From the Principal

Mr. Paul Aikman

Donald High School Doings – Week 5, 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 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.

Two New Education Support Staff Commencing This Month.

We have appointed two new Education Support Staff to commence at our school in the next 2 weeks. Brodie Henery will be working as a support person in classrooms on 4 days per week and Jenny Waldron will be working as a support person in the library and in classrooms 5 days per week. Both of these new staff members have completed some shadowing experiences in their new roles. We welcome both Brodie and Jenny to our school and wish them well.

Interschool Cross Country

Donald High Schools had 14 students represent our school at the NCD Interschool Cross Country event on Friday 8th May. We had some very good performances in this event with Laila G winning the Intermediate Girls event in just over 12 minutes 30 seconds for the 3km run, and Hugo finishing third in the Intermediate Boys event being the most notable performances on the day. Thanks to Mrs Griffiths and Miss Cavanagh for attending, supervising, coordinating and assisting our students at this event on the day.

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 that the majority of the staff attended on Wednesday 6th May as part of the Grampians Schools Network to learn from behaviour and learning specialist Dan Petro.

Teen Mental Health First Aid Training for our Year 7 - 9 Students.

All of our Year 7, 8 & 9 students have commenced training in Teen Mental Health First Aid on Wednesday 13th May. The program is to provide all students with an awareness of some of the warning signs of Mental Health issues in their peers and how they can support their peers if they are experiencing difficulties. The program runs for approximately 60 minutes per session every Wednesday over a 3-week period.

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.

On the subject of eBikes, 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.

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