From the Principal

It’s been a very busy term, with students completing their subject selections for 2026, and a wide range of curriculum-based and extra-curricular activities in full swing.  Staff are now working on building the 2026 timetable based around student subject choices and will continue with this work during term 4.  Students and families will receive communication about 2026 timetables towards the end of term 4.

Our Governing Council recently approved our new Bullying Prevention policy, which can be found here, and is easily accessible on our school website.  Feeling safe, respected and included is fundamental to wellbeing and to learning. The sense of safety, being valued and fitting in grows from (and informs) a culture of respect, care and compassion and kindness.  Promoting this sense in our students is one of the most important things that the school does and is a vital contributor to a happy, safe and healthy local, national and global community.

Our last student free day for 2025 was held on Friday 29 August focusing on our continuing implementation of the Berry Street Education Model, which supports consistent lesson structure, self-regulation, and evidence-backed pedagogical strategies in the pursuit of high student engagement and achievement.  Staff listened to a series of presentations by expert practitioners about the “elements of a lesson” – common pedagogical features that should be experienced by students in every lesson at our school.  

Examples of the elements of a lesson include statements of learning intentions and starter activities, brain breaks, explicit teaching and success criteria. Staff also had time working in Learning Area teams to plan for their upcoming teaching, ensuring that the elements of a lesson were visible in their future lesson plans.  A slide from the PowerPoint viewed by staff during this professional learning can be seen in appendix

Over 11 and 12 September, the whole year 7 cohort spent a day at the Adelaide Zoo, participating in the annual zoo excursion. This is a combined Maths/Science excursion, where students are tasked with designing a zoo enclosure.  They applied their knowledge of food chains and food webs, and the statistics related to endangered species to complete this task following the excursion.

The annual Elder Hall Music Showcase was held at the University of Adelaide on 17 September.  Students from year 8 to 12 were represented and pulled off a stunning evening, playing in various class bands and ensembles.  Highlights were the extremely moving What was I made for? by the vocal quartet, a banging rendition of Feel it still by the Year 8 ensemble, the always fabulous Percussion ensemble with Fanfare for Generation Z and Live and Let Die by our Concert Band, which recently won in their division at the Balaclava Eisteddfod.  I’d like to acknowledge and thank our instrumental and classroom music staff, without whom this magnificent evening could not happen.

Beginning in 2026, Aberfoyle Park High School will be implementing a sun protection policy.  We are working with the Cancer Council on a project to involve students in a phased implementation of sun protective hats.  The implementation will begin with year 7 and 8 students.  As a part of the phased implementation, the Aberfoyle Park High School uniform hat will be provided free of charge to students in years 7 and 8 in 2026 only and will be distributed with stationery packs at the start of the year.  

The hat will be worn during breaks and outdoor lessons during terms 1 and 4.  The hat has been developed following student, parent and staff consultation during terms 1 and 2 of this year and is a reversible maroon and black bucket hat with the school logo.  The hat will be available for purchase from Devon Clothing along with other uniform items for students in years 9 to 12.  The cost of the hat is about $25.  Further information about our implementation project will be published in early term 4.

I’d like to acknowledge and thank the staff members who have stepped into new leadership roles during term 3 – Chris Jones as year 11 leader, Julie Mohtasham as Senior School Assistant Principal and Fran Charlton as Deputy Principal.  I’d like to thank all of these staff members for their contribution to the leadership of the school while Marion Coady has been on leave during this term.  Marion will return to the Principal’s role at the beginning of term 4 after a well-deserved break.

I have enjoyed working as the principal of our great school during term 3.  I’d like to wish all of our students a wonderful and safe term 3 holiday, and I look forward to welcoming you all back for the beginning of the last term of 2025. 

Cassie Dickeson