From the Principal

Welcome to the school year that commenced on 27 January, 2026. As the first day of school was the hottest morning on record in Adelaide, we decided to postpone our customary whole school welcome assembly to a cooler day and eventually were able to welcome all of our staff and students, new and returning, on Monday 2 February.

The assembly was led by school captains Alex Wrede and Bailee Salt and vice captains Aliesha Morgan and Lani Pollard. The 2026 Student Representative Council (SRC) were inducted in front of the whole school and given their badges and certificates. 

The SRC captains Heidi Allen and Teigan Dowding spoke eloquently about how the SRC acts as a voice for students, works in partnership with staff and helps foster a positive, inclusive and connected school culture.

To our new year 7 cohort and also to new students in other year levels, together with our new staff, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to Aberfoyle Park High School. You are joining a great community where our values of Respect, Care and Compassion and Honesty guide everything that we do.

A new year brings new opportunities, challenges and experiences. For our brand-new students, I hope that this is an exciting beginning and a year that you will always remember for the best of reasons. To all of our students, new and returning, I am very happy that you have chosen this school and I want you to know that you are one of the great things about coming to learn or to teach here every day.

I encourage all of our students to strive for your personal best, support each other and embrace every opportunity that comes your way. Whatever you are passionate about, there is a place for you to thrive in this school. The staff are here to support you as you take steps towards the future that you want and deserve, and there is nothing better for a teacher or SSO than seeing a student achieve their dream.

I encourage you to make 2026 a year of learning, kindness and positivity. Celebrate your successes, learn from your setbacks, and make every day another step forward. Don’t forget to have fun with your friends and to be a good friend. I want all of our students to look back on this year and think, I gave it my best effort, sometimes it was hard, but it really worked out well for me. That’s how I’m hoping I will feel at the end of term 4. Let’s all do our best and have a remarkable year together.

Staffing - New to the school this year:

Teachers

• Ingrid Cobiac teaching technologies and leading the technologies curriculum area
• Yvette Desmond teaching technologies
• Kate Donovan teaching dance
• Abby McPherson teaching science and leading the science curriculum area
• Emma Sewer teaching HASS and leading the year 9 year level

Support Staff

• Tayla Cook providing learning support
• Craig Ryan leading IT support

We have welcomed back Phoebe Cole, Amanda Chandler, Alicia Dean, Caroline Denvir, Ciara Flynn, Bec Lund, Nisan Tuazon and Alisha Williams.

As you would be aware, Marion Coady has taken up the Education Director role for the Noarlunga 1 Portfolio for the first half of the year. I have stepped into the Principal’s role, and Fran Charlton has won the Deputy Principal’s role. Selection panels to backfill resulting vacancies are ongoing.

2026 School Sports Day

The 2026 Sports Day will be held on Friday 13 March. By the end of this week, all students and staff will have been allocated to one of our four houses: Yarta, Karla, Tindu and Tirntu. Prior to the sports day, students will be nominating for some events. 

Our Sports Day enables students to come together to participate in a range of ways by dressing up in their house colours. The ability for our whole school to be together for this event provides supports for students to interact in different ways: as participants, spectators or in supporting the event through involvement in catering or organisation.

2025 year 12 results

Results for year 12 students, including those who studied IBDP subjects, were released in December. 

The following is an overview of the 2025 results:

• 108 of the 108 students completed their SACE representing 100% SACE completion
• 80 students received an Australian Tertiary Achievement Rank (ATAR)
• 26 of our students had Vocational Education and Training (VET) as part of their SACE completion
• 67.4% of the grades were in A and B bands
• 17.59% of students with an ATAR above 80
• 36 students had at least one A grade with 23 students having between two and five A grades
• Four merits were achieved. Two in Activating Identities and Futures, one in Mathematics Methods and one in English.

• Six students studied a single IBDP subject and had their IBDP results converted to a SACE grade and counted towards their ATAR

   

The top ATAR was 95.4 achieved by Alex Rose who is the 2025 Dux. He is studying a Bachelor of Science/Master of Research majoring in space science and astrophysics. Alex will be acknowledged at the Class of 2026 Graduation as the Dux of our school.

Our students have been offered places in a broad range of tertiary courses, as well some students are continuing their apprenticeships and traineeships, and some are going into employment.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of the year 12 subject teachers for their commitment and perseverance throughout 2025.

Governing Council

Information about the forthcoming Governing Council Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 17 February has been emailed to all families. Involvement in the Governing Council provides parents and caregivers with the opportunity to have input into the policies and direction of the school. There are a total of 16 positions on the Governing Council for parents/caregivers.

If you are interested in attending the AGM and/or nominating for the Governing council, please contact Rachael Kuhl by ringing the school, select 4, or email rachael.kuhl201@schools.sa.edu.au