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
We believe in a culture of achievement in a respectful and rigorous learning environment
