From the Principal

Unfortunately, COVID – 19 impacted the start of the College year with a number of our students involved in the five – day lockdown for the Perth metropolitan area, Peel region and the South West region. Nearly all W.A. College of Agriculture – Denmark students impacted by the lockdown were South West students and were able to return to the College over the weekend of the 6th and 7th February.

Even with this event, we’ve still had a very smooth and enjoyable start to the 2021 school year with our new students settling in well and our returning Year 11’s and 12’s coming back to the College in a positive frame of mind.  Year 10 and new Year 11 students were involved in an orientation programme early in Week 1 of the Term. Many thanks to our staff and Year 12 Student Prefects: Libby Miell, Kasey James, Hamish Bowie, Georgia Dalton, Tomas O’Farrell, and Nathan Bryden - Dwyer who returned to school earlier than their peers to assist with the orientation of our new students. They did an outstanding job and also showed great support to our incoming students.

We’ve started this year with an enrolment of 140 students, consisting of: 42 Year 10’s, 50 Year 11’s and 48 Year 12’s.  There are now no more rooms available in the residential facility.

2020 Year 12 Achievement Data

The two main achievement targets for our Year 12 students are the attainment of a WACE (Western Australian Certificate of Education) and the achievement of a Certificate II in Agriculture. We had a WACE (Western Australian Certificate of Education) achievement of 93% and a 100% achievement of the Certificate II in Agriculture.  Fourteen of our graduating Year 12’s also completed a Certificate III qualification. Every student who graduated last year achieved at least two Certificate II level industry qualifications, and the majority achieved at least three.  Once again we had some outstanding individual ATAR results with Matt Dykes achieving a ranking in the 90’s. 

Congratulations to Matt Dykes and Sophie Cuthbert who achieved School Curriculum Standards Authority Certificates of Merit for their excellent school-based achievement. 

A more detailed breakdown of the College’s 2020 student achievement data and overall performance will be available to parents in the 2020 Annual Report which is currently being compiled and will be published online early in Term 2.

College Board

The College Board will meet for the first time in 2021 on Friday 26 February. The Board will review key achievement data from 2020 and the College’s 2020-2023 Business Plan – our second business plan since becoming an Independent Public School in late 2016.  Following parent and staff nominations late last year we have three new members on the Board: Leanne Muir, Mietta Skinner and Jacqui Schinzig are the new parent members. They join our continuing parent/community Board members: Josie Keam, Steve Jones and Lisa O’Farrell and our continuing staff members: Kevin Marshall, Daniel Gibbins, Tracy Milton, Rob Calcraft and myself. Our thanks to retiring Board members Lawrence Cuthbert, Mick Pratt and Stuart Stevenson who have provided significant guidance and support to the College over the past few years. Their input was greatly appreciated.

2021 Staffing

I’m very pleased to say that, at this stage, it seems we will have minimal staffing changes for 2021. Jack Marney has been appointed to the second TOAI - Dairy position. Jack has worked on a number of dairy farms over the past 11 years and is highly qualified with a Diploma of Agriculture (Dairy) from Goulburn Ovens TAFE and a Bachelor of Education qualification. 

Megan Butt has joined the College staff as a Residential Supervisor. Megan has extensive experience working in residential facilities, most recently at Broome Residential College.

Marcus Hamilton is a new member of our teaching staff. He will be delivering Metals and Engineering units of competency to Year 10 and 11 students and also the Certificate 1 Agrifood qualification to the 10A class. Marcus has a background in Design & Technology and Agriculture and will be a very valuable addition to our teaching staff.

Practical Uniform Policy Change

Just a reminder to parents that students are no longer allowed to wear shorts with their practical uniform.  Due to occupational safety and health concerns, particularly in relation to sun exposure, the College Board made the decision late in 2019 that from the start of 2020 students will be required to wear long cotton pants and long-sleeved cotton HiVis shirts when working on the farm or in other industry areas.  The Board did recommend that existing students be allowed to transition to the long-sleeved cotton HiVis shirts during 2020. 

Priority Maintenance Program

As I have mentioned in previous newsletters the College has been allocated $654,533 to address building maintenance issues identified through the College’s Building Condition Assessment Report.  This will be rolled out over the next two years. 

We requested that the removal of the old piggery and the widening and resurfacing of Jack Moore Avenue be the priority.  Demolition of the piggery has been completed. The contractor was planning to have the Jack Moore Avenue works completed by the start of the school year. The final resurfacing has just been completed. 

The new air conditioning system for the Lecture Theatre is in progress and the roof replacement and repairs to the Gym, Change room, Lecture Theatre and dormitories should be completed shortly. The refurbishment of bathrooms in the residential facility will probably begin Week 5 of this Term.

Student Attendance

COVID – 19 obviously had a significant impact on student attendance at school in 2020. However, over recent years, I have noted and become concerned with the number of students who have been absent from the College and missed key parts of their learning programme.

To fill these gaps, both the teacher and students have to set time aside either during or outside class to work together. Unfortunately, despite the best of intentions, this does not always happen. It also takes the teacher contact away from other students in the group.

When I look through student’s reports and there are areas highlighted as needing improvement, I often reflect on how much condoned absences attribute to the situation.

To reach their potential at the College, students need to attend regularly. This means only a few days off per year, due to genuine illness.

When is it OK to not be at school?

An acceptable reason is one that prevents your child from getting to school or being at school. This could include:

• when your child is sick or unwell
• attending cultural or religious observances such as sorry time and funerals
• an unavoidable natural event such as flood waters, fire or a cyclone
• an unavoidable medical appointment

It’s NOT OK to miss school if your child:

• is celebrating a birthday
• is going on a family holiday
• is visiting family and friends
• has slept in or had a big weekend
• is looking after other children
• has sport or other recreational activities that have not been approved by the school
• has appointments such as haircuts and minor check ups

If possible, routine medical and other health appointments should be made either before or after school, or during the school holidays.

We will be discussing student attendance levels at the next College Board meeting on Friday, 26 February and possible strategies to achieve Target 8 in the College’s 2020 – 2023 Business Plan of 90% of students achieving attendance levels of 90% or better.