From the Principal
Mr. Paul Aikman
DONALD HIGH SCHOOL DOINGS – Week 9, Term 2
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.
SCHOOL ASSEMBLY AND SRC EVENTS COMING UP
We held a School Assembly on Wednesday 27th May to promote some SRC events that have commenced in Week 7 of this term. Many of our students and staff have signed up to do the Push Up Challenge to raise money for and increase awareness of mental health. The challenge is to complete 3307 push ups over a 4-week period. The 3307 figure being the number of people that passed away due to suicide in 2024. It is great to see many people from our school getting involved in this fantastic event, which is now just over halfway through.
Our school will hold the second part of a Big Freeze event on Wednesday 24th June (last week of Term 2) where there will again be special food items sold (pies, sausage rolls, donuts, etc.) and Ice Bucket Challenge and Big Freeze activities for students and staff to get involved in, to raise money for and increase awareness of MND. We look forward to welcoming the Grade 5 & 6 students from Donald Primary School and St. Mary’s Primary School for the afternoon’s activities.
The whole country is mourning the recent passing of a great Australian in Neale Daniher and our own community also lost another great Australian and friend in Tony Goode a couple of years ago to MND, so we have all been touched by the courage, resilience and selflessness of both of these men and know that we need to continue the legacy remaining to raise money for and promote further awareness for this great cause.
YEAR 11 EXAMS
The Year 11 students completed their mid-year exams in the week of Wednesday 10th - Friday 12th June. After talking with the students, the exams have gone as well as can be with results out later this Term. Thanks to all staff that have supervised these exams and to Mrs. O’Shea for her organisation and coordination of these exams.
MID-YEAR REPORTS
All teaching staff have been assessing students work and busy writing mid-year reports over the last 2 weeks, with the final product being uploaded to Xuno on the last day of Term 2 (Friday 26th June 2026) for all students and parents to access.
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.
END OF TERM AND LAST DAY ARRANGEMENTS FOR FRIDAY 26th JUNE 2026
Our last day of Term 2 will be Friday 26th June.
Please note the following arrangements for next Friday 26th June 2026 (last day of Term 2).
We will be holding normal classes for Periods 1 – 5, and then having an extended lunch followed by Year Level Assemblies, Locker and Yard Clean Up and finish with a Whole School Assembly.
8.55am – 1.01pm – Year Level Assemblies and Periods 1 - 5 as normal;
1.01pm – 1.50pm – Extended lunchtime (half-way bell at 1.25pm);
1.50pm – 2.15pm – Year level Assemblies, Yard Clean Up and Locker Clean Up (see below for further information);
2.15pm – 2.30pm – Whole School Assembly in the Under Cover Area, including Merit Award Raffle Draws;
2.30pm – Dismissal.
Locker Clean Up
YLC’s to check that all students’ lockers are neat and tidy and clear of any rubbish or food scraps, and also assist and supervise students in their designated Yard Clean Up areas please. Please get students to place all rubbish into the appropriate bins, including our fundraising recycling bin.
Yard Clean Up Areas
Year 7 - Front of School (including gazebos);
Year 8 – Back of West Wing as well as the Front of Trade Wing to the Half-Court Basketball Courts, also in and around the Canteen area;
Year 9 – Returning from NCTTC;
Year 10 – In and around the Under Cover Area;
Year 11 – Outside Basketball Court (including in and around the gazebos on Southern side of Outdoor Basketball Court)
Year 12 – In and around the Year 12 Portable (including the gazebo just outside to the left of your room) and around the corner to the East end of the East Wing.
Please ensure ALL rubbish is cleaned up and put into the appropriate bins, prior to our Whole School Assembly.
As this will be the last newsletter before the end of Term 2, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the staff and students for their application to their work / studies throughout the first semester. Please take some time over the break from the end of Friday 26th June to have an enjoyable and restful period of time away from school, to recuperate after another busy term. I look forward to continuing to work with you all again from Monday 13th July for the start of Term 3.
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