Principal’s Message – Term 2, Week 1

Dear Clare High School Community, 

Welcome to Term 2!

I hope you and your children enjoyed a restful break and are feeling refreshed and ready for the exciting term ahead.

I’m really looking forward to welcoming all of our CHS students back this week. I can’t wait to hear about the end of Term 1 and all the adventures and activities they got up to over the holidays.

This term promises to be as busy and exciting as ever, with highlights including the Year 8 Adelaide Camp, Youth Opportunities program, Operation Flinders, Rite Journey Camps, Tourism Camp, Ski Trip, and CHS Illuminate. These are just a few of the many activities our dedicated CHS staff have organised to provide students with incredible learning experiences beyond the classroom. I am constantly inspired by their commitment and the opportunities they create for our students to grow, challenge themselves, and explore the world beyond their everyday lives.

Later this term (Week 7), we will join with the Clare Valley Children’s Centre and Clare Primary School to begin professional learning around Restorative Practices, part of the Public Education Strategy. This work builds on the foundation we have already established with PBL (Positive Behaviour for Learning). Kerrie Sellen will be leading our training, and I’m excited about the possibilities for how we can further embed restorative approaches across CHS.

We are also proud to share that CHS has been selected to participate in the Autism Inclusion Pilot Program for 2025. The initial structural changes we’ve introduced this year have already led to a smooth and successful start for our transitioning Year 7 students. Building on this success, all staff will undertake a full day of training later this year (Term 4) focused on effectively differentiating learning for students with Autism. This important work will help inform further structural improvements for 2026 and beyond.

I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to Kylie Alozie, Katie Liebelt, and Rebekah Holland for their leadership while I was on leave. It was incredibly reassuring to know the school was in such capable hands.

Finally, a huge congratulations to Karen Slattery and Emmett Cashell on achieving Lead Teacher status! This is a significant professional milestone, involving a rigorous process including classroom observations, a detailed portfolio of evidence against the 37 descriptors at the Lead career stage of the AITSL Teacher Standards, and referee discussions. Achieving this status is no easy feat and only the best get through — we are so proud of you both!

Looking forward to a fantastic Term 2!

Warm regards, 

Natasha Dunn 
Principal, Clare High School