Blackwood High School - Governing Council Overview of 2011
2011 promised to be a big year for the Blackwood High School community and it delivered in no uncertain terms and on a number of levels.
The year started with the arrival of our new Principal, Marion Coady. With Marion came a general change in school leadership - an immediate challenge for her to address. Suffice to say Marion rose to the various challenges confronting her and quickly set her seal on school operations. It is indeed a pleasure to have a principal with the wide set of skills Marion brings.
Of course one of the most significant events at the School this year was the 50th Anniversary celebrations. As an old scholar dating back to 1968 it was great to see the involvement of so many former students – both recent and "mature" – and this speaks volumes for the regard with which the school is held amongst its alumni and the broader Blackwood Community. The various events went very well and a sincere thanks and congratulations to Mr. Chris Daw and his fellow workers. Anyone who knows Chris would appreciate the passion he has for Blackwood High and his enthusiasm and drive certainly provide a great example to us all.
Given that it was such a significant milestone year, it was "challenging" to have to deal with the Government initiative to amalgamate the High School and Primary School. While the schools have separate histories there are obvious links between the two which would permit this to occur. A change at Ministerial level saw the mandatory nature of the amalgamation give way to a community decision for both schools and each will continue down their separate paths for the immediate future. One wonders when the issue will surface again at Governmental whims.
Another significant milestone this year was the opening of the Adelaide South Trade Training Centre. The School is the end result of a lot of work within the community and is in part, a major legacy of our past Principal, Susan Hyde. The Trade School, situated within the High School, will offer students at Blackwood and other local High Schools more career and vocational options. It is set to become a major drawcard for Blackwood High School and likely to pave the way for a resurgence of trades and electronics training.
Year 12 Graduation rounded out the year beautifully. Another great group of students bids farewell to the High School community and we wish them every success in their future careers and lives. As is always the case, the Graduation Ceremony was lots of fun and showcased the talents and skills of our students.
As the year draws to a close it is appropriate to acknowledge the tireless group that make up the Governing Council. Special recognition goes to our long standing Treasurer, Tony Lemish, who has led the Finance Committee brilliantly for a number of years. He will be missed as we move into the new Council's term. Thanks too to Jenny Pearce who has given me great support as Deputy Chair and to Anne-Marie Simes for her efforts as Secretary. To all my fellow Councillors, thank you for your contributions and involvement – I believe our Council can be proud of its work and achievements of the past year. A special thanks to Chris Plummer, Sharna Granpre-Moliere and the Finance team – running a School the size of Blackwood High is no mean feat, especially given the challenges that working with a bureaucracy like DECS brings. Your efforts and achievements are most valuable
To our teachers who give so much to our students and families, thank you for all your hard work and the commitment you have displayed. We are very lucky to have such a skilled and dedicated teaching group and we are sure that the efforts you have put in with our students will be rewarded.
In closing, I wish you all the very best for an exciting and action packed 2012.
David Pressley, Chairperson of Governing Council
Terms of reference for Govering Council Sub Comittees - (PDF)
Function of the Governing Council - (PDF)