On Monday morning, as I moved around the school, there was a genuine sense of excitement and anticipation in the air. Year 9 students were boarding buses to head off to Anglesea for their camp experience, Year 10 students were milling in the Undercroft prior to heading out for their Retreat Day and Year 12 students were in to see their English teachers for final reassurance prior to their exam yesterday. It was comforting to have the activity of school happening as it should when so much has been restricted or diminished in 2020. These events have all progressed with the week, and the feedback has been positive. Year 12’s came out of their first and longest exam recognising that they had done their best in the most unusual of circumstances. Our pride in their ongoing achievement is enormous. Year 9’s change over on camp today, and we wish core groups 5 -8 well for the rest of the week.
Year 11 VCE exams commence today, and Year 11 students will bring the same sense of fortitude to these final assessments and a perspective of the place of exams in the scheme of life and learning. Regardless of the results any young person achieves in 2020, the learning from this year has been enormous, and it is important that we keep reiterating to our young people our pride in their response to the disruption and uncertainty of 2020.
Our rowers represented the College proudly at the Regatta on Lake Wendouree last Saturday, and I congratulate all those students for whom it was their first competitive row. It was great to see so many young people active and collaborating. I thank all those adults who volunteer their time to allow rowing to happen!
Today is Remembrance Day. Remembrance Day remains an opportunity for us to remember those who have laid down their lives for us. It is an important time for remembrance and reflection. There is also a sense of significance that Remembrance Day falls in the month of November, which for those of the Catholic tradition is the month where we remember those who have gone before us. The recent feasts of All Saints and All Souls are closely linked to this week’s secular celebration of our fallen heroes.
Gerard Macklin, Leader of the Humanities Learning Area, facilitated a reflection for the College community this morning and I thank and acknowledge Gerard for creating this opportunity.
Remembrance Day also falls this year within NAIDOC week, and it is important that we remember the First Nations people who have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. The theme of this year’s NAIDOC week is “Always Was, Always Will Be” which acknowledges and celebrates the fact that the very first footprints on this continent were those belonging to First Nations peoples. We pray with joy and gratitude for the richness of the oldest continuing culture on the planet this week.
And while Remembrance Day has important significance to the entire community, it also marks the anniversary of the death of Catherine McAuley who founded the Sisters of Mercy. Today we also remember her legacy as an educator, mobiliser of the poor and health care provider. Her international global legacy of education, health and care for the underprivileged is a wonderful expression of the living Christ amongst us. That living Christ is present in the joys and sorrows of the young men and women who we have the privilege of working with each day and I am confident that Catherine would feel proud that her Christian endeavours continue here at Damascus College.
Until next week …
MATT