How do I access return both $conn and $status from a function?

Question

<?php

class EstablishConnection
{
var $conn;
var $status= 'nothing so far';

function EstablishConnection(){
$servername = "dd";
$username = "dd";
$password = "dd";
$dbname = "dd";

// Create connection
$conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);
// Check connection
if ($conn->connect_error) {
$status = "Connection was failed";
}
else{
//$status value not being assigned outside function?
$status = "Connection was established";
}
return $conn;
}
}

Answer 1

I have currently achieved it using a array return. Any other optimum solution?