Banksia Park International High School
Beyond The Classroom
Students at Banksia Park International High School have many opportunities to become actively involved in leadership, decision-making and accountability processes within the school. Through the various student voice groups, leadership programs and activities, our students are able to build self-confidence, gain a willingness to work with others, set goals, show a genuine interest in people, show empathy and rapport.
Middle school, senior school, year 12 forums
Students, both at middle and senior levels, can nominate to be a part of the middle school, senior school and year 12 forums. These meetings occur twice a term. Students meet with peers and staff to share ideas, concerns and give advice on issues that impact them, such as IT, grounds and the canteen. They develop a sense of responsibility and leadership, meet new people and build positive relationships in all areas of the school community, develop their personal character, and learn new skills (teamwork, analysis, negotiation, investigation, generating ideas and solutions).
Principal’s forum
Representatives from the above forums comprise the Principal’s forum. The Principal’s forum representatives meet with and advise the Principal on whole school concerns and issues. Meetings occur once a term.
Student committees
Students can become a part of a consultative committee or group (often with staff and parents) when student representatives are required. Some examples include:
- Governing council
- Uniform committee
- Canteen committee
- Year 12 Formal committee
Leadership Opportunities
The school provides opportunities for students to represent the school at school functions and in various events held outside of school. Students have the opportunity to talk about our school confidently and positively, sharing their knowledge of our school and learning community.
Leadership events for students include:
- house captains
- student tour guides – with international visitors and for our open night
- student hosts for school assemblies
- Tea Tree Gully Citizenship ceremony
- Tea Tree Gully prayer breakfast
- year 12 reception at Government House
- assistance with local community events
The Key Club has now operated for many years at Banksia Park International High School. The Key Club is supported by the Tea Tree Gully Kiwanis Club and a mentor attends the Key Club meetings.
Banksia Park International High School was the first Key Club in South Australia.
This active group is recognised for their time, effort and contributions to the school and the community
Key Club Achievements
Collecting donations through school and community events (e.g. cooking barbeques) to support various charities
The Key Club also donates their time to local community projects.
The Global Citizens Medal was established at Banksia Park International High School in 2003 to recognise the qualities that many of our students acquire and develop throughout their secondary schooling. This program was awarded a National Quality Schooling Award in 2004.
The Global Citizens Medal recognises the following capabilities:
- aware, empowered humans developing identity and wellbeing
- eclectic, visionary thinkers and innovators developing and challenging futures thinking
- respectful, responsive communicators and team members, developing collaborative interactions with others
- resouceful, reliable implementers and performers developing capabilities for enterprising endeavour
- discerning, supportive advocates and contributors developing global interdependence with the world.
Students submit an application where they identify these qualities in themselves, list various organisations they are a part of, add activities they have been involved in, recognise their achievements and contributions to the school and wider community. Students submit references and conduct a presentation to a panel about a global issue where they demonstrate their characteristics in becoming a global citizen.
Recipients are awarded their medal at the annual valedictory.
Annual School Sporting Events
Sports Day – this is an annual event coordinated by the school and is held in term 1 for track and field events. Students belong to one of four houses:
Grenfell (green), Haines (red), Newman (yellow), Milne (blue)
Northern Zone Vista Athletics – this is an annual event held in term 1 at santos stadium. Results from sports day are used to assist with student selection for this athletics event.
Vista Sport
The school actively fields and trains various teams for this interschool sporting competition that involves a group of neighbouring secondary schools. The VISTA sport competition is played on Tuesday afternoons during three of the school terms. VISTA sports include:
- Soccer
- Softball
- Football
- Tennis
- Badminton
- Netball
- Volleyball
- Basketball
- Touch Rugby
Carnivals and Competitions
Banksia Park International High School students can compete in various sporting competitions and carnivals throughout the school year. Sports include: cricket, soccer, football, netball, basketball, rugby, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, hockey.
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You can access SchoolTV by clicking here
Ensembles
Banksia Park International High School offers many ensembles to cater for a range of instruments and abilities. School ensembles rehearse weekly and perform at various school events throughout the year and at our major performance evenings in terms 1, 2 & 3.
Ensembles students can join include:
Orchestra – which caters for students starting on their instruments to intermediate level. This ensemble plays a range of music from classical, pop, and jazz to rock music.
Stage band – this ensemble is for our students further along in their musical journey from intermediate to advanced music abilities. The stage band focuses on jazz, rock and funk music and features soloists.
Guitar and folk – has a focus on stringed instruments, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, mandolin, violin and banjo. Students will play a wide variety of styles, classical pieces, electric surf rock, pop, metal, Irish and bluegrass tunes.
Middle school choir – is open to all ages and levels of experience. It provides excellent preparation for the senior vocal group. The choir provides a chance to learn 2-3-part harmony singing in a variety of styles, from pop, jazz and folk.
Senior vocal group – this group is primarily made up of singers from years 11 and 12 but also includes younger vocalists with significant prior experience. Students learn a range of advanced 4-5-part vocal pieces including jazz standards, classical repertoire and pop classics. Students are able to use the material learned in this ensemble to complete Stage 2 Music – ensemble performance.
Percussion – our percussion ensemble performs regularly at music events and at sporting events creating an electric atmosphere with marching band style pieces. This ensemble regularly supports the orchestra and performs drum cadences on their own at smaller events
Instrumental Music
Students can hire the following instruments through the school and take part in weekly group lessons provided by Instrumental Music at no cost.
- Brass – trumpet, trombone, euphonium, french horn, tuba
- Woodwind – saxophone, flute, clarinet, oboe
- Strings – violin, viola, cello, double bass
- Guitar – classical, electric, electric bass
- Voice
- Piano – (payment required)
Canberra History Tour
Each year in term 2, students in year 10 have the opportunity to partake in a history tour to our National Capital. Students are involved in an education program which focusses on Australia’s history, culture, heritage and democracy. Students visit many places including: National Museum of Australia, Parliament House, Questacon, Australian War Memorial, Telstra Tower, Australian institute of Sport, Old Parliament House.
Outdoor Education
Camps are a part of the year 10, 11 and 12 outdoor education course. Students put into practice their navigation, camp craft and group dynamic skills. Students need to problem solve, communicate and react appropriately to situations.
Melbourne trip
This trip to Melbourne is a part of the year 12 tourism course, investigating different topics such as sustainability or sports tourism. Students get to visit various tourist sites including the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Aquarium, Rod Laver Arena, Graffiti Art Tours, museums and have a look around the city of Melbourne.
All students have the opportunity to become a buddy for an international student either for a short or long term visit. Local buddies act as mentors during the school day and will often be accompanied to lessons by their international buddies. The buddy system enables both parties to learn more about each other’s cultures, history, foods, traditions and education systems. Many cross cultural, long lasting friendships and invitations for our local students to travel overseas as guests of their international buddies family, have resulted as an outcome of this very successful system.
Banksia Park International High School students have opportunities to experience international travel and gain valuable insights to the living and culture of a different country. In recent years students have travelled to Japan, Korea and Hong Kong.
Korea
Banksia Park students have travelled with students from other South Australian schools to attend international schooling camps in Korea for two weeks during their January holidays. Students attend classes with Korean students which are delivered by South Australian teachers. Much of this time involves students getting to know each other and a sharing of cultures. Students have excursions to see various parts of Seoul and Korea including a visit to a traditional Korean Folk Museum, War Memorial, National Museum of Korea, indoor and outdoor theme parks – Lotte World and Everland, and shopping expeditions. Students have many cultural demonstrations including Korean drums, kite flying, martial arts. Our students certainly get to experience really cold weather, with below zero temperatures and they have a lot of fun in the snow!
Japan
Shikama High School is one of our sister schools in Himeji, Japan. Shikama visits Banksia Park each year, and we visit Shikama every two years. Students have wonderful opportunities to participate in school life in Japan and they get to try sports and activities we do not have in Australia. Students get to visit a number of places including the famous Himeji Castle, Hiroshima, Miyajima Island and the Kinkakuji and Kiyomiza temples in Kyoto. Students stay with homestay families where students gain a real insight in to living in Japan. Host families show our students around other parts of Himeji and Japan which have included Universal Studios, kimono wearing, local museums and restaurants.
Hong Kong
Po Kok Secondary School visits Banksia Park through their study tour. Banksia Park students have had a reciprocal visit to Po Kok. Students learn about another education system through attending lessons and activities in Po Kok Secondary School. Students also visit many places including a cable car ride to the statue of the Big Buddha situated on Hong Kong’s highest altitude and they go to two theme parks – Ocean Park and Disneyland. Students try a variety of new foods and enjoy lots of shopping too.
Banksia Park International High School has had a rich history in robotics, competing in the First Tech Challenge (FTC) and First Lego League (FLL) and VEX Competitions for many years. Our BanksiaBOT students range from years 7-12. Our robotics students have recently been engaging with industry through the SA Power Networks VEX Competition, which looked at designing and engineering solutions for real world applications.
2022 was a particularly successful year winning the FTC competition at the regionals. This saw the team fly to Sydney to represent South Australia at nationals.
Through Robotics students learn and develop their skills not only in engineering, coding, critical thinking, problem solving and design but also teamwork. Students whilst competing against other schools, are able to demonstrate gracious professionalism and respect to their opponents.
