Principal 

Stephen Watt

Stephen.Watt@education.wa.edu.au

Dear Families and College Community

Our Year 12 ATAR students are part way through their final WACE exams having sat English and Plant Production Systems this week. I’d like to commend their dedication and drive to extend themselves and their perseverance through this interesting year. I would also like to thank those staff who have supported our ATAR group.

This week we interviewed a number of prospective English teachers for an opening we have next year. The selection panel was really impressed with the caliber of the applicants and will be in a position to announce the successful applicant in a couple of weeks. 

Strategic planning

Given our drying climate and this year’s reduced irrigation allocation, the ongoing need for us to ensure that we optimise learning outcomes for students, the Farm staff and Agricultural Advisory are working on a number of strategies. These include;

• Dairy - investigating summer forage crops and silage production.
• Beef - consideration of reduced breeder numbers and increased cattle trading and grow out.
• Horticulture - consolidating vines, new plantings of Imperials or similar, semi-commercial scale vegetable growing and under cover vegetable growing.

At a broader College level I want to initiate a discussion around a number of questions and would very much welcome any views from our College community. Please feel free to contact me if you wish to share your perspective.

• What is Harvey’s next phase of development?
• What is Harvey’s point of difference with other WACoA Colleges?
• How do we add value to students who have completed aspects of the program?
• How do we extend and provide additional opportunities for academic students – is the current ATAR pathway the best methodology?

Public School Review

Our Public School Review visit is scheduled for 26th November and there is a session where the reviewers will speak to members of the Agricultural Advisory Committee and the College Board. I am happy if other parents wish to be involved in providing their view to the review process. If you are interested and able to attend the College at 9.35am to 10.10am on 26th November, please contact me so I can schedule you in.

Have a great weekend.

Steve