Donald High School Doings – Week 4, Term 3

SCHOOL VALUES

Respect, Responsibility, Resilience and Learning.

Staff, students and parents are encouraged to ensure we all operate and conduct our business at school according to these core values that were established by various members of our school community for the school community throughout the school review process in 2019.

Key focus areas for Donald High School in 2026

As part of our new Annual Implementation Plan for 2026, and as part of the findings from our school review at the end of 2023, our school has recently identified a number of key priorities (main key improvement goals in bold type) we will be focussing on in 2026.

These include:

Striving for improvements in Literacy and Numeracy.
Continuing to get our teaching staff to teach according to our Donald High School Instructional Model, focussing on explicit teaching and learning using the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM) 2.0, and re-focussing classroom behavioural and learning expectations.
Using data to inform our teaching and learning for improved student outcomes with a focus on teaching students to their point of need.
Increase the active participation of all students in their learning and wellbeing.
Using student voice and agency as a source of feedback and student choice inside and outside the classroom with a view to improving student engagement and connectedness throughout the school; and
Striving for improvements in student social and emotional learning, and engagement and connectedness at school through specialist programs and support.

There is also an expectation of all students to ensure they continue to grow and develop as learners, and for staff to continue to strive for improvement in themselves and the students.

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL FOR TERM 3

Welcome back to school to all students, staff and parents for Term 3. This term promises to be another eventful term with a lot of learning opportunities, activities and extra-curricular activities planned again in the 10 weeks of school we have.

SCHOOL COMMUNITY MESSAGE

Thank you to all of our school community (Leaders, parents, staff and students) for their support and work for each other and the students through the last 3 and a bit weeks.

It has been an extremely difficult and unprecedented time for our school and community, and I think we have navigated things pretty well considering what we are all going through.

Please keep in mind that this critical incident will continue to have an effect on people for a long time yet, and I know we will all continue to support each other and the students as we move forwards.

If you feel your child needs more assistance than you can provide, please do not hesitate to seek further help and a referral from a health professional such as your GP.

Additional support is available through:

Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800 or kidshelpline.com.au
ReachOut Parents: https://parents.au.reachout.com/life-skills-and-challenges/trauma-and-grief/supporting-your-teen-through-grief-and-loss
The mental health and wellbeing toolkit: https://www.vic.gov.au/parents-mental-health-toolkit

As we continue to support each other through this difficult time, I again encourage you to contact your child’s Year Level Coordinator, a trusted teacher or myself should you have any concerns.

Keep looking after your immediate and extended families and friends as you have been and be mindful of looking after yourselves also.

FURTHER STRIKE ACTION BY AEU MEMBERS PENDING – SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY 19th AUGUST 2026

The Australian Education Union has called on its members to take strike action again on Wednesday 19th August 2026.  

Please be aware of this future date. Further details will be distributed as we near the date.

DONALD MUSIC FESTIVAL 2026

The annual Donald Music Festival was held on Monday 27th July at the Donald Memorial Hall. There were a number of band and choir performances by our school and from our local Primary Schools on the night. There were also performances from the St. Arnaud Citizen’s Band. Our students performed particularly well, and an enjoyable evening of music was well received by all that attended. Thanks to Mr. Rigby for all of his preparation and organisation for the night, especially for our students.

HOUSE ATHLETICS SPORTS

Our annual House Athletics Sports took place on Wednesday 29th July on the School oval and Hockey Field. The vast majority of our students attended and involved themselves in the events as a participant and/or the organisation of activities eg. barbecue, setting up equipment for events. It was great to see many of our parents, family members and grandparents attending on the day.

There were some fantastic individual and team performances on the day, with Buloke (Blue) House running out overall victors on the day. Thank you to Mr. Tatchell and Mr. Cashin and student and staff helpers for their preparation of, organisation for and coordination of the day.

YEAR 10 PRE-DRIVER EDUCATION CAMP

All of our Year 10 students have travelled to Charlton from Wednesday 5th August 2026 - Friday 7th August 2026 to complete their Pre-Driver Education training through the Chartsec Driving School. The students will be involved in theory work and practical driving skills training (including a night drive on the Wednesday evening) in order to upskill the students in the road rules and laws as well as their ‘hands on’ driving. Thanks to Mrs. Griffiths for her preparation, organisation, supervision and coordination of this Camp for our Year 10 students.

PARENT-TEACHER INTERVIEWS AND PRINCIPAL FORUM

We will be holding our Term 3 Parent-Teacher Interviews for parents and students to attend on Monday 10th August 2026. These interviews are an opportunity for all students, parents and teachers to have a conversation about a student’s learning progress and are a clear indicator of where a student is at with their learning. They are also a good ‘checkpoint’ to ensure students are up to date and making the most of their learning opportunities and an opportunity to reflect on what students can do to improve their results.

I encourage all parents and students to make an appointment to attend these interviews, and I also welcome all parents to a Principal Forum (conversation with myself about the school) between 5.15pm – 5.30pm (during the teachers’ dinner break) in Room 9 on this night.

STUDENTS RIDING TO SCHOOL (on bikes/scooters including e-scooters)

Please ensure you follow the Road Rules –

Children aged 12 years or older are required by law to ride on the road.

Students are also reminded that the law requires that all riders wear an approved helmet.

USE THE BIKE TRACK through the Goodwin Village where appropriate. Community concern has been raised that pedestrians in the main street have almost been collided with by students travelling on the footpath. Please travel to and from school safely.

It is also an expectation that all students will get off their bike/scooter/e-bike/e-scooter if entering or exiting the school from Camp Street. Too many students are entering and exiting the school grounds at speed and we are concerned that an accident may occur, so please get off your bike/scooter/e-bike/e-scooter in the school grounds.

Our Year 7 – 10 students attended a presentation from Tanya Peters (Leading Senior Constable of Swan Hill Police) about the legalities of using an e-Scooter, e-Bike and a push bike on Monday 11th May.

Tanya spoke to the students about the necessity and legalities about being 16 years or older to ride an e-Scooter or e-Bike, wearing a helmet, keeping speeds to 25km/hr or less, riding on roads where the speed limit doesn’t exceed 60km/hr amongst a few other things. This was an informative session for students and staff to listen to and cleared up any 'myths' around e-Scooter and e-Bike use.

REGULAR ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL

At Donald High School, we’re excited to welcome your child back into the classroom................

Being at school is critical for your child’s learning and their mental health, physical and social wellbeing.

Every day counts.

You and your child / children are an important part of our school community, and we look forward to welcoming you back to school from the start of Term 2.

We want to support your child / children to have a positive start to the year. We will do this by working with you to help create positive school attendance routines from day 1.

We will also work with you to support your child’s / children's learning and wellbeing and offer help when required.

We can provide a wide range of support for students................

We understand that the reasons for not attending school can be complex. Schools have access to a range of specialist staff and programs that can provide additional support for your child / children, depending on their needs. For example:

Tutor Learning Initiative – we have tutors at the school to provide targeted small group learning support for children identified as performing below their expected standard in literacy and numeracy for their age;
School Breakfast Club – our school breakfast club provides students with a free, healthy breakfast to positively impact on their learning and attendance, and access to a nutritious lunch if needed;
Specialist mental health and wellbeing teams can provide direct support to students or connect you with relevant external services for additional support;
Your child / children may need an Individual Education Plan which can help everyone involved to understand and implement the goals and strategies to help them with their learning;
Where intensive support is needed to improve your child’s / children's attendance, we can put in place a Student Support Group to work with you and assist with understanding their needs and developing a comprehensive support plan;
We can connect with the department’s Student Support Services who can respond to a range of student health and wellbeing needs; and
We can also help connect you to a range of services outside of school that can assist you and your child / children.

MORE INFORMATION ON ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL

Can parents and students please take note of the graphic below. Last term we have had too many of our students missing over 10 days of school (the equivalent of 2 weeks per Term / 8 weeks for the year = too many days missed) (some students over 25 days - half or full days last year). Everyone should be prioritising education and learning for all of our students. The more time students spend at school, the greater the outcomes for their learning. All Year 7 – 12 students are expected to be at school for the whole day on a ‘normal’ school day. The only exceptions are for illness, medical appointments, or a family bereavement. Parents are encouraged to adhere to these guidelines for their child’s attendance.

I am available to talk to people at the school to assist you with any enquiries if required and can be contacted to make an appointment or have a discussion on Ph. (03) 5497 1205.

Paul Aikman

Principal, Donald High School

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