Important Dates for Term 3 2024

Well, what a tough start to the year with Denmark experiencing a record-breaking dry spell. With minimal summer rain the soil profile was bone dry and become powdery and non-wetting. During our seeding programme, these conditions caused quite a staggered germination and disappointing establishment on some soil types. The farm was extremely pleased to put the new Vaderstad seeder to use and predominately had excellent results with it.

Claim the WA Student Assistance Payment - Closing this week!

Parents and carers of eligible students can claim the payment to help with the cost of schooling.

The Push-up Challenge - Building Mental Health Awareness, Community and Resilience. The Push-Up Challenge is a dynamic and engaging initiative, implemented at the College this year for the first time, that many students have enthusiastically adopted. This challenge not only promotes physical fitness but also fosters a sense of community, resilience, and mental health awareness among students.

One more week to go! Exams and ESTs are marked and papers have been sent off, reports are almost finished and we are all getting ready for a well-deserved break.

Trades and Training Areas continue to play a large part of the student experience at the WA College of Agriculture – Denmark. Students in these areas experience practical skills development opportunities and actively develop their abilities so that they are ready for the workplace. The option to select studies in Equine, Conservation, Bees, Engineering or Autos allows all of our students to find an area where they can learn and succeed.

Reports for Semester One have now been sent out. I am sure parents/guardians will take the time to review the progress of their child. For Year 12’s, it is an important time as they only have around 10-12 weeks remaining to complete all the required tasks for qualifications and credit towards their WACE.

Welcome to the final newsletter of Term 2! What a term it has been. After the short nine week term in Term One, this term’s 11 weeks has definitely allowed us more time to fit everything in.

A group of 1965-1966 past students had a reunion at the Windsor Hotel in South Perth recently. Attendees were Bob Harridge, Rob Webb, Bill Shepherd, Geoff Lyster, Rob Woods, John Inferrera along with housemaster Gerry Brennan. They have told me that they are intending to hold their 60 year reunion in Denmark next Year and “all aboard” of their fellow students would be amazing.

School Chaplain Chris Urschitz and the College’s Residential Manager, John Overton, recently presented the first session of the Real Men program to our Year 12 boys. Chris describes the program as “getting together around food and drinks and in a lead circle conversation, sometimes with short inspirational clips, talks, stories and special guests. This is then followed by questions, answers, and time for reflection. The program builds young men up to understand the importance of respect, empathy, authenticity, and leadership”.

We kicked the start of Term 2 off with one of the College’s signature events, the College Ball. The Ball was held in the first week of the Term on Saturday 20th April and set the tone for what has been a busy start to the Term so far. Preparations for the College Ball also made for an enormous week for staff and students so a massive thank you to all who were involved is in order.

What a dry season it has been so far. Everyone across Western Australia is in the same situation with minimal summer rainfall and a late season break. Denmark has had around 50ml so far which is approximately 130ml lower than last year. This obviously puts immense pressure onto livestock feeding and feed reserves.

Claim the WA Student Assistance Payment : Parents and carers of eligible students can claim the payment to help with the cost of schooling.

The payment for a: primary school student, including Kindergarten, is $150. Secondary school student is $250. Claims are open. The last date to receive claims is 28 June 2024.

Upcoming Exams: It is a nervous time of the year for many of our ATAR students with Semester 1 exams just around the corner. Year 12 ATAR exams start this Monday the 20th of May and Year 11s will be the following week starting Monday the 27th of May.

Trades and Training Learning Areas are as busy as ever with students undertaking a range of tasks and experiences. We are really starting to see results now as many students are achieving a variety of Units of Competency around the school. It’s very pleasing to see the Year 12 students operate successfully in the learning areas, putting together their knowledge and skills to achieve the Units in each VET Area.

It is very important that our Year 10 students understand the importance of their move into Year 11 in 2024. At WACOA – Denmark, we will be assisting Year 10 students with making informed choices about their options for Senior School and the importance of the qualifications we deliver on site.

I start this newsletter by celebrating our hard-working team of staff. As I mentioned in our last newsletter, our College was due to engage in a Public School Review. As you know, these occur in public schools every three or four years. The routine nature of reviews are meant to be reflective of the improvement cycles we have occurring in schools, so aren’t supposed to be huge impositions, rather a validation of work already happening in the school.

Important Dates for Term 1 2024

This is the first article for the year and there have been a few losses in our community. Firstly, Vale Kathleen Ipsen, wife of 1952-1953 past student Don Ipsen, passed away on 23rd December 2023 at the age of 81 years. A private cremation was held, followed by a get together of Manjimup folk at the Country Club on 12 January 2024. On behalf of all Old Boys/Old Collegians, we extend our sympathy and condolences to Don, son Tony, daughters Gail and Belinda and all family members on your sad loss. May she Rest in Peace.

The start to the school year has been exciting and full of opportunities for our new and existing students to integrate and settle into the College for 2024. We are really pleased with the approach the College has endorsed to commence the school year, which aimed to provide a meaningful transition and comprehensive induction for our newly enrolled students.