Principal’s Message – Term 1, Week 6

We are officially halfway through Term 1 with many celebrations and achievements to share.

Congratulations to John Stevens and our new Healthy Lifestyles team for their outstanding organisation of the 2026 Twilight Swimming Carnival. Their initiative and leadership resulted in an exciting event that was enjoyed by everyone. This was followed by a strong showing at the Lower North Swimming Carnival in Week 4, with our CHS team taking out the Boys, Girls and Overall Championship Shields and again at the State Swimming Championships in Adelaide last week where the Lower North Team finished 3^rd overall, (Girls – 3^rd and Boys – 4^th). Well done to all participants! John’s team is now turning their attention to Athletics Day, which will be held on Friday, 13th March. It promises to be another terrific day for our school community.

Last week, we completed our annual school photo day, and I am sure families are looking forward to receiving these memories of the 2026 school year.

Week 7 & 8, will see our Year 7 and Year 9 students sitting their NAPLAN assessments. We ask that students come prepared, well-rested, and ready to do their best.

Our Governing Council has recently held its Annual General Meeting, and I am pleased to announce Tim Davies as our new Chairperson. We are, however, still seeking nominations for the position of Secretary for 2026. Please contact the front office if you are interested or would like more information.

A reminder that Clare High School will be closed on Monday, 9th March for the Adelaide Cup Public Holiday. We wish everyone a safe and restful long weekend.

This term, our Senior School Aboriginal students were offered the chance to participate in the Workabout Barista Course here at Clare High. Over two days, students learned valuable barista skills, and our staff were delighted to be the guinea pigs, enjoying a selection of complimentary coffees along the way. Congratulations to all the students involved for making the most of this wonderful opportunity.

Today we see the return of our Year 7 students who have been at their Aquatics camp in Pt Vincent for three days. Led by our dedicated Year 7 team – Kristy McCarthy, Kev Rimmer, Pat Connell, Jacob Hayes, Bek Holland, and Mandy Knight. Students participated in a variety of aquatic activities and had the opportunity to form some deeper connections and memories with their peers.

Our Agriculture team has also been busy, with our middle school students taking part in the grape harvest and learning valuable skills in vineyard management. This hands-on experience is a vital component of our Ag program. We have also just welcomed two baby calves to CHS as part of a program called Cows Create Careers which allows students to learn more about the dairy industry. 

Our 2026 Student Representative Council (SRC) held their Planning Day in Week 5. This session was not only a great way for the new SRC members to meet each other but also allowed them to work together and plan out their projects for the year ahead. The day was filled with laughter, teamwork, and positive energy. A special thank you to our Head Prefects Ruby and Flynn, and Deputy Head Prefects Angus and Paige, who demonstrated wonderful leadership throughout the day. I am incredibly proud of our SRC team!

We also introduced our Year 7 and Year 12 Buddy Program this term. The Year 12’s started building connections with their Year 7 buddies, assisting them with any camp-related questions and supporting them in making their individual group charm. This program is a fantastic way to foster relationships and support across year levels.

Sports wise, we have seen excellent participation across a variety of sports, with students representing Clare High School in swimming, Knockout Cricket (boys and girls), the Golf Secondary Schools State Championships, and Open Boys and Girls Knockout Tennis. We are proud of all our students for their efforts, teamwork and sportsmanship in each event.

We continue to focus on student wellbeing and ask families to complete the Wellbeing Barometer on SchoolTV. This feedback is important in shaping our school’s wellbeing initiatives – https://clarehs.sa.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-wellbeing-barometer-survey-2026-au

Finally, I’d like to acknowledge Alicia Hoddle, Bree Mensforth, and Jacob Hayes for their commitment to building expertise in supporting students with dyslexia. They are engaging in a series of professional development opportunities this year, supporting our new commitment to the Brightpath program and our ongoing whole school literacy improvement at Clare High School.

Thank you to all staff, students, and families for your continued support and engagement.

Warm regards, 

Natasha Dunn
Principal, Clare High School 

As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and focused learning environment, we would like to remind you of the Student Phone and Personal Device Policy.

It is crucial that students adhere to this policy. Students are not permitted to access their devices, including mobile phones, bluetooth earphones/buds, or smart watches, between 8:30am and 3:20pm. This includes using phones for payments at the canteen; students should instead use a bank card or cash.

Failure to comply with this policy will result in consequences as outlined in the document. We appreciate your support in reinforcing these guidelines with your child to ensure a productive and respectful school environment.

Thank you for your cooperation.

At Clare High School, the wellbeing of our students is at the centre of everything we do. We strive to develop the ‘whole-person’ and take pride in our approach to individualised learning that respects individual differences and fosters and grows the values and strengths of each of our students.

We see wellbeing as an integral part of our students learning experience and believe that with a positive wellbeing, students and staff alike, have better resilience and coping strategies, have a more positive outlook on life and are more likely to achieve success.

Find out more about our Wellbeing Hub HERE