Donald High School Newsletter

From the Principal

Mr. Paul Aikman

Donald High School Doings

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 2025

 

As part of our new Annual Implementation Plan for 2025, and as part of the findings from our school review at the end of 2023, our school has identified a number of key priorities we will be focussing on this year in 2025. These include:

  1. Striving for improvements in Literacy and Numeracy with a particular focus on Writing.

  2. Continuing to get our teaching staff to teach according to our Donald High School Instructional Model, focussing on explicit teaching and learning, and re-focussing classroom behavioural and learning expectations.

  3. Using data to inform our teaching and learning for improved student outcomes with a focus on teaching students to their point of need.

  4. Using student voice as a source of feedback inside and outside the classroom with a view to improving student engagement and connectedness throughout the school; and

  5. Striving for improvements in student mental health and wellbeing, 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

 

Welcome back to all students, parents and staff for Term 2. I hope everyone had an enjoyable break and are ready to get back into the swing of school again. 

 

ANZAC DAY SERVICE

 

ANZAC Day as we know it was first observed on 25 April 1916, as people came together to commemorate the landing of Australian and New Zealand forces at Gallipoli, Turkey, on 25 April 1915. This important tradition has now become an opportunity to stop and reflect on the sacrifice and dedication of all our veteran and service community, and the families who support them. It is a significant day for the Department of Education, and we proudly recognise our many staff who have served over the years. We also recognise First Nations people who served in conflicts, and we acknowledge their service, sacrifice and ongoing impacts on their families. The annual Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service is held during Reconciliation Week and is on Saturday 31 May 2025 at the Shrine of Remembrance. For more details and to register to attend, refer to Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service.

 

ANZAC Day in your local community is a public holiday. School staff and students who wished to observe the day could join in the commemorative activities at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne or at the Cenotaph in the Memorial Park in Donald. These activities included the: dawn service, a commemoration march, and the laying of wreaths commemoration services. Our School Captains and Vice Captains were in attendance at the local commemorative dawn service on ANZAC Day to lay a wreath and recite a poem. Our school also held an ANZAC Day Commemorative Service on Thursday 24th April 2025 from 2.45pm (during Period 7), where we welcomed local RSL Members and the School Captains laid a wreath whilst all students, staff and guests paid their respects. Thank you to Mr. Potter for his organisation and coordination of this service.

 

As ANZAC Day is a public holiday, schools are not required to fly the Australian national flag at the masthead. For more information, refer to the Shrine of Remembrance website. 

 

MENTAL HEALTH ROADSHOW IN HORSHAM IN LATE JULY

 

Dr. Michael Carr-Gregg is the special guest speaker at two sessions of a Mental Health Roadshow in Horsham later this year.

 

There is a session for Educators in Horsham on Wednesday 30th July 2025 between 4.30pm – 5.30pm and another session for parents to attend on the same night between 7.00pm – 8.00pm. All parents, students and staff were sent an email about this last week with a QR Code on the flyer attached to the email to register your attendance if interested. 

 

SCHOOL TV

 

Please note that our school community now has access to a website called SchoolTV.

This website provides all members of our school community with a wide range of information and resources both in text and video form as well as asks people to complete surveys on a variety of topics on Mental Health and Wellbeing. It is a website that is used as a preventative measure to educate all people on the various topics and is a fantastic resource I recommend people access whether you are a parent, teacher or student.

The topics are conveniently arranged into a number of series. Topics feature interviews with leading youth wellbeing experts and researchers from around the world offering hours of relevant and practical information. Additionally, each topic includes a compilation of related resources from key organisations providing a comprehensive stream of content. Resources include informative fact sheets, articles, apps, books, podcasts, websites, and other videos - all related to a single topic, in one place for easy access!!

The website is found at donaldhs.vic.schooltv.me

 

Some of the most recent special reports on the SchoolTV website include: Eating Anxiety, Healthy Study Habits, The Cost of Living Crisis, Navigating AI Relationships, Confidence & Motivation, The Wellbeing Barometer and Social Media & Comparison Culture (new).

 

MOBILE PHONE USE AT SCHOOL

 

Parents and students are reminded that the use of mobile phones by students is not permitted at school between the hours of 8.45am and 3.25pm, unless they have been given permission for its use by a teacher leading an excursion or Camp, their Year Level Coordinator or a member of the School Staff Leadership Team. We have had a number of instances where students have been accessing their mobile phone for varying reasons during the school day without permission. This is a State Government rule that applies to all schools across the State of Victoria. A reminder also that it is an illegal act to photograph, video or record another person and forward this on to someone else without that person’s consent, and this offence is punishable by the school and police.

 

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.   

 

PLEASE 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.

 

YEAR 9 BUSHWALK CAMP IN THE GRAMPIANS

 

The majority of Year 9 students headed to the Grampians from Monday 31st March to Friday 4th April for their 4-day bushwalk. The weather conditions were quite good, despite it possibly cooling off considerably in the evenings. All of the students were actively involved and engaged in the bushwalk and activities on the camp and I have only heard good reports about their trip. Thank you to Mrs. Griffiths, Mr. Tatchell, Miss McKay and Mr. Cashin who all assisted in the organization, preparation and running of this camp.

 

PARENT-TEACHER INTERVIEWS AND PRINCIPAL FORUM

 

All of our Teachers completed interim progress reports for each of the students they teach late last term. Whilst these reports aren’t as comprehensive as our end of semester reports, they are a clear indicator of a student’s progress so far this year and are 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. These reports were made available to students and parents after the end of Term 1 and will be a basis of teacher discussions with parents and students at our Parent-Teacher Interviews on Monday 5th May (next week). I encourage all parents and students to make an appointment to attend these interviews, and I also welcome 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.

 

INFORMATION ON ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL 

 

Can parents and students please take note of the graphic below. Last year we had too many of our students missing over 15 days of school (some students over 20 days - half or full days). 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.

Please see the attached further information regarding student attendance that all parents must be aware of and attend to if necessary.

 

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.