From the Principal

DONALD HIGH SCHOOL DOINGS – Week 10, Term 1

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:

1. Striving for improvements in Literacy and Numeracy.

2. 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.

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. Increase the active participation of all students in their learning and wellbeing.

5. 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

6. 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.

STUDENT SAFETY AND WELLBEING 

Our school cares about the safety and wellbeing of our students and their families. 

Sometimes things at home or in a relationship are not OK or families can be worried about the wellbeing of their children or young people.

The Orange Door can help you to get the support you need, quickly and easily. It’s free and you don’t need a referral.

The Orange Door 

The Orange Door can help families. They provide support for concerns with parenting, relationships, and family violence.

The Orange Door is a free intake and assessment service for:

• families requiring support for their child or young person’s wellbeing or development 

• families needing parenting support 

• young, isolated, or unsupported families

• individuals and families experiencing family violence

• adults using family violence

• young people using violence in the home. 

If you contact The Orange Door, they can help by:

• working with you to identify the help and support you need

• supporting you with the wellbeing and development of your child or young person

• helping you make a safety plan if someone is making you feel unsafe

• connecting you to services that can help like counselling, accommodation, mental health and drug and alcohol services, parenting support groups, services for children, financial help, or legal assistance

• supporting you to access funding for basic living expenses and some other costs

• supporting you to change abusive or controlling behaviour.

Each Orange Door location across Victoria has their own phone number and email. Students and their families can also visit their local Orange Door in person for support, Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm for support. No appointment is needed.

To find your local service, see: The Orange Door – Support near you.

How schools connect with The Orange Door

Our school might talk to a student and/or their family about The Orange Door.  We might encourage them to contact their local Orange Door to get advice and help if needed. 

Ideally, a student and/or their family will get in touch with The Orange Door to seek advice and support. 

Sometimes, schools might make a referral to The Orange Door without the student or their family’s knowledge or consent.  Schools will do this if:

• informing a student and/or family increases the risk to their safety or wellbeing

• not linking a student to support increases the risk of their safety and wellbeing.

You can learn more about:

• The Orange Door and how they can help you and your family here (Who we are | orangedoor.vic.gov.au)

• how our school keeps our students safe by reading our Donald High School Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and our Donald High School Child Safety Code of Conduct.

STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN 2026

Teaching and Education Support Staff have been and will continue to complete professional learning sessions throughout this year on the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM 2.0), the use of Positive Classroom Management Strategies (PCMS) and adjustments and strategies to engage students in classes so they can focus more on their learning are more connected with their school. These sessions occur on a fortnightly basis and will also include a whole school Professional Development Day in Horsham on Wednesday 6th May (Term 2) as part of the Grampians Schools Network to learn from behaviour and learning specialist Dan Petro.

NEW POLICY ON OUR SCHOOL WEBSITE

We have recently added the following revamped DoE racism in schools policy onto our School Website for all people to refer to and adhere to please.

Preventing and Addressing Racism in Schools: Policy | education.vic.gov.au

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.

YEAR 9 BUSHWALK CAMP IN THE GRAMPIANS

The majority of Year 9 students headed to the Grampians from Monday 30th March to Thursday 2nd April for their 4-day bushwalking camp. The weather conditions look like they will be quite good, despite it possibly cooling off considerably in the evenings. Thank you to Mrs. Griffiths, Mr. Tatchell and Mrs. Geddes who have all assisted in the organization, preparation and running of this camp.

INTERIM PROGRESS REPORTS

All of our Teaching staff have completed Interim Progress Reports for all students on their Term 1 learning. These reports can be accessed from the end of Term on Xuno. These reports are an indication of a student’s progress and form the basis for discussions at Parent-Teacher Interviews that occur in the second week back in Term 2, so I encourage all students and their parents to please take note of the information within these reports.

END OF TERM AND LAST DAY ARRANGEMENTS FOR THURSDAY 2nd APRIL 2026

Our last day of Term 1 will be Thursday 2nd April, just prior to the Easter break.

Please note the following arrangements for next Thursday 2nd April 2026 (last day of Term 1).

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 Camp;

Year 10 – Returning from NCTTC;

Year 11 – Outside Basketball Court and in and around the Under Cover Area;

Year 12 – In and around the Year 12 Portable (including in and around the gazebos on Southern side of Outdoor Basketball Court and 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 1, 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 term. Please take some time over the break from Friday 3rd April (Good Friday - end of this week) to catch up with family and friends over these holidays incorporating the Easter break, as well as resting and recuperating from a tough term. I look forward to continuing to work with you all again from Monday 20th April for the start of Term 2.

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. This 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.