PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents/Carers, Families and College Community

Welcome back to a new term to all of our students, staff and families. I hope that those of you who had a break over the Easter period found it restful and an opportunity to recharge batteries after a busy and at times challenging first term.

This term we have our Open Day to look forward to on Saturday 28 May in week five. Our expectation is that all students are part of the day to showcase the College to the public. We also have the College Ball to look forward to at the end of the term. Country Week training will start mid-term and the Collie hockey competition starts for the students involved. So there is lots to look forward to.

Staff Changes

We welcome back Matt Olde and Shaun Cantwell into their roles as Parks and Gardens Training Officer and Head of Trades respectively, after Term 1 out of the school. 

My thanks to Matt Depiazzi who filled in during Shaun’s absence and Val Webb, Tessa Ferraro and Michael Campion who filled in during Matt’s absence.  We also welcome back Bernie Murnane to the Head of Residence role after shoulder reconstruction and thank Chris Curran for his efforts relieving in the role. We are fortunate to have relief staff of such high calibre that we are able to call upon.  

Chris Curran who has been several years in the Residential Supervisor role has taken on a new challenge as a Training Officer in the Farm workshop. Chris has significant experience in workshops roles, great rapport with students and will be an attribute to the farm training program.

Brad Falkingham is taking this term off on well deserved long service leave, Bronte Holmes will take on some of the leadership roles and Michael Campion will take on some parts. We are very proud of Bronte and the contribution she makes to our Dairy operation and College more broadly, especially given that she is one of our College graduates.

Samantha Cox - What a STAR!

Over the holidays Sam Cox (Year 12, from Stratham) competed at the Sydney Royal Easter Show in the National Dairy Cattle Young Judges Championships, after winning the WA state final at Brunswick last year. Sam had to judge three classes of cattle (Jersey, Guernsey and Ayrshire) and then verbally present her judging opinion on one of the classes. Sam was competing against others from around Australia aged 15 to 25 years and she came FIRST!! Well done and well deserved! 

ANZAC

My thanks to Ned Gualter, Brooke Burgess, Montana Holly, Amelia Ietto and Maddison Stuchbury for representing the College at the Harvey ANZAC service this week. 

Also to the Year 10 and 11 students in English and HASS for producing ANZAC themed works. 

COVID Update- Bring on the Great Unmasking!

My thanks for everyone’s efforts last term and particularly parents who were supportive on having their children at home when symptomatic, close contacts or COVID positive. It certainly made it easier for us to manage the situation when our community were so supportive. 

At the end of last term I predicted there would not be much change to our COVID settings particularly as a result of our residence….. I was wrong! This week you would be aware of changes to the COVID settings in Western Australia which took effect from today. The implications of these on us are;

Mask wearing

No longer mandated in schools. This does not stop anyone wearing masks if they choose to do so. 

At this stage, masks are still required to be worn in vehicles and buses. This means that students and staff will still need masks if they are on the school buses to and from school, utes/tractors on Farm and in buses on day and residential excursions. 

Close Contacts - can arise from 

• Household members or intimate partners of a COVID positive person.
• Someone who has had close personal interaction with COVID positive person for 4 hours cumulative in a 24 hour period in a residential setting (home, boarding school). 
• Someone who is informed by the Health Department that they are a close contact.

Isolation requirements

• COVID Positive - no change - 7 days from date and time of positive test.
• Close contact - Asymptomatic - no need to isolate, expectation is to come to school/work but must wear a mask at all times and undertake a RAT daily which must be negative. A Residential student who is an asymptomatic close contact will need to wear a mask during residential time, except in their own room.
• Close contact - Symptomatic - isolate until symptoms disappear. Once asymptomatic can return to school/work under conditions described above.

Student vaccinations

We have been advised by the Quality Hotel Lighthouse (the College Ball venue),  that at this stage COVID vaccinations and wearing of masks are not required, but this could change based on the COVID settings across WA.  We are seeking clarification from other providers such as St John Ambulance, who provide our first aid training on their vaccination requirements.

COVID/cold and flu symptoms

As per our normal procedures, we will continue to ask parents to take students home who are exhibiting symptoms to recuperate.

Please be aware that these settings are subject to change if we find they are not effective in preventing spread of COVID in our College. 

Regards

Steve