Principal

Rebecca Kirkwood

Rebecca Kirkwood
Rebecca Kirkwood

Wow, what a term! Term Three really has been a showcase of the wonderful program and opportunities we have on offer for our students. 

 

Over the term we have celebrated by engaging in The School Ball, NAIDOC week, Katanning Sheep Expo and Ram Sale, Open Day, The Beverley Show, Primary Awareness Day, Country Week and our own junior judging event hosted at the College. All events, while incredibly different and unique in their own right; cater for and provide examples of the breadth and depth that we offer at the College. I am really pleased to say that I was able to attend all but one of these events. 

 

For me personally, the highlight is seeing our students represent themselves outside of our College. The sportsmanship and passion that our students displayed on the volleyball court at Country Week is akin to a student leading a bull around the arena at a regional show. I couldn’t be prouder of our students, and of course our staff, who have prepared them so very well.

 

Those who have connections to our College understand that the events don’t stop here. This week a group of 25 students and 4 staff will travel to Perth to the Royal Show. I will be joining the team for a few days and I look forward to seeing them perform on the ‘big stage’. 

Good luck to all involved.

 

I’m sure by now, we are all aware of the announced public holiday occurring on Thursday 22nd September, to commemorate the Queen’s death. Like most organisations we are catering for this the best that we can. There will be no classes on Thursday but residence will remain open. Year 12 mock exams that were scheduled for Thursday / Friday of Week 10 have been rescheduled to Term 4. 

 

I know that compelling families to collect their students on the public holiday is difficult. Particularly when the school term ends the following day. We are happy to accommodate children in residence on Thursday but also respect parent’s decision to withdraw their children on Wednesday afternoon to spend the public holiday together. Please make sure that residential families enter REACH as soon as possible so that we can finalise catering and activity planning. It’s also important to remember that Friday is a normal school day, but being the last day of term, classes will end at 2pm.

 

As we move into Term 4, we definitely shift the looking glass towards 2023. As many of you know, we have been assessing our current offerings to make sure that we continue to deliver programs and courses that best equip our students to engage in their chosen pathways. We have been engaging with past students, industry and are currently surveying our students. Preliminary data has been received and it looks good. 

 

We have highlighted some upgrades and purchasing needs in some areas, particularly within Information Technology. We recently received a bank of 40 laptops with another 10 arriving soon. We have had 70 desktop computers on backorder since the beginning of the year and have plans to build a new computer lab in the trades area. Cabling, furniture and fixtures are being upgraded as well. A new classroom is enroute, due to be delivered in Term 4, after I successfully lodged an application with the Department based on the needs of our Equine students.

 

There are some exciting developments occurring in the trades area with the purchase of digital printers, a plasma laser cutter and CAD software. A new computer lab with advanced software will be fitted-out from November with plans to have this ready for the new year. This will see changes to competencies in the Cert II Engineering pathways certificate and the introduction of two new WACE courses, to reflect an enhanced digital technology focus and to cater for industry need. It’s definitely an exciting space to be.

 

I, like many of you, am looking forward to some rest and recreation over the coming school holidays. I encourage you all to take a break and spend some time with your families.

 

Take care and we will see you for the final term of 2022.