Stephen Watt

Stephen.Watt@education.wa.edu.au

Dear Families and College Communities

I extend a warm welcome back to the College and Term 4 to our families and College community. My thanks to those staff who maintained the College operation over the holiday break. Our College is unusual in that we have a significant staff contingent working over holiday breaks.

Term 4

This term is a busy time for the College as we finalise learning programs, plan and undertake the Graduation and Prize Ceremony, report on student progress, review the year and plan for 2021.

In addition this year we are running a Transition Program for our incoming 2021 students as a way of inducting them into the College and to assist them and their parents/guardians on how the College operates. This year we were unable to operate Tryouts due to COVID restrictions and I think in future there is greater value in investing our resources in a Transition Program rather than a Tryout Program.

Visit from Cunderdin Ag College

This week we hosted a visit from WA College of Agriculture - Cunderdin Year 11 students who were on a study tour in the South West. Whilst all Colleges fundamentally do the same thing, there are different focusses at each College.

The Cunderdin staff and students were able to see dairy, irrigation and horticulture systems and hills! You would recall that our Year 11’s visited Cunderdin last term and learnt about broad acre cereal cropping systems. I see great value in these reciprocal arrangements and thank our students and staff who represented us so well.

We say Farewell to Barbara Murtha

This week we said farewell to Barbara Murtha as she retires from the Education Department after 30 years of service. Barbara came to the College mid 1998 from Derby and has been with us since then.

Barbara is one of our fantastic front office ladies who is the first point of contact with the community, parents and students and is instrumental in keeping the College routines and systems at the high standard they are.

Barbara has been an important part of the College and over the past 22 years amassed a wealth of knowledge that will be missed. Barbara already leads a busy social life and is looking forward to playing more squash, travelling with husband Graeme in their new caravan and looking for opportunities to volunteer.

Barbara says she will miss the variety, challenge and social interaction at work and we will certainly miss her efficient, friendly and cheerful outlook.

On behalf of all the staff and College community, I sincerely thank Barbara for her dedication and commitment to the College and wish her the very best for her next adventure.

HARVEY AG WEEKLY WRAP-UP

"Excellence and Innovation in Agricultural Education"

Issue 10 · 16 Oct 2020

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