Today our school community gathers for the first time for a year as a whole school for the Swimming Carnival. When talking with a TA group yesterday, it only occurred to me how a full twelve months had passed since we were all together at a school event, and while the weather is cool today, it is clear and fine. It is great for us to be able to be together, enjoying physical activity and one another’s company. We have taken community events for granted in the past, but we genuinely appreciate the chance to all be together today. I congratulate Sports Coordinator Nikki Hexter on bringing together a program that provides opportunities for all of our community regardless of their capability as a swimmer.

Next Tuesday, 9^th March, following the Labour Day long weekend, is a student-free day when staff will be working on aspects of professional growth and curriculum development. I don’t need to remind our young people that they have a four-day long weekend, but I thought I had better bring it back to parents’ attention!!

Last Thursday evening, we conducted our Academic Assembly to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of the senior students of 2020 within the VCE and VCAL programs. Students who achieved a study score of 40 or more within VCE studies and those who achieved ATARs of greater than 90 were recognised, alongside VCAL and Vocational Education students’ high achievement. Grace Young-Harvey was celebrated as the College Dux with her ATAR of 99.4. On behalf of the entire Damascus community, we congratulate all students who were recognised last Thursday evening. The abridged version of the evening will be shared with students in TA time in the near future. I thank and acknowledge Sarah Boswell, Korina Hegert, Ashwin Pillai, the Awards Committee and our IT team for the work that went into Thursday evening’s Academic Assembly.

On Friday, the Chief Health Officer removed the requirement for the compulsory wearing of facemasks at school. They are still required on buses and public transport and must be carried by students at all times. Face masks are still encouraged when social distancing cannot be maintained. Damascus College encourages and supports those who feel safer to wear face masks at all times; please reiterate that if your child would like to continue to wear their mask, then they should do so.

Our senior male rowers concluded their season this weekend at the State Championships in Nagambie. It was also the final regatta for our junior and intermediate male rowers on Lake Wendouree. Our two senior girls’ crews also competed in Nagambie at the State Championships, making their finals too! All crews competed strongly with several excellent crew times over the weekend. I thank rowing coaches Paul Blanchfield and Hamish Walsh for their generous support of Damascus boys rowing right across the season. Our senior girls conclude their season at the Head of School Girls (HoSG) regatta, on the Barwon River, in Geelong from 12-14^th of March. I have received communication this week form regatta organisers that there will not be spectators at the HoSG regatta.

Damascus students; Caspian Linayao, William McKechnie and Riley McCarthy teamed with former student James Mavity and St Patrick’s student William Gilbert to be state champions at Nagambie in the Under 21 Coxed Quad Scull and the B Grade Coxed Four. The boys were also second in the A Grade Coxed Quad Scull and 3^rd in the Open Coxless Quad Scull. We congratulate the boys and wish them well for the upcoming rowing nationals. Damascus Rower, Angus Shillito, will represent Damascus and the Wendouree Ballarat Rowing club at the Rowing Nationals, and we wish Angus well too!

Damascus has seen four students, Megan O’Beirne, Jarrod Joyce, Isabella Pearce and Brayden Joyce, progress to their respective semi-finals for the Rob Benoit trophy in BAS tennis, and we look forward to following their progress over the next few weeks.

In our prayers this week, we remember the family of Logan Cooper (Year 8) as they grieve the passing of Logan’s grandfather. May he rest in peace.

And in the circle of life, we wish Tamzin Perkins well as she concludes her teaching at Damascus at the end of this week in preparation for the birth of her first child. God bless, Tamzin!! We keep staff member Kirsten Phyland in our prayers as she recuperates from surgery.

This week, as we move between seasons, Assistant Principal Ashwin Pillai introduced me to this autumn reflection by Michael Leunig. Leunig’s insights into the world are beautiful, and I borrow this one from his website as a beautiful snapshot of this season of change. Autumn Prayer - Leunig

Until next week …

MATT