. Budd with the organisation. Thank you to the instrumental music teachers, Ms. L Sheridan, Mr. Heinjus, and Mr. Duncan, for supporting the students on the night and preparing them for their concert. We also extend our thanks to all the instrumental music teachers who, although unable to attend the evening, supported the students in their preparations for the concert.
Drama Performance
On Wednesday, 12th of June, the Year 9 drama students performed for their parents and students from neighbouring schools, Ardtornish and Modbury South primary schools. They performed “The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk,” which is an adaptation that adds a comic element to the traditional fairy tale. According to feedback from the audience, the performance was very entertaining and kept everyone engaged throughout.
Thank you to the staff and students from Ardtornish and Modbury South primary schools for attending the performance. A special thanks to Mr. Swain for his enthusiasm, passion, and commitment to the drama students, always striving to provide them with an authentic learning experience.
Year 12 Formal
The Year 12 formal took place on Friday, 14th of June, at Glen Ewin Estate. The evening was filled with fun and highlighted the close connections students have developed with their classmates and teachers. Ms. O’Brien Dent, who is currently on leave, surprised the students with a personal message read out by Mrs. Woolford. The Year 12 formal committee, with the support of Mrs. Woolford, Mr. Agalidis, Mr. Price, and Ms. Thomas, did an outstanding job, ensuring everything ran smoothly. The student and teacher awards kept everyone entertained, and the hall was filled with laughter as each award was announced. Students enjoyed the music and dancing.
A very big thank you to the Formal Committee, Ms. Woolford, Ms. O’Brien Dent, Ms Thomas, Mr Price, the year 12 homegroup and subject teachers for supporting the students in planning and organizing the event. Thank you also to all the staff who attended that evening. A special thank you to Mrs. Terriann Dearden for once again documenting the event with her exceptional skills as a photographer.
Pedal Prix
Pedal Prix students, with the support of Fast Cats, participated in the Victoria Park Pedal Prix race which took place on Sunday the 16th of June. As always, the students had lots of fun. A big thank you to Mrs. Hanlin and Mr. Ferguson for planning and organising the event. Thank you also to Fast Cats Racing for their ongoing support.
Attendance at School
I would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to the importance of regular school attendance and its benefits to student learning and success.
Regular school attendance is crucial for student success, as it directly impacts academic achievement and social development. Consistent attendance ensures that students stay engaged with the curriculum, participate in essential classroom discussions, and develop a sense of responsibility and discipline. Moreover, students who attend school regularly are more likely to build strong relationships with their peers and teachers, fostering a supportive learning environment. As parents, encouraging and maintaining your child's regular attendance can significantly contribute to their overall educational and personal growth, setting a solid foundation for their future endeavours.
As per the Education Department and the school's attendance policy, we ask that if your child is going to be absent from school due to illness or a family reason, you contact the school and provide a reason for their absence.
Some students may not enjoy school, and at times, parents may find it difficult to get them to attend. If you are experiencing such difficulties, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our student wellbeing leaders are here to help you and support your student.
Regards
Joanne Costa
Ms Costa
Principal
On Thursday 23rd May, A traditional Indigenous basket weaving workshop which was held by Marra Dreaming in the art gallery, organised by Marisa Hammer, the ASETO, alongside Ms Caitlin Brown, for a group of students.
Traditional basket weaving goes back 10,000 years and is made by wetland grasses (such as lomandra species), lawyer cane (a spiky vine), pandanus, and black palm. Basket weaving can be used for many different things such as holding precious objects, carrying food, and nets for fishing. I found this workshop enjoyable and I'm grateful that Marra Dreaming came out and showed us the techniques passed down by the elders I wish to do this more one day.
-Dana Hammond
Approximately 86 students and 30 staff members celebrated our Year 12 cohort at the formal at Glen Ewin Estate. This represented a culmination of months of planning by the student-led Formal Committee, who need to be congratulated for all of their efforts made in making this event a night to remember for the students.
Many thanks also to Ms Lindsay Shire and Ms Madelin O’Brien-Dent for advising the committee along the way.
Thanks need to go to Aidan Klose (Year 12 student) who entertained us all with his amazing DJ work. Thank you to Terriann Dearden (staff member) for taking all the amazing photographs on the night, and assisting the event photographer with the official photographs. Our official photography was actually an old scholar (2019 graduate)!
Thankyou to Ms Cait Thomas and Mr Iain Price for MCing the night, Mr Luke Agalidis for helping me with some of the speaking and presenting of awards.
Mrs Woolford
Assistant Principal
Curriculum / SACE
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Triple P provides a suite of interventions to parents of children from birth to 16 years. Interventions are of increasing intensity and tailored to target particular demographics or parenting groups, including parents of children with a disability, parents going through separation or divorce, parents of children who are overweight, and First Nations parents. It aims to equip parents with the skills and confidence they need to be self-sufficient and manage family issues without ongoing support.
There are many different programs from, one to one formats to discussion groups and even online formats. Please follow the link below to find the best program for you here: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/partners/triple-p-positive-parenting-program
Despite the cold and windy day at our Tailem Bend AIPP Round 2 race, held at The Bend Motorsport on May 18th, the riders didn’t give up and kept fighting right to the end! Lynx secured 8th place in their category, while Pink Panther finished impressively in 4th place. The competition between Cheetah, Puma, and Ocelot riders made the race exciting and competitive throughout the day. Fast Cats Racing (FCR) had a stellar performance with Top Cat taking 1st place in its category. Hell Cat and Night Cat also contributed to FCR's success with 5th and 8th place finishes respectively. Overall, it was a brilliant day of racing with notable achievements.
Most recently, at the Victoria Park race on a sunny Sunday, the 16th of June, Pink Panther encountered an early roll over at ‘Crash Corner’, fortunately the safety of the trike kept the rider safe and able to return to compete later in the day. All our MHS riders displayed fantastic efforts, resulting in impressive lap times, with supportive, yet competitiveness, between riders. It was great to see riders motivating and encouraging each other.
We also saw Lynx improve from 8th position at Tailem Bend to 6th spot at Victoria Park, showcasing the student's progress and determination.
FCR's race day the day earlier, despite less fortunate weather, still managed to proceed under dry conditions. Top Cat continued its winning streak with another 1st place finish, and Hellcat added to the success with a 3rd place in its category. This highlights the strong potential for Modbury High School students to continue their Pedal Prix journey after high school, joining the competitive and successful FCR adult teams.
Looking ahead, the focus is now on Round 4 race back at The Bend Motorsport at Tailem Bend on August 3rd.
For any students, even those yet to start Pedal Prix, if you are looking at riding in the 24-hour Murray Bridge race in September, please speak to Jess as soon as possible. To be eligible to race in Murray Bridge, you will be required to race in at least one other race in the season prior to the 24-hour race.
Congratulations to all participants for their efforts and achievements, and for anyone interested in joining Pedal Prix, there's still an opportunity to get involved by contacting Jess to start your Pedal Prix experience.
Well done to everyone involved in making these events successful and memorable!
Email jess.hanlin802@schools.sa.edu.au for details.
A special thanks to Sharnee at Picture It Sport Photography for the amazing photos.
For a free coaching service for parents and carers, to build on your family's strengths, create clarity and increase confidence to support your teenager through a tough time. Follow the link below.
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Topics covered: School and Education, Parenting Skills, First Nation parents and carers, Culture and Identity, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Friendships and Dating, Family Relationships.
In collaboration with the Commissioner for Children and Young People, and the SA SRC, I had the opportunity of participating in a video project being shown at Cleland Wildlife Park’s Inaugural Youth Voice event on Saturday June 1st. The event centred around showcasing what youth across South Australia are working on, with a focus on the environment and our hope for the future. Students in the SA SRC were tasked with answering a series of questions, their answers then strung together and shown at the event. I was lucky enough to be one of two invited out of the several participants.
However, a focus of the event was to, in part, honour Dame Dr. Jane Goodall in her 90th year around the sun and 60 years of advocacy and work. She spoke at the event, and I found her words to be truly impactful and inspiring. An excellent speaker, who I believe could have gone on forever (to my delight). Before Saturday I had recently learned of a Dr. Jane Goodall tribute LEGO set, and thought it imperative to purchase it and bring it to the event. That I did.
I had a wonderful time meeting Jane, and a wonderful time hearing from everybody at the event.
- Xavier, a year 11 student
This week our year 10 students have been busy at work experience. Students are working in a varity of industries to gain real world experience in their area of interest. Teachers have been busy catching up with them throughout the week to see them in action and how they are doing.
Angelica has had an interesting week, observing tooth extractions, fillings and dental hygiene practices. It is something that she has always been interested in and sent out quite a few emails before she was accepted at SA Dental. Angelica knows that she has many years of study ahead of her (and a huge HECS debt) but is still keen to pursue this career.
Amir's work experience has been at Woolworths this week where his supervisors all say that Amir has been polite and keen to learn. He has worked in various sections both on the floor and behind the scenes. He has rearranged displays, checked on Date restrictions for various items and met staff in other sections of the store. There have been discussions with management about the possibility of part-time work following his work experience so this has been a successful placement for him.
Shahanna went back to her old Primary School to see what life was like on the other side and has had a very enjoyable work experience. She has been working with individual students to support their reading and to help with assignments and has introduced an Art task to the whole class. While at Dernancourt Primary School, I also ran into a student from last year who is working as an SSO – Sienna. Our students are out in the community doing good things!
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It is very exciting to share my experience of the first music night for 2024, especially being the first-ever Year 12 Music Captain at Modbury High School. As a passionate senior musician, it was truly thrilling to witness the gym packed with incredible performances from various bands. The evening not only showcased the immense talent but also the dedication of Modbury's students as they continue to grow in their musical journeys. From Year 8 beginners to Senior students finishing their school careers and hopefully taking their musical talents beyond school, everyone supported and encouraged each other throughout the night. This spirit of collaboration highlighted the hard work, creativity, and vibrant musical community we have at Modbury. It was a privilege to be part of such a memorable event.
Crystal – Year 12 Music Captain 2024
Monday 13th May saw our Year 11 students participate in a Road Awareness Program session. It is sponsored by our Stage Government and supported by our Department for Education, and is provided by the Metropolitan Fire Service. The session provides an open and honest insight by our firefighters and service providers who work in road crash rescue situations. It provides a hard-hitting insight into road trauma.
The session was provided by MFS member Joshua Byerlee, who recounted some of his own experiences in attending road crash events, recalling statistics and providing insights from families of victims. The students were also spoken to by a crash victim who, while they survived, recalled the extensive injuries they have suffered (and continue to), the lengthy recovery and affect it has had on their family and friends.
While this information was confronting for our Year 11 students, it is meant to empower our young drivers of today and tomorrow about the risks and choosing their consequences.
Year 11 students are currently undertaking their final assessments for semester 1. Students are requiring to undertake examinations as part of their subjects – in preparation for Stage 2 subject requirements and eligibility.
Students have also reviewed their post-school pathways with respect to their semester 2 subject choices and Stage 2 potential subject pathways. This will culminate in the Subject Selection process in the middle of Term 3.
During this year so far, Year 12 students have been receiving ongoing feedback regarding their progress through the Interim and End of Term Reports. These help to provide Year 12 leaders with
clear information on how students are progressing, so that conversations can occur with the students and families regarding their process.
Part of assessing student progress is the opportunity for students undertaking subjects with an end of year exam to practice these processes with our Mid Year Exams. Students will be undertaking these during Term 2 Week 9. Students will then be able to reflect on how they prepared for these exams, and what improvements and/or changes they can make to then optimise their opportunities at the end of the year.
Subjects without examinations are continuing their progress through their assessment tasks, and students will still be attending their double lessons during Week 9, as well as the Monday timetabled lessons.
On Monday, 18th March, 2024, we held our annual Sports Day. The four houses named after famous poets and authors: Gilmore (Yellow), Wright (Red), Lawson (Blue) and Thiele (Green) competed for the “Dean Stringer House Shield.” In honour of Dean’s contribution to the Modbury High School community, the shield was awarded to the winning house.
Differing to the past we had to postpone the event due to hot weather not once but twice in order to get it in prior to the Vista Athletics Carnival also not being helped with NAPLAN testing being forced into the mix. This meant a very busy few weeks in planning, organising and reorganising at Modbury High School at least we were able to get the heats, and the Fun Run done during week 6. The planning culminated in the successful execution of the event as staff and students worked tirelessly, into the twilight hours and before the break of dawn, to ensure every detail was thoroughly attended to.
The anticipation was evident as students eagerly congregated before the early 7:30am start, their house banners displayed proudly, the cracking sound of clappers signaling the commencement of a day filled with athletic prowess and camaraderie. From the onset, longstanding athletic records were broken through the competitors' determination, a great atmosphere and energy reverberated throughout the grounds.
The traditional opening ceremony featured the popular “Modbury High School Flame Relay.” The year 12 House Captains' sporting achievements were highlighted whilst proudly modelling their team shirts and carrying an Olympic-style torch around the track before the symbolic lighting of the cauldron by last year’s winning captains of Gilmore. Mr. Schiller, the announcer for the day was heard describing intense competition, great sportsmanship, and the occasional joke.
The feeling of teamwork and cohesion with an air of competition provided proof of the benefits of Sports Days. The high level of participation, enthusiasm, and teamwork of both students and staff demonstrated a strong commitment to the schools’ values and a obvious level of support for their house teams.
Mr. Karl Read's 'F1 in schools' team provided food and drink options which was a great fundraiser for their upcoming International and National competitions. Mrs Terriann Dearden preserved the day's memorable moments through numerous of captivating snapshots, ensuring that this Sports Day memories would endure for years to come.
Mr. Brendan Schiller provided a vibrant running commentary of the day. Many exciting races took place, in particular, the 100-meter finals. Students and parent supporters lined the track cheering and encouraged the athletes. Many strong performances were recorded throughout the day, with many records broken.
A special mention goes to all the new record holders with 13 records broken on the day – 6 of which from one student Kelly McInerney in year 7. Other strong performances included Sydney Pocock (10 Girls) who recorded 85 Points (105) in the old system. Kade Monteleone (10 Boys) coming back from recent injury scored 68 Points While Jade Pelton dominated the year 12 Girls and scored 69 points. The complete list of winners and new records can be seen in the records table below.
The day's festivities reached its climax with the eagerly anticipated 'Staff versus House Captains relay,' a spectacle synonymous with excitement. The staff once again won back their crown with a convincing victory.
The competition from all houses was relatively strong throughout day. Thiele unfortunately lost some key competitors and found themselves back in fourth place. Wright were the surprising movers of the day finishing second by just 3 points over Lawson with Gilmores family legacies still proving to be too strong to overcome with the Gilmore Captains accepting the Stringer Shield and trophy proudly
As the dust settled on an exhilarating day of competition and camaraderie, heartfelt gratitude was extended to all who made valuable contributions to the day. While all participants were deemed winners in their own right, special accolades were reserved for the classes and individuals who emerged triumphant in their respective competitions.
Whilst all who took part can be viewed as winners, special congratulations go to the classes and individuals who won their respective competitions. Well done to all! We look forward to a strong showing in the upcoming Vista and SSSA athletics carnivals. Eager to give it our best and show the other A Grade schools what Modbury High is made of.
Modbury High School’s annual ‘Fun Run’ was held this year on Tuesday 5th March 2024. The Fun Run is used as a lead into Sports Day and gives all students the opportunity to participate to earn athletic points for their house.
The weather was a little warmer this year leading into a heat wave. Although that didn’t deter too many runners as we saw better numbers participating this year. Although a few succumbed to the heat there were still some athletes achieving some great times. Others decided to take a more leisurely approach as the weather took its toll.
Those who did participate put in a great effort to secure some vital points for their houses. Most did very well to complete the 3km course for year 8 and year 9 and the 4km course for year 10 to year 12. As in previous years an excellent turn out by year 7 and 8 students, and always looking for more senior students to show the way. Congratulations to each of the year level winners and placegetters.
Mr Brendan Schiller
Sports Coordinator
Dear Parents/Caregivers,
The last four weeks have been incredibly busy with our students continuing to engage with their learning and participating in many extra curriculum activities.
Teaching and Learning
Teachers have continued to work in their PLTs, exploring different elements of pedagogy. On Friday the 3rd of May, curriculum leaders met to discuss their improvement plans. Leaders shared their journeys so far and what elements of pedagogical practice their faculties were exploring. Some of the areas explored are differentiated learning, multiple exposures, questioning, collaborative learning, and feedback. In addition to individual faculties exploring specific elements, the whole school is working together to learn more about metacognition and teach students metacognitive strategies for learning. With this work, we aim to improve the teaching and learning experiences of the students and support them to become effective learners, which is one of our school’s goals for 2024.
School Culture
The culture committee has continued to work with staff to unpack the behaviours which underpin each of our school’s values: We are United, Passionate, and Accountable. During our student-free day, which took place on the first day of the term, they worked with staff to unpack what behaviours impact how well the school values are realized. The exploration started with the value of “we are passionate.” Over the next few weeks, Ms. Casey Rendell, Learning Environment Assistant Principal, will be running a number of similar workshops with students to get their input, so as a school community, we have agreed expectations of what positive behaviours reflect each value.
NAPLAN Results
The preliminary results for NAPLAN have been provided to us. There are five aspects to the test: Numeracy, Reading, Writing, Grammar and Punctuation, and Spelling. In all areas except for Grammar and Punctuation, both our Year 7 and 9 students sit in the “strong performance” category. In Grammar and Punctuation, we sit mostly in the developing category. We will continue to unpack this data and determine strategies to improve in all aspects of the tests, particularly Grammar and Punctuation.
Parent-Teacher Interviews
Parent-teacher interviews were held on Thursday the 16th of May. Over 850 appointments were made with teachers. It was pleasing to see so many parents attend the interviews and to see teachers smiling at the end of the day, commenting on the positive experience they had. They were very appreciative and thankful for the support they received from parents.
Pedal Prix
On Saturday, 18 May, the Pedal Prix students competed at Tailem Bend. Thirty students attended, along with the Fast Cats racing team. Mr Wayne Ferguson and Mrs Jess Hanlin were extremely impressed with how well our students participated. Pink Panther won 4th place out of 7, and Links came 8th out of 39 teams. The Masters Team, Top Cat from Fast Cats, came 1st. Thank you to Jess, Wayne, and the Fast Cats Racing Club for their planning, organising, and ongoing support of the Pedal Prix program.
Hydrogen Car Racing
A group of four students competed in the Hydrogen Grand Prix racing. These students belong to the STEM club, which operates every Wednesday afternoon. They developed their own hydrogen car and were successful in winning third place. This is an extraordinary achievement, as this is the first time that the students undertook such a project and competed in this event. Congratulations to Riley, Samuel, Liam, and Declan for their achievement, and thank you to Mr. James Dundon for the mentoring and support he has provided to the students.
Farewell to Hannah Downes
It is with sadness that our school community is farewelling Mrs. Hannah Downes, Assistant Principal of Learning Environment. Hannah and her family are moving interstate. Hannah has been an incredible leader who has touched the lives of many students and staff at Modbury High School. Hannah’s enthusiasm, passion, and commitment to Modbury High School were evident in everything that she did. Her students loved her passion for physics and sense of humour. Her colleagues loved her commitment to making Modbury High School a better place for everyone. Thank you, Hannah, for all your amazing work over the years. Modbury High School wishes you a bright and wonderful future. You will always be a part of Modbury High School.
Ms Joanne Costa
Principal
Every day a student attends school has a positive impact on their future prospects and their development as an individual. A focus on increasing student attendance through support and intervention with the student and their families creates a culture of success within the school community.
Research from around the world has demonstrated a clear link between improved literacy and numeracy outcomes and attendance at school. Family engagement with the student and the school around attendance and achievement has also been shown to be critical; when families understand the relevance of attendance they work more closely and effectively with the school.
As a parent or caregiver, it is your responsibility to:
Reminder we will not be using Spacetalk for SMS or email from Mon 27 May. It will all be through Daymap.
For more information and how to guides please click the following link.
Each term, the school acknowledges the students who achieve exceptional end-of-term results.
Outstanding Achievement awards are presented to students who obtained the maximum number of A grades for their year level. The academic achievement of these students was recognised at our Outstanding Achievers Recess in Week 2 this term.
High Achievement awards are presented to students who obtain one fewer A grade than the maximum for their year level.
Congratulations once again to these students!
Outstanding Achievement
Year 8 | Year 9 | Year 10 | Year 11 | Year 12 |
Skye Parrish | Jules Sualog | Jess Freebairn | Breanne Button | Jasmin Andrews |
Eileen Zhang | Gargee Vyas | Charli Hodson | Jordyn Cook | Madison Benton |
Saarakshya Sharma | Rei Cook | Hannah Dones | ||
Scarlett Taylor | Cameron Green | Quinn Duncan | ||
Arved Grotmaack | Lawrence French | |||
Danika Low | Kaiwen He | |||
Emily Zhang | Lianna Lineage | |||
Kahlan Mashford | ||||
Tanvita Naik | ||||
Hana Wong |
High Achievement
Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 | Year 10 | Year 11 | Year 12 |
Abbey Carroll | Armaan Babwani | Logan Ashman | Ronan Atkins | Charlotte Bland | Jack Counihan-Abbott |
Thomas Coombe | Felix Brotherton-Collins | Hong Chen | Lara Azo | Molly Cox | Sarah Crozier |
Andrei Dumitrescu | Sibella Kastanos | Tyler Gaskin-Osborne | Isha Bane | Katelyn Fraser | Marli Donsberg |
Erin Freebairn | Isobel Leyson | Hudson Geier | Ella Boyle | Imogen Janicki | Oscar Elder |
Imogen Gillespie | Ruby McFarland | Liam Hanlin | Abi Cavenett | Lia Kais | Trinity Fowler |
Isabella Gilligan | Hudson Mentha | Nicholas Haskard | Izzy Dube | Christopher Kastanos | Carlos Gray-Claveria |
Reva Khanna | Prithvi Patel | Ava Huettenrauch | Inyoung Kim | Jade Kolman | Anton Kastanos |
Ella Lee | Payton Richardson | Maddison Johns | Angelica Lizaso | Ariel Lim | Romeo Mangava |
Amalie Ross | Fleur Rowe | Brendan Keast | Aki Sicoy | Mia Ly | Tyson Nottle |
Toby Strelan | Branson Kusmadi | Emily Totani | Mika Osborne | Jade Pelton | |
Elsie Zhang | Hasifa Mbatudde | Elliot Webster-Brown | Xavier Paulson | Jazsmin Smith | |
Miley Mugford | Tom Whistler | Raina Saitov | Andrea Sualog | ||
Roshani Rajkumar | Olivia Wighton | Alecia Saldavia | Leo Vorrasi | ||
Vivaan Rajpal | Caitlyn Scott | ||||
Paige Sharpe | Mady Sharma | ||||
Ella Taylor | Josh Stewart | ||||
Elisha Tonkin | |||||
Isabella Wright |
Term 1 in Spanish we have been learning about Spain and introductory sentences. We have been focussing on numbers, months of the year and pronunciation (phonetics) of the Spanish alphabet. Lots of new vocabulary has been learnt for greetings and basic conversations. Students have been working in class or for homework on Duolingo or blooket to assist in revision of vocabulary and phrases. Students have looked at the famous Spanish artist Pablo Picasso and decorated their book covers with a Picasso style self-portrait. We looked at artwork from Picasso’s blue and rose periods and students then chose to either replicate these or draw their own self.
Ms Fiona Muggleton
Spanish Teacher
Mr Jorge Paredes
Spanish Teacher
Shaelee Herman and I were lucky enough to be invited to the HiViZ Women Building SA Luncheon at the Adelaide Convention Centre last Friday. The inspiring afternoon featured numerous powerful women who shared their stories, offering insights and encouragement to women navigating male-dominated professions. It was fantastic to see a room full of strong women supporting each other and proving that men and women are equal! A key message taken from the event was that together, we can break barriers, inspire change, and create a more inclusive environment for everyone.
We are incredibly proud of Shaelee for following her dream of becoming an Australian Defence Force Electrician.
Ms Brooke Hoppo
English & Humanities Teacher
On the last day of term 1, Friday 12th April, two year 11 Art classes including Mrs Moeller, Ms Brown and Mr Price, went on an exhibition marathon! The Waterhouse Prize is a prestigious exhibition in the SA Museum showcasing Australian artists who explore a range of media and concepts. The exhibition is ‘where Natural Science and Art collide’. The theme is fitting for us as our Visual Study for this semester investigates Artists associated with nature. This exhibition takes place every two years, and we visited it on the opening day. We also perused the Inner Sanctum exhibition at the Art Gallery of SA before lunch and finally got to view the great works and folios of selected 2023 stage 2 Art and Design students from around the state at the Light Square Gallery. This exhibition is important as it illustrates the documented visual and written processes of year 12 students, from first ideas to the final practical, and gives all an understanding of how to write an artist statement too.
Mrs Jess Moeller
Arts Coordinator
Harvey Spencer, a year 11 student, has represented South Australia at the Australian Powerlifting Alliance Nationals in Newcastle, NSW where he placed 1st in his division, Sub-Junior under 93kg
His best lifts were:
Squat 225kg
Bench Press 140kg (National Record)
Dead Lift 263.50 (National Record)
Harvey is currently ranked 13th in the world for Sub Junior under 93kg and will be representing Australia at the International Powerlifting Federation Worlds in Aug/Sept in Malta.
"Going into this comp I was the most nervous I had been before a meet. Jimmy (3rd place) and Corey (2nd place) pushed me really hard going into deads. But on my opener I failed my lockout because my left calf cramped up. For a moment I thought I had lost but my dad pulled me aside and tried to spark up as much self confidence in me he could and I smoked it on the 2nd attempt. For my third attempt I had to pull 263.5kg to tie Corey's total and win through bodyweight. In the end I got the final deadlift I needed and WE'RE GOING TO WORLDS"
- Harvey.
Congratulations Harvey! We are very proud of you and your achievements!! We will be cheering you on in Adelaide while you are at worlds!
Rubie Lehman’s journey to 2nd place in the world started with a video submission to try-out for the Australian u/14 Cheerleading team. From there she made it through to the in-person tryouts with 60 other athletes finally being accepted onto Team Australia with a team of 31 athletes all aged between 12 and 14.
In the lead up the world championships she undertook many trainings here In Adelaide every Friday night along with two full day team trainings in Sydney and one in Melbourne before travelling to Orlando Floria for the competition.
There was 5 days of tough training and then a grueling two weeks of competition, she put in a fantastic effort along with her team eventually coming away with the 2nd place trophy “it was a really fun experience and I would do it again and recommend it to any other potential cheerleaders out there”.
Please click the following here to download information regarding Year 11 in term 2.
Wormald Canvas continue to support Design & Technology at Modbury High. They recently, very kindly supplied some canvas covers to the Design and Technology faculty free of charge. These are sincerely appreciated and we thank them for these and hope that if members of the high school community need any canvas products that Wormald Canvas is part of their consideration.
Ms Aimie Strawbridge
Coordinator of Design & Technology
Mr Wayne Ferguson
Coordinator of Design & Technology
On the 16th of May, 11 Year 10 students attended the Empowered Leadership Day at the Alberton Oval Precinct. These students represented Modbury High School on their pupil free day. Their behavior and engagement in all activities on the day was a wonderful reflection of these awesome attendees.
The theme of the day was based on leadership qualities and skills, being an upstander and online safety. Students heard from AFL and AFLW Port Power players around how they lead by example and values they strive to achieve in their leadership role so they can inspire others. Port Power players and coaching staff ran a session on scenarios of how to be an upstander in various situations. Flinders University having partnered with Centacare and Port Power to develop a Power Up Online Safety program which the students were asked to give feedback on so that this program has the best chance of appealing to as many young people as possible.
In between these sessions students were given a tour of player locker rooms as well as the High Performance Centre where the players train. They also had a chance to have a kick around on Alberton Oval and participate in training drills run by the players from the AFLW and AFL Port Power teams.
Ms Lauren Freeth
Year 9/10 Level Leader
In 2025, Modbury High School is excited to extend on the existing specialist basketball program to introduce a new basketball academy that will be available for all students starting in year 7 and going through to year 10. This academy is specifically designed to improve student-athlete's basketball ability, strength & conditioning as well as prepare them for success in SACE.
Year 6 students wishing to attend Modbury High School in 2025 with an interest in joining the basketball academy, please complete this form: https://forms.office.com/r/VgFYtzi8Ad
For out of zone students wishing to attend for the academy, a reminder that when entering your preferences on the Department Starting Secondary registration of interest form (due Friday 24/5) to nominate Modbury High School as your preference and outline that you are wishing to attend for the basketball academy, as well as completing the above form for our records.
Current high school students that wish to attend Modbury High School with an interest in basketball, please complete the letter provided in the enrolment pack.
This amazing program coincides with the continuing USA basketball tour, with the next trip being held in 2025.
The academy is overseen and coached directly by our head of basketball, Riley Harrap. Riley has years of experience coaching at state levels and currently plays NBL1 for the Norwood Flames. For further information, please contact him directly on riley.harrap439@schools.sa.edu.au
Mr Riley Harrap
Teacher | Basketball Specialist Manager
The Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP) program challenges tomorrow's innovators to design, engineer, build, and race their own hydrogen-powered RC cars. Through this program, our future leaders develop the creativity, ingenuity, and real-world problem-solving skills needed to tackle tomorrow's energy challenges. From the 20 teams competing, the winner would earn a place to compete in the World Final in the US.
Our team Innov8 Velocity Racing competed in an exhilarating 4-hour race, showcasing their exceptional skills and teamwork. Leading for the first three-quarters of the race, our team ultimately secured an impressive 3rd place finish. The competition demanded precise power management, with teams limited to using three batteries and 18 Hydrostiks (hydrogen fuel containers) and driver skill and endurance to achieve the highest number of laps in 4h.
Despite an early setback when a crash inadvertently switched off our fuel cell, draining our first battery, our resilient team managed to navigate the remaining 3.5 hours on only two batteries. This remarkable feat was made possible by the incredible efforts of our two drivers, Riley and Samuel, as well as our dedicated pit crew, mechanic, and race strategists, Liam and Declan.
Our team, consisting of one Year 8 and three Year 9 students were competing against much older teams, making their achievement even more commendable. These students have been working tirelessly since the middle of 2023, sacrificing lunchtimes and after-school hours to hone their skills in our STEM club.
We are incredibly proud of our team's perseverance, dedication, and outstanding performance. Congratulations to Riley, Samuel, Liam, Declan. Your hard work and passion for STEM is truly inspiring!
Mr James Dundon
Science | DATA | STEM Coordinator
If your student has had achievements outside of school, let us know! We would love to celebrate together! Just send us an article with information and photos you would be happy for us to share. Email us at dl.0964.info@schools.sa.edu.au
The start of 2024 has seen many ups and downs for MHS Music with us not attending GIJ to expanding our IM offerings.
For the first time at MHS, we now provide Voice lessons to eligible students in the Choir. We bid a warm welcome to Mrs. Schultz, our new IM voice teacher.
Our Choir has also bolstered in numbers to around 20 students under the guidance of Ms. Geszner.
We are also very proud to have established small ensembles for Woodwind, Brass, Flute, Saxophone, and Classical Guitar, run by our incredible IM staff. We thank Mrs. Sheridan, Mr. Heinjus, Ms. Paul, Mr. Moore, and Mr. Bairstow for their time and support of the MHS Music program.
A number of these groups will be performing alongside class and school ensembles at our Semester 1 Music Night, on Tuesday the 11th of June (in the school Gym). A small number of these new ensembles will also go on to represent MHS at the Balaklava Eisteddfod next term.
We look forward to our upcoming opportunities!
Congratulations to Sienna Peck for being successful with the donation letter she wrote. Sienna reached out to some of our local coffee bean roasters to gain donations for the Purruna Kuu Cafe. Veneziano Coffee Roasters have generously donated 6kgs of their delicious coffee beans. Veneziano has a fabulous cafe on Melbourne Street in North Adelaide. When you are near the cite next drop in for a coffee, lunch or treat and let me know how appreciative you are that they are supporting wellbeing initiatives at Modbury High School.
Ms Lauren Freeth
Year 9/10 Level Leader
For the Sports Day Newsletter and Athletics Newsletter - Click here
COMBINED NORTH-EAST VISTA AND NORTHERN ZONES ATHLETICS
Modbury High School’s athletes, headed to the Bridgestone Athletics Centre, Salisbury, in week 8 of term 1, 2024, just three short days following our ow school Sports Day. Due to the heat waves and NAPLAN causing disruption and date changes for this event it meant only 4 schools would end up competing on the day. A mixture of North Eastern and Western Zone schools.
Having to number each competitor on arrival, and make sure everyone was getting to their events on time, it was a credit to all who were able to compete to the best of their abilities. Due to the low number of schools in attendance there were many places and ribbons getting around for Modbury students so we appeared to be doing very well. We saw some personal bests and some strong performances.
We came out of the day with 7 of the possible 10 year level shields, we claimed the Boys shield and even though we had some close competition from Banksia Park throughout the day we once again come away winning the overall championship shield for 2024.
Some of our best athletes included:
SCHOOL SPORT SA TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
First time competing in ‘A’ grade
Friday of week 10 of term 1, 2024, saw Modbury High School’s Athletics team headed to the Athletics SA Stadium at Mile End, to compete against some of the biggest and strongest schools from across the State. Modbury High School competed in A2 Grade after winning the two previous years in B1 and finally being given promotion.
Despite being without some of our best athletes, the entire team put in an amazing effort to achieve some impressive results, with many personal bests. Modbury High School won the boys’ overall competition, finished 7th in the girls to finish 4th in the combined competition. A very good result considering we lost some of our best athletes from the year before and we were without a couple due to injury. Who knows what we may have accomplished?
There were some fantastic contributions throughout the day but of note:
Kelly McInerney came 1st in all four of the events he was allowed to enter in and just missed out on a couple of Standard awards for exceptional athletes, placing them in the top 3% of athletes across every grade and school in the State.
Cooper Merry Placed in all four of his events winning two
Ella Turner placed in her three long distance running events
Kooper Deer placed in his 3 events winning two
Among the many fine individual results, we competed strongly as a team and were very happy with our first overall result in A2 grade and look forward to hopefully improving on that next year.
Mr Brendan Schiller