A Busy and Rewarding Term

It has been another busy and productive term at Sir David Brand School, with students and staff participating in a wide range of learning opportunities, celebrations, and community events. It has been wonderful to see our students engaging, achieving personal goals, and demonstrating our school values each day. 

Parent Interview Day

A particular highlight this term was our first-ever Parent Interview Day. We were delighted with the strong level of participation and the positive feedback received from families. The day provided a valuable opportunity for parents and carers to connect with staff, discuss student progress, and strengthen the home-school partnership that is so important to student success. 

Father’s Day Breakfast

On Friday the 4th of September we were also thrilled to host our Father's Day Breakfast, which was a fantastic success and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the important role fathers and father figures play in the lives of our students. A special thank you goes to Becky our School Chaplain, P&C, and master butcher and head chef Vince Garreffa, for cooking a delicious breakfast enjoyed by all. We would also like to acknowledge Father Stephen Conway (Sous chef/Maître D) from St Patrick's Anglican Church, husband of our very own Becky, for pitching in and being involved in everything and just generally helping make the morning such a warm and welcoming community event. 

Come and Try Sports Day

We also had a Come and Try Sports Day on Monday the 31st of August which was another highlight, with students enjoying a variety of engaging activities, challenges, and opportunities to experience new sports. With the wonderful support of WADSA (WA Disabled Sports Association), Kate and Simone arranged for a “trail’ of activities and games around the school, with students having an opportunity to engage in all of them. Stations included activities for practicing precision and distance throwing, catching and using balance to navigate obstacle courses, as well as games of basketball, volleyball, bowling to name a few! Ably supported by classroom staff the enthusiasm, teamwork, and sportsmanship on display from the students was outstanding. Classes showed their dedicated team spirit by dressing in faction colours and cheering each other on at the opening ceremony and throughout the day. We are looking forward to a bigger and better event next year.

NAIDOC Week

On Wednesday the 5th of August we held a whole-school celebration in honour of NAIDOC Week. We welcomed the Trinity College First Nations Group to perform for our school community. Each Form created their own unique Indigenous artworks to display and welcome our very special visitors. It was wonderful to see our students so immersed in this exceptional performance. We would like to thank Mr Callum Walley and the fabulous Trinity College students from the First Nations Group for taking the time to celebrate NAIDOC week with our school community.

New School Programs

This term has been the first after the recent changes to programs and structures in the secondary area. It has been amazing to see how well these changes have been accepted and it is inspiring to see that they are already delivering positive, outcomes. We are seeing increased opportunities for students to develop independence, engage in learning experiences, and participate in activities that support their individual pathways beyond school. With a focus on “micro enterprise” and meaningful work our students are now carrying out designated work activities and jobs around the school and making choices about the sorts of things that might like to try when they leave. 

School Mural Update

The wall which we had originally planned to have our mural painted on has turned out to not be a suitable surface for this type of project. There is excess moisture in the limestone that will affect the longevity of the art. We are now planning to have the mural painted in our Under Cover Area and are very excited to watch this concept come to life.

Education Assistant Appreciation Week

August 31st marked the commencement of Education Assistant Appreciation Week to acknowledge the hard work undertaken by all our EAs. The week is designed to say thanks for their dedication, support and commitment to the students, values, and vision of Sir David Brand School. We are incredibly fortunate to work alongside such a talented, skilled, and caring team of Education Assistants and took the opportunity to celebrate the important work done by them. It is their care, professionalism, and unwavering support play that plays such a vital role in helping our students develop the skills, confidence, and independence they need for creating rich full lives. 

A Big Thank You

Lastly, thank you to all our staff, students, and families for their ongoing support throughout the term. We hope you have a great school holiday and remember that together, we continue to create a strong and connected school community, and we look forward to an exciting and successful remainder of the year.