This week it was fantastic to be able to conduct mock interviews with our Year 12 VCAL students remotely. I was so impressed by the way our senior students were optimising their time in remote learning to refine their interview skills, their resumes and general communication capabilities. I was proud of the achievements of these young women and men who demonstrated that they are ready to take the leap into life beyond secondary school. The engagement of our senior VCAL students reflects the engagement of our entire student community. Students across all year levels are trying their hardest to maintain engagement with their learning. Our amazing teaching and support staff are more equipped this time to understand the achievable volume of work for students and use the technology to better support students. I thank families for your support of students as we continue this journey of remote learning, knowing that it is keeping people safer.

Today we are running our first timetable of condensed classes to allow students some reprieve from screen time. The weather is not particularly conducive to outdoor activity, but we want to encourage students to use the time to free up their availability to extend their physical activity. The College has provided students with a range of opportunities for this time or for them to do their own thing. Our next day of condensed classed will be next Thursday, 27^thAugust.

Yesterday we conducted a briefing for Year 12 regarding what we know at this stage for Year 12 conclusion. We are committed to celebrating the class of 2020, and while we do not know what the format will be it will include a spiritual element, a retrospective element of looking back on their journey and some sources of inspiration to project them forward. We have commenced a series of planning working parties with senior students to begin this process. Careers Coordinator, Georgia Shillito, also facilitated a briefing for Year 12 students seeking to apply for university on Monday. Georgia addressed the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) introduction of the Consideration of Educational Disadvantage process to calculate VCE scores, taking into account disruptions to learning this year.

To ensure the fairness of final results, the VCAA will consider all available information, including the General Achievement Test (GAT) and appropriate comparisons of performance across all assessments and schools. Based on this analysis, disadvantage will be factored into students’ final scores, which will then contribute to the study score calculation. This approach will ensure that Victorian students are not disadvantaged in comparison to interstate students in the calculation of their individual ATAR.

Scholarships for 2021 opened on Monday here at the College. Damascus only offers scholarships to those who are already enrolled at the College. More information about our scholarships and the application process can be found here.

This week is also Science week, and I thank Learning Area Leader Ivanka Saric and the Science team for their work developing the theme; ‘Deep Blue: innovations for the future of our oceans.’ Within the daily messages for students and through TA, there have been opportunities for engagement with information about Science Week.

The Damascus community congratulates maintenance team member, Andrew Curran and his partner, Jenna, on the safe arrival of Peter Curran born late Saturday afternoon. We congratulate Andrew and Jenna on this exciting news.

I also acknowledge and congratulate Mathematics Learning Area Leader, Caroline Nolan on becoming an Australian citizen on Wednesday of last week.

We welcome back Maria Russell from extended leave this week, it is great to have Maria back on deck, and I acknowledge and thank those who were able to facilitate her leave.

We also welcome Emilie Gray this week as she commences teaching rounds remotely.

In the Catholic tradition Monday was the feast of the Assumption of Mary, often referred to as the Feast of the Assumption of Mary or just, The Assumption. So what is the Feast of the Assumption? For Catholics, Mary holds a special place. She was Jesus’ Mother, and she was called specifically by God for this role. The Feast of the Assumption marks the end of her earthly journey, with the belief that she was assumed body and soul into heaven. For us, the Assumption marks an opportunity to celebrate the part that women play in our life. In Church life, there are many challenges in appropriately acknowledging the contribution that women make to our tradition. The celebration of Mary provides an opportunity for us to continue to reflect on the love that existed between Christ and His mother and the hope of eternal reward that was afforded Mary, exists for each of us. The Assumption allows us a chance to celebrate the love of family life, for those of us who have been richly blessed and for those who yearn for richer family relationships we pray especially for during this week.

We also pray for all those who struggle from the burdens associated with this global pandemic!

Winter is throwing us an icy blast over the next few days; I hope you all keep warm!

Until next week …

MATT