Over the past few weeks, our focus has been firmly on supporting students in 2025 while also looking to the future helping them understand the many options available beyond school and ensuring they are supported to make choices that align with their goals and strengths.

Subject counselling has been central to this work. Year 10 and 11 students and families have been meeting with staff to explore subject selections for 2026 and beyond. These conversations are about more than timetables; they are about building pathways that connect learning at school with post-school ambitions. Choosing subjects that keep doors open, build on personal interests, and align with entry requirements for further education or training is critical. I thank our families for their strong engagement in these sessions; your partnership makes a real difference in helping students make informed choices.

For our senior students, the opportunity to experience university life firsthand was a highlight. A number of our Year 12s recently attended an immersion camp that took them to both Flinders University and the University of Adelaide. Over two days, they explored campuses, spoke directly with lecturers and current students, and gained insights into courses, entry processes, and the realities of study. Beyond the information sessions, the experience of seeing what living on campus looks like, navigating city environments, and imagining themselves as future university students was powerful. Many returned with fresh motivation and clarity about what they would like to pursue.

At the same time, students are completing their TAFE applications, opening doors into vocational courses, apprenticeships, and trade pathways. This step is a reminder of the wide range of opportunities available, and the importance of supporting every young person to find the option that fits them best.

This work builds on broader career education processes across the school. From the Year 10 Work Experience program to the Exploring Pathways subject, as well as visits to our local Uni Hub and participation in regional careers expos, students are given repeated opportunities to explore their interests, test different options, and gather information. Each experience helps connect classroom learning with real-world possibilities, ensuring that when they reach their senior years, they do so with greater confidence and preparation.

I was also fortunate to visit the Port Augusta Technical College this week. The facilities and programs on offer highlighted the breadth of opportunities available in vocational education, apprenticeships, and technical training.

Success does not look the same for every student. For some, university will be the right path. For others, skilled trades, training, or direct employment will provide fulfilling futures. Our role as a school is to keep these options visible and accessible so that no student feels limited in their choices.

Ultimately, successful transition from school to further study, training, or work depends on strong collaboration. Families, students, and the school community each play a vital role. When we work together sharing information, encouraging ambition, and supporting resilience our young people leave school ready for the next step with confidence.

Michael Gaunt

PRINCIPAL

Please join us in congratulating our newly elected leaders.

School Captains: Sassy Wilson & Ashton Davey

Vice Captains: Caitlin Edwards & Eva Thomas

These remarkable students have been chosen by their peers and staff for their leadership, integrity, and commitment to our school values. As School and Vice Captains, they will play a key role in shaping student voice, leading school events, and setting a positive example across all year levels.

We look forward to the energy, ideas, and leadership they’ll bring to our school community in 2026.

Congratulations to each of you — we know you'll lead with pride and purpose!

What an unforgettable end to the season for JPSS Soccer Academy! Both our Junior High (Years 7 and Senior High (Years 9 & 10) teams have been crowned PPJSA Cup Champions, capping off a fantastic campaign with dominant performances in their respective finals.

A special mention goes to our Junior High side, who were also crowned “Undefeated Premiers” for season 2025, completing the double after their cup final triumph! A feat which hasn’t been done at JPSS since 2006.

Junior High Team - Defeated St. Marks 3-2 in a thrilling match that went end-to-end.

We saw a goal from Seth Franke and two from Jye Dodd, the second coming in the dying moments of the game - a true testament of their desire to always push to the final whistle.

MVP: Jye Dodd – A midfield masterclass, scoring two crucial goals including the match-winner! 

Senior High Team - Powered past St. Marks 8-3 in a commanding display! 

For such a young group of only year 9’s and 10’s, they were seen as the underdogs coming up against year 11’s and 12’s throughout the season. Their hard-work, skill and determination proved they belonged in a final and were too strong on the final night.

MVP: Aiden Cameron – An incredible 6-goal performance that lit up the final!

A huge congratulations to all our players, coaches, and supporters. There was an amazing atmosphere for all games, with the hard work, dedication, and team spirit on full display - paying off in the best way possible!

The future is bright at JPSS!

On Wednesday 4th September JPSS held its annual Festival of the Arts, where students showcase their artistic talents through an Art Exhibition, Music, Dance and Drama performances.

On the night the JPSS Art Prize winners were announced. This year JPSS Art Prize were judged by Cheryl Fischer and Tessa Collins from Arts Now Here.

Photography

Winner: Phoebe Dunlop for Morning Flower.

Runner Up: Angelina Cojocea for Lost Memories. 

Middle School

Winner: Katleah Ladra for Colourful Darkness.

Runner Up: Tosca Wobring for Blur Your Eyes.

Senior School

Winner: Fei-Lin Kao for Light. (Overall winner)

Runner Up: Shannayah McGregor for Skating Dress.

This year attendees were able to cast their vote for their favourite artworks entered in the JPSS Art Prize throughout new Community Vote, with over 100 community votes entered the winners are:

Community Vote

Photography: Angelina Cojocea for Lost Memories.

Middle School: Tameka Laver for Focused.

Senior School: Caitlin Edwards for Night Eyes.

Dance, Music and Drama students excelled on stage and the night was enjoyed by all who attended.

A huge thank you to the Port Pirie Smelters Picnic Committee!

We are incredibly grateful to the Port Pirie Smelters Picnic Committee for their generous donation of $2,000 to support our students heading off to Fiji.

This contribution goes a long way in helping our students make the most of this amazing opportunity, and your support truly means the world to us.

Thank you for backing our young people and believing in the value of these life- changing experiences.

We held a special presentation ceremony earlier this week to celebrate the incredible achievements of John Pirie Secondary School students who recently completed the transformative Operation Flinders program.

These 10 students trekked 85km in eight days through the Flinders Ranges, participating in activities such as abseiling, bush survival and Indigenous cultural engagement. Through this journey, they demonstrated remarkable resilience, teamwork, and personal growth.

Deputy Mayor Alan Zubrinich and team leader Cam presented the students with certificates to commemorate this achievement.

Congratulations to Cody, Mitchell W, Noah, Stuart, Mitchell G, Tyreece, Cass, Doug, Brodie and Owen (absent) on this inspiring journey!

Our students had the chance to visit the Port Pirie University Centre and discover what it’s really like to study with Uni Hub Spencer Gulf! 

Centre Manager, Adrianna Caputo, shared information about study pathways and the support on offer, before students explored the facilities and got a first-hand look at the opportunities available to local university students.

Book Week's theme was "Book an Adventure" and our classes certainly got adventurous in decorating their classroom doors in the theme! Judged by the intrepid Mr. Black and the valiant Ms. Vincent-Heylen, the judges were very impressed with the general adherence to the 'book an adventure theme' and the overall creativity that they saw. 

They loved when classes were able to either capture the essence of 'story' and adventure through story'.  Additionally, they really loved displays where the participation of students was clearly evident, specifically through personalised touches that showed their identity.

In the end, after some very difficult deliberation, they settled on the following winners.... 

1026 - Ms. Arbon's Care group with their 'Alice in Wonderland' display.

8B2 - Ms. Bowman's Care group with their 'Where the Wild Things Are' display.

952 - Mr. Hall's Care group with the 'Story Tree' interpretation.

7A1 - Mr. Borland's Care group with "Twilight" display

Honourable mention to Room 81

Congratulations to all classes who worked as teams and created amazing doors!

Very grateful to be able to share our love of riding with the amazing young people from John Pirie Secondary School. The BALANCE crew wrapped up the term with an awesome trip to Melrose and Willowie trails. Never stop exploring lads! Truth in these words from one of the greatest bicycle operators of all time @tajlucas.

The John Pirie Clontarf Academy boys ventured out to Coober Pedy for a three-day camp packed with activities and new experiences.

Our Year 7/8 students took part in a basketball and soccer carnival, displaying fantastic teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the games. They also visited the local SES site, where the crew showcased the vital work they do to keep their community safe.

To finish off the trip, the boys enjoyed a movie under the stars at South Australia’s only drive-in cinema – an unforgettable highlight of the camp! 

In Term 3, 8A6 have been diving into the fascinating world of Medieval Europe.
Throughout the unit, students explored the Feudal System, Kings, Knights, Barons, peasants, farming, religion, crime, punishments, and more.

To showcase their learning, students worked in groups to create interactive displays on different aspects of the topic. Each group brought their own creativity and originality to the task, resulting in some truly fantastic presentations!

Students competed in the SAASTA shield competition against other academies from across the State. This ran over 2 days and consisted of American Flag Football and Dodgeball. The Pirie Academy showed great team work and persistence throughout the tournament. 

In addition, a gala event for the class of 2025 was held at Yitpi Yartapuultiku. Students and staff dressed in their fine attire and enjoyed an evening of reminiscing, comedy and musical acts. Congratulations to the Year 12's and good luck for their exams. 

Students from M85 and M86 had a fantastic time at the 2025 Inclusive Fun Day at Mid North Education Centre!

Students were able to enjoy many options including cricket, football, table tennis, air hockey, a petting zoo, face painting, and fairy floss. The day finished with plenty of colour and laughter in the fun run.

A big thank you to Mid North Education Centre for hosting and to the Lions Club for providing lunch!

Bella Nelligan

Year 12 student and former JPSS Soccer Academy member Bella Nelligan has taken a significant step forward in her soccer journey this year, joining the West Adelaide Women’s Reserves side in the NPL Reserves Competition. 

Bella has made an immediate impact at her new club, impressing the senior coaching staff with her relentless work ethic, sharp soccer instincts, and clinical finishing. She found the back of the net 25 times during the regular season, establishing herself as one of the team's most reliable attacking threats. 

Her strong performances throughout the season were recognised with the following accolades:

• West Adelaide Reserves Best & Fairest
• 2025 Rising Star
• Golden Boot (Club and League)

Bella’s success is a testament to her dedication, passion, and the strong foundation built during her time in the JPSS Soccer Academy. We are incredibly proud of her achievements and look forward to following her continued progress in the sport.

Well done, Bella!

Skye and Krystal Voumard

We are incredibly proud to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of Skye and Krystal Voumard, who were selected to represent Australia at the Babe Ruth World Series in Alabama, USA.

Skye and Krystal began with a week-long training camp in Hot Springs, Dallas, where they trained each morning under the guidance of top college coaches. In the afternoons, they honed their skills by competing against local teams. As part of this incredible experience, the girls were also invited to tour a renowned local college known for its excellence in softball and other sports.

Both Skye and Krystal excelled during the World Series:

• Krystal proudly brought home a Silver Medal in the U14 division.
• Not to be outdone, Skye earned a coveted Trophy Bat for achieving one of the highest batting averages in the U16 division.

The girls formed lasting friendships with athletes from around the world, creating unforgettable memories that will stay with them for a lifetime.

Shae Stark

Shae Stark has shown incredible dedication and talent since joining the West Adelaide Bearcats District Basketball Club in February. Committing to training up to two nights a week in Adelaide and playing on Thursday nights, her hard work has quickly been recognised by her coaches, resulting in rapid progression through the ranks.

Recently, Shae and her team celebrated a major achievement by winning the Under 16 Grand Final.

In addition to her regular commitments, Shae has taken part in extra training sessions during school holidays and participated in the Bearcats Basketball Carnival. She also travelled to Melbourne to compete in the Nunawading Carnival, further showcasing her passion and dedication to the sport.

Congratulations, Shae, on your outstanding achievements.

Neve Adams

Neve Adams (Class of 2022) has recently been selected to represent Australia as part of the Aussie Spirit Softball Team at the upcoming World Games in Chengdu, China a remarkable achievement and testament to her dedication and talent.

Since graduating from JPSS, Neve has continued to pursue her passion for softball at an elite level. She was awarded a full athletic scholarship to attend Odessa College in Texas, USA, where she has been developing her skills and competing at a high standard.

Neve has also excelled in the classroom making the President’s List all semesters and graduating Summa cum Laude with an Associate Diploma in Psychology. She was also selected in the All-Academic 1st team. 

Neve will complete her degree and continue her softball career at The University of Maine NCAA Division 1, America East Conference. 

We are incredibly proud of Neve and look forward to following her journey on the international stage. Congratulations!

Year 9 and 10 students can apply now for industry training at Port Augusta Technical College in 2026!

Students can train for careers in:

Civil, Resources and Infrastructure

Cookery and Tourism

Health and Social Support

Multi-trades

Students from our school and across the region can now access part-time training at the technical college.

The first step for interested students is to register their interest online at

https://www.technicalcolleges.sa.gov.au/.../register-your....

This needs to be completed by the end of week 1, Term 4.

Week 1 - Monday 29 September 

Morning Session: 10:00am - 12:00pm

• English
• Essential English
• Ancient Studies
• Outdoor Ed
• AIF
• Chemistry

Afternoon Session: 12:30pm - 2:30pm

• Food and Hosp
• Biology
• Sport and Rec
• Drama

Week 2 - Thursday 9 October:

Morning Session: 10:00am - 12:00pm

• Child Studies
• English
• AIF

Afternoon Session: 12:30pm - 2:30pm

• Psychology
• Ancient Studies
• Material Solutions
• Drama

Week 2 - Friday 10 October

Morning Session: 10:00am - 12:00pm

• General Maths

Time to celebrate 13 Years of Schooling!

Year 12 Formal will be held this year on Thursday 20th November at 6pm in the Northern Festival Centre Ballroom.

 Tickets and Dietary Requirements:

• On sale from Maria in the Front Officenow  until Week 1, Term 4. Price $65 each, including Year 12 students.
• Please inform us of any dietary requirements when you book, as the event has a drop menu.

 Year 12 Students:

• Need to be there by 5:30pm on the night for a group photo.
• Students will be dancing with a significant person to them on the night, so may need to plan who they wish to dance with

 Please call Tara Mark at the school with any questions about Formal.