We are so proud of our students performing in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I congratulate our cast and crew and our extra staff and students, for a truly wonderful exhibition of their skills and talents. The production unites our community in the pursuit of excellence, creating a musical production. The product was amazing and greatly appreciated by our audiences who all left sporting huge smiles. The show surpassed expectations, exercised our imaginations and launched us into the chocolate fantasy land of Willy Wonka.

Consistent with our Don College values, Charlie radiates kindness, humility, and respect. Charlie is a generous character, strongly connected to family and stays true to their own values. Charlie’s a great role model, always showing gratitude and appreciation of the non-material world. We can all learn from Charlie. Congratulations to all involved.

Our very successful Don College Chess Team is another part of our community that has achieved excellence. The culture the students have created is one of caring and sharing. The students are happy to learn from and with each other. Chess is competitive game but even when a student loses a game, I see the two players collaborating on the choices they made and coaching each other through options. This has resulted in tremendous growth and a very strong team.

Mid-Year Assessments have a been a focus of our Term 2 learning program. Mid-Year’s provide a "point in time" assessment and teachers will provide feedback that will direct next steps in student learning. This feedback is invaluable, and all students need a reminder that there will be future opportunity for re-assessment. Just like the chess players, use the Mid-Year outcomes as a point for reflection and use these tips to improve.

We wish our staff and students and broader community members a safe and happy time over the term break.

John Thompson