Principal 

Stephen Watt

Stephen.Watt@education.wa.edu.au

Dear Parents/Carers, Families and College Community

It has been terrific to have been able to manage two Sea Trek trips this year and I must thank Jennie Stringer for being the main organiser, as well as Bob McGee, Lauren Day and Shaun Cantwell for accompanying the two groups. It is no small feat to arrange a group of students on an extended trip to a remote location. 

Events like this, as well as Country Week, College Ball and various others only occur because staff are prepared to put themselves out beyond their job roles and I thank them most sincerely. By all accounts the students enjoyed their Sea Trek experience and the staff were impressed with their attitude and behaviour. Well done all.

Attendance

I continue to be impressed with our overall attendance rate and thank parents and carers for their support to ensure their child attends school regularly. College Policy links attendance with 'Good Standing' and hence access to non-essential events such as Country Week and the Ball. 

Students whose unauthorised absences are greater than 10% will find their status change and parents and carers will be informed of this. As a reminder, absences that will not be approved include holidays, birthdays, private work experience, medical absences greater than five days per year or greater than two consecutive days not supported by a doctors certificate (as per most industrial awards to familiarise students with workplace expectations).

Carbon Neutrality

This week our Year 12 ATAR students attended a Carbon Neutral workshop for farmers at Cowaramup. Carbon neutrality is increasingly topical around the world and something we need to be involved with. Our Certificate III in Agriculture students have been undertaking some data collection to determine our baseline carbon production so they can be aware of sources. It would be great if we could move to a point where we can be carbon neutral in line with the plans of other industries.

Empowered By Agriculture

This is an initiative devised and developed by Cindy Dowdell, a young woman who found a career and passion in agriculture despite not coming from a farm background. The Empowered by Agriculture program is centred around  a series of workshops over a 12 month period and apart from developing skills, knowledge and confidence is strongly focused on developing industry contacts. The program is geared towards young women from 18 years of age. For more information and application details see 

https://www.empoweredbyagriculture.com.au/application-form https://www.facebook.com/empoweredbyagriculture

Last week I called upon all of my inner courage and had my first COVID vaccination. My needle phobia is no secret, but I handled myself well with no crying and suffered no side effects. 

Have a great weekend.

Steve