Dear Parents and Guardians

I hope that you have been able to enjoy quality time with family and friends over the last two weeks. It was wonderful to welcome back the students for the commencement of Term 3. 

There is much to look forward to this term, we have Course Counselling, Ibaraki Shimotsuma School International Tour, Science Week, ABODA Festival, Bullying No Way: National Week of Action, Hosei University Junior High School International Tour, Multicultural/Arts Assembly, Children’s Book Week, SACE Information Evening, Science Week, ABODA Festival, Parent/Student/Teacher Evening, Tuesday on Flinders Choral Concert and Chamber Concert, Leap Training, Immunisations and this term we will also select and announce the 2026 Student Leadership Team. This is a glimpse into a very busy and vibrant Term 3.

Please refer to the School Calendar on our School Website for all Term 3 events. A reminder that we launched our new Woodville High School Website last term and as always, we welcome feedback from families. Please send feedback direct to me at anna.mirasgentis953@schools.sa.edu.au

Staff Updates

This term we welcome the following teachers to our Woodville High School Community: Oscar Jolly who is replacing Michelle Moore who has retired. We also welcome back from leave: Lauren George, Alicia Miller, Belinda Parker, Natalia Bajcic, Belinda Oakley and Debbie Markovic.

We also welcome Samuel Yamamoto an exchange teacher from Lethbridge Collegiate Institute in Alberta.

House Assemblies

Yesterday we welcomed our students with our traditional House Assemblies in House areas.

Staff reinforced student values, expectations, and outlined the significance of key wellbeing and school-wide events that aim to strengthen connection and belonging. Each House, Jupiter, Mercury, Neptune, and Sirius were celebrated for their unique values, promoting a positive and inclusive school culture which accent the school values of Diversity, Integrity and Resilience. Students were reminded to demonstrate respectful behaviour, communicate positively online and be mindful of their digital footprint. Clear expectations were outlined around attendance, punctuality, mobile phone use, food sharing, toilet access, vaping, and appropriate physical behaviour, all of which are aimed at creating a safe, supportive learning and wellbeing environment. Appropriate use of mobile phones and the wearing of full school uniform was highlighted, and students were informed of the availability of new winter puffer jackets. The presentation concluded with an engaging “Heads or Tails” activity and a celebration of student awards, setting a tone of connection, encouragment and positivity 

Uniform

A high standard of personal presentation is expected of all students. Our uniform policy reflects our values and reinforces our school’s culture of high expectations and academic achievement. All students must dress according to the Uniform Policy.  We ask all families to speak with their children regarding the importance of wearing full school uniform to create a strong sense of connection and belonging to our Woodville community. If families require support with purchasing of uniform due to financial hardship, please contact your child’s House Leader for a confidential conversation. The school is happy to support your child.

Child Safety

At Woodville High School, the wellbeing of every student is central to all that we do. We are dedicated to creating a safe, supportive and nurturing environment where all students can thrive. Our commitment to safety is demonstrated through our school’s robust policies, procedures and ongoing training of staff, ensuring our School remains a safe and respectful space for all. Behaviours that do not align with our values have no place in our community, and we are steadfast in addressing any concerns promptly and effectively. We encourage you to take a moment to review our Policies as part of our shared commitment to student safety and wellbeing.

Learning and Teaching

As we begin Term 3, it is an important time for all students to stay focused and committed to their learning goals. This term plays a critical role in shaping their academic outcomes and preparing for future pathways, whether that is Stage 2 completion, university entrance, TAFE, apprenticeships or the workforce.

How You Can Support Your Child at Home

Effective Study Habits

  • Help your child set a study routine: Encourage them to allocate consistent time each evening for revision and homework.
  • Break work into manageable chunks: Use planners or checklists to keep track of assignments and reduce stress.
  • Encourage help-seeking: If your child is unsure about a concept or deadline, remind them to reach out to their teachers early.

Sleep and Wellbeing

  • Promote healthy sleep habits: Students should aim for 8–10 hours of quality sleep per night to boost memory and concentration.
  • Limit screen time in the evenings: Encourage breaks from phones and devices before bed to help improve sleep quality.
  • Encourage breaks during study: Short, regular breaks (e.g. the Pomodoro method —25 minutes study, 5 minutes rest) improve focus.
  • Support mental health: Keep open communication with your child and encourage them to speak with friends, family, or our school wellbeing team if they feel overwhelmed.

Homework 

At Woodville High School, we believe that homework plays a vital role in supporting learning, fostering independence, and building the essential skill of Resilience. Establishing consistent homework routines in Year 7 sets students up for success as they progress through the school. Our recommended guidelines suggest up to 30 minutes per night for Year 7s, increasing to 1 hour in Year 8, 1.5 hours in Year 9, 1.5–2 hours in Year 10, 2–2.5 hours in Year 11, and 2.5–3 hours per night in Year 12.

A quiet, comfortable, and distraction free space at home can make a significant difference to a student’s focus and motivation, as can healthy snacks that nourish the brain. We encourage families to support students in building these routines and to reach out to staff at the school if extra support is needed.

Study Support at School

At Woodville High School, a variety of study support options are available to assist all students from Years 7–12 in reaching their academic goals. These sessions provide targeted help across key learning areas and are open to all students:

Study Support in the Learning Hub (Years 7–12) with House Leaders:

  • Monday: 3:15pm – 4:15pm
  • Tuesday: 3:15pm – 4:15pm
  • Thursday: 3:15pm – 4:15pm (Mathematic tutor is also present)

Mathematics Support with the Curriculum Leader of Maths/Science:

  • Tuesday: Recess
  • Thursday: Lunch

Literacy Support with the Curriculum Leader of English/EALD/Languages:

  • Tuesday: Lunch
  • Thursday: Recess

All students are encouraged to attend and make the most of these valuable opportunities for extra guidance and improvement.

SACE Information Evening – Wednesday 6 August, 5:00-6:00pm

The 2025 subject selection process is an important step in your child’s education and provides a significant opportunity to make personalised decisions that enable students to orientate their learning pathways to match their interests, strengths, and aspirations.  There are several opportunities for students and parents to engage in their child’s subject selection process in Term 3.

To assist parents and caregivers to understand the SACE (South Australian Certificate of Education), the school will be conducting a SACE/Subject/Career information night on Wednesday 6 August from 5:00-6:00pm in Lower Penny. We will discuss the requirements for the successful completion of the SACE as well as the following topics:

  • The SACE, including compulsory subjects: Exploring Identities and Futures & Activating Identities and Futures
  • Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET) pathways and SACE
  • Careers Counselling and Apprenticeships.

There will be time for general questions and there will be interpreters and/or support personnel for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, African, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Arabic and Vietnamese families.

Year 12 Trial Examinations

Year 12 Trial Examinations are a vital component of the final year of schooling, providing students with an opportunity to experience the structure, timing, and expectations of the final Stage 2 examinations. These trials exams allow students to identify areas for improvement, receive valuable feedback, and develop effective exam strategies in a supportive environment. Attendance at all scheduled trial exams is compulsory, as it ensures students are adequately prepared for their final assessments and exams.

In addition, students enrolled in non-examinable subjects are required to attend their scheduled session as per the exam timetable (released later this term)  during the exam period, as these sessions continue to support their progress towards successful SACE completion and are also compulsory to attend.

NAPLAN

  • NAPLAN testing was completed in March of this year (Term 1 Week 6) and results have been released for 2025 at the end of Term 2. There are 4 proficiency levels:
  • Exceeding: The student’s result exceeds expectations at the time of testing.
  • Strong: The student’s result meets challenging but reasonable expectations at the time of testing.
  • Developing: The student’s result indicates that they are working towards expectations at the time of testing.
  • Needs additional support: The student’s result indicates that they are not achieving the learning outcomes expected at the time of testing. They are likely to need additional support to progress satisfactorily

Woodville High School received a result of Strong in each domain and can be seen in the table below:

DomainYear 7Year 9
WritingStrongStrong
ReadingStrongStrong
Grammar & PunctuationStrongStrong
SpellingStrongStrong
NumeracyStrongStrong

We use NAPLAN results to target interventions and learning opportunities to support student academic growth in literacy and numeracy. Throughout the last two years we have been able to target improvement and progress for our current Year 9 students as individuals and as a cohort and we have been able to make significant progress in learning with intervention and teaching programs that have been implemented. We have exceeded the expected growth for both Reading and Numeracy, which highlights the best result in the last 10 years.

Progress of current Year 9 students (2025) from their Year 7 (2023) NAPLAN results.

Woodville’s 2025 results are summarised in the table below:

ProgressExpected Growth (% of Australian Students)Woodville High School’s Reading Growth.
(% of Students at WHS)		Woodville High School’s Numeracy Growth
(% of Students at WHS)
Low 251411
Medium504955
High253734

We aim to have less than 25% of our students in the low progress and greater than 25% in the High progress category as this indicates that our young people are making more progress in their results than their peers around Australia.

Our results highlight that students are making above average growth in their Reading and Numeracy from Year 7 to Year 9 because of the teaching and learning programs implemented at Woodville High School through the Middle Years.

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the NCCD process where schools identify information already available in the school about support provided to students with disability. Please click here for further information about this data collection.

2025 Children’s Book Week – “Book an Adventure!”

We are celebrating the magic of reading in Week 5 (18–22 August) with a fun-filled program of activities for Children’s Book Week! From creative competitions and brain-teasing trivia to immersive VR experiences and our ever-popular dress-up day, there’s something for everyone. Students can also join in with word games, bookmark design, and a Learning Hub scavenger hunt. Prizeswill be awarded that include $50 Dymocks vouchers for some lucky winners! Let the adventure begin!

I hope we all have a rewarding term as we continue to flourish together as a community.  As always, I welcome your questions and feedback.

I hope your child or children have a wonderful start to Term 3.

Important Dates

Ibaraki Shimotsuma Daini High School Visit31 July – 8 Aug 
Old Scholars Association Meeting5 Aug
Prinicpal’s Tour5 Aug
Science Week11-15 Aug
Bullying No Way: National Week of Action11-15 Aug
Year 10 Course Counselling11 Aug
ABODA Festival12-15 Aug
Year 11 Course Counselling18 Aug
Tuesday on Flinders Concert19 Aug
Hosei University Junior High School Tour20-26 Aug
Children’s Book Week20-22 Aug
Multicultural/Arts Assembly25 Aug
Parent, Student, Teacher Evening27 Aug
Student Free Day29 Aug
Show Day1 Sep
Victorian School Music Festival2-5 Sep
Year 12 Trial Exams 15-19 Sep
Governing Council17 Sep
Last day of Term 326 Sep

Kind Regards,
Anna Mirasgentis
Principal