From the Principal 

Welcome back to Term 2! I trust you all managed to have some time off over Easter and enjoy the great weather we have been having. For those who have commenced seeding, I hope all is going to plan.

Term 2

You will hear a lot this term about just how busy it is set to be. There are a variety of camps, excursions, sporting events, activity days, workshops (and more) scattered throughout the term, providing a diverse range of experiences and educational opportunities for our students. There will be a bit of movement with students in and out of regular school programs, so I encourage all students to keep up to date with what's going on via the Chatter, Term Planner, Lunch Notices, Assemblies etc.  Again, I emphasise the importance of attending each and every day, and it was fantastic to see the vast majority of our students return from the holiday break on Tuesday last week despite many being firmly affixed to a tractor seat the day before.   

Subsidised Short Courses

I am pleased to advise that Assistant Farm Manager, Madison Corsini has successfully negotiated with TAFE, a couple of heavily subsidised or free courses that will be on offer this year. This has been possible due to the additional funding the State Government has contributed to the training sector which we hope extends into 2024. Students enrolling in AQF3 Chem Cert will only pay $75 each (typically costs $400) and First Aid will be delivered for free (typically $160). 

Uniform Requirements

We have had a handful of students return with some interesting haircuts following the break. We maintain our expectations with personal presentation and remind students who do not comply, that they are ineligible for off-campus activities facilitated by the College - town run, excursions, camps, Country Week, local sports training etc. 

Policy States: Hairstyles must not follow the extremes of fashion with styles that may include mullets, bowl cuts, undercuts, mohawks, dreadlocks and brightly coloured hair. The back must not be noticeably longer than the top, and sides must be no shorter than a number 2.

Below are a couple of examples of 'subtle mullets' that we are more than happy to accommodate. I continue to encourage students to come and see me if they require any clarification.

Raising Awareness

Do it for Dolly Day, is next Friday May 12 and our Student Council are organising a 'Dress up in Blue' special dinner to commemorate the occasion and talk about the impacts of bullying. We continue to educate students on the importance of being kind to one and other and how 'banter' can very easily go too far, and cause upset to others, often without the other person knowing. We talk about being strong, confident, and resilient individuals who steer away from what they think others expect of themselves, and not getting caught up in perceived 'traditions'. Weekly 'Wellbeing Classes' cover much of this content and our upcoming Wellbeing Day in Week 4 will be a great way for our entire College to engage in workshops and activities that focus on individual wellbeing and mental health.  

Wishing you all a great rest of the week.

Matt Dowell

Principal