This Friday marks the final day of classes for the graduating class of 2020. It has been a remarkable year for this student cohort, and we commend their resilience in a year that has seen them experience education in their final year in a unique and unusual way. They will undoubtedly have a story to tell their grand-children over the decades to come. Our assembly will be available to Year 12 families via web-link shared by email from 2:20 pm this Friday afternoon and can be watched later in the day if parents or families cannot log in at that time. We pray for our Year 12 VCAL and VCE students as they transition to this next stage of life’s journey!

We are excited this week that the Government has announced that we can gather students together for a graduation ceremony and we are planning for this to take place on 3rd December. More details will be provided to families shortly.

We have been releasing Year 7-9 students early this term to enable reduced congestion at lockers. On Friday, Year 11 and 12 students will be out of classrooms in lesson 6 as part of the final Year 12 assembly. Year 7-9 students will not be released until 3:17pm, so if you would typically collect your junior student at the end of the day, they may be slightly delayed on Friday.

TA interview bookings are now open. I cannot stress highly enough that families take this opportunity to engage with your TA about your young person’s return to onsite schooling. The educational partnership between the College and home is critical, so please book a time on Monday, Wednesday or Thursday of next week to discuss your young person/people’s progress. If you have any concerns with booking, please contact Aleciea Gason through the College office.

Next Monday, 2^nd November is a non-teaching day for TA interviews, so there is no onsite attendance for students. TA interviews will be conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams. Information regarding the interviews has been sent to families.

Tuesday 3^rd November is the Melbourne Cup public holiday, replacing the former Ballarat Show Day holiday. The College will be closed on Tuesday.

I remind families with a student in Year 9 that device handovers commenced this week, so please remind your student to have all the items required for the device handover to take place.

Can I please ask families support with uniform. Black socks are not part of the PE uniform. Please support the school by asking your student to change their socks if they come out in black socks in the morning.

This Friday is World Teachers Day. We are very fortunate at Damascus to have a hard-working and committed staff team who professionally approach their work each and every day. This has been very evident in 2020! On Friday we will celebrate all those involved in the educational endeavour in our school and thank God for their contribution. We pray for all those who educate our young people.

Giver of all wisdom and greatest of all educators,

Look upon our teachers and educators with love

Grant them the resolve to nurture our students’ eager minds and to never give up on those who fall behind.

Bless their hearts for they rejoice when young people succeed and encourage them when they fail.

Kindle a spirit and passion in them that ignites the love of learning

Help them see the potential in each student

Instil in our educators a commitment to keep on learning so as to model not to fear new knowledge and experiences

Inspire them to touch the future

Let the light of your loving example shine upon all who work with young people at Damascus

To build up with their words

To love with their mind

To share with their heart.

It is to the first and greatest educator that we make this prayer

Amen

If families are taking time away together this weekend, enjoy and travel safely.

We pray for Jett (Year 10) and Abby (Year 9) Thomas and their family as they grieve the loss of a loved parent and grandparent. May the peace of God’s love be with them at this time.

Until next week …

MATT