McLennan Street QUAIRADING WA 6383

PH: 96451208 FAX: 96451131 Email: quairading.dhs@education.wa.edu.au

www.quairadingdhs.wa.edu.au

At Quairading District High School we strive to create a learning environment that supports our students to be

well prepared for further education and life long learning.

Quairading District High School

12th May 2020 Issue 7, Term 2

NEWSLETTER 100 years strong: 1913 - 2013

Term Dates 2020

Term 2 - 28/4/20 to 3/7/20 Term 3 - 20/7/20 to 25/9/20

Term 4 - 12/10/20 to 17/12/20

Dear parents, carers and the Quairading community, Last term, before Covid-19 turned our world upside down, I conducted a process to select an Acting Deputy Principal through to the end of the year. The successful candidate was Mrs Magdalen Johnston, who shared the acting position with Miss Wilson in term one. We very much appreciate Miss Wilson’s support in term one and we welcome Miss Wilson back into the classroom in term two. Congratulations to Mrs Johnston and we look forward to a productive and effective year. Whilst Mrs Johnston has moved into the Administration, we have been lucky to retain the services of Miss Brydie Wellham who is now in the 4-5-6 class full time. As we return to ‘normal’ schooling Miss Wellham is keen to continue the strong curriculum and processes in the class. The Premier announced at the weekend that we will be less restricted as of the 18th May and possibly the Education Department might also move soon on returning to compulsory schooling for students who are not health compromised or in a high risk environment at home. Here at school we welcome our students back to school and look forward to a return to normal proceedings as soon as possible! Our attendance has been around 70% recently and we have welcomed a few more students back this week. While boarders were required to learn from home we have hosted three of our past students to support their learning. It was nice to see them and know that they (and their mums) appreciate our support. Throughout the restrictions many of our younger students have learned new skills – one of which is to be dropped at the gate and to find their own way to class. This is great to see and contributes to independence and life skills. Congratulations to those students and thankyou to our parents who have supported the new pickup and drop off strategies. It is wonderful to see the extent to which our cleaning crew are keeping our school safe through continued runs through the school, throughout the day, with disinfectant and cloth in hand. They disinfect all high traffic and high touch surfaces such as door handles, door jambs, railings, desks, playgrounds, etc. Students are disinfecting Ipads after they use them, and are restricting borrowing and sharing of equipment. Students and staff are offering constant reminders of maintaining personal hygiene and there is hand sanitiser in each classroom that is used consistently. We acknowledge that we have a large number of people moving through our school each day and each and every one of us is making a strong effort to keep the school a safe place to learn and work. Although we are keen to welcome children back to school after the uncertain times recently, we are still asking that children stay home if they are sick. If your child has any sort of cold, flu or respiratory illness, please stay home. Let us know they are sick so we can put the appropriate code on their attendance record.

The Education Department has published a video that we would like to share with our community. It is titled Building On Strength in Uncertain Times: In this together, and it provides information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and the wider community about these challenging times from both a system-level and more personally based. You can view the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLw0hGntWmk&feature=youtu.be These messages highlight the 2020 National Reconciliation Week theme In This Together which resonates at this time, as it reminds us whether in a crisis or in reconciliation, we are all “in this together”. At our Monday Morning Meeting last week we were excited to present our year seven students with their school rugby jumpers. Each year our P&C and school work together to donate school rugby jumpers to our year sevens beginning their secondary education at our school. The jumpers have the name of the owner embroidered on the front so they don’t go missing and they can’t be ‘adopted’ by others! Just another beneficial commitment made by our fabulous P&C. The students know that wearing their jumper is a very visible way to show respect and appreciation to the P&C and respect for their school and each other. They are usually presented at one of our public assemblies so this year we made a fuss at our Monday Morning Meeting. Thanks P&C! As term began we had some further changes made to our establishment. We bid farewell to Miss Kellie Hansen who has resigned from her position of Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer. We thank Miss Hansen who has been a steady employee supporting all of our students and staff for several years. We also welcome Mrs Deanna Hathaway and Mrs Kendra Baker to our classrooms in the role of Education Assistant. In addition, we have resumed recess club on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and Mrs Hathaway and Mrs Baker are supporting our children with that process. On Wednesday our Student Council are rewarding our hard working students by hosting a Pyjama Day with a lovely warm milo at recess. Children are invited to come to school in their pyjamas, dressing gown and ugg boots on Wednesday, and student councillors will make them a milo at recess. There is no donation connected to the PJ Day – the celebration is donated by our Student Council. We offer our sincere condolences to the Henry family on their second recent bereavement.

Pauline Wray

Rainbows have become a symbol the world over for hope and connection during the COVID-19

pandemic. We recently sent home to each family, a set of chalk to use as an extra tool when writing

spelling words and solving maths problems. Most importantly the first task was for students to create their own rainbow art to share with their families

and the school community. We think they look amazing!

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