It is great to see families moving around the College today for our Teacher Advisor interviews. As I indicated in the newsletter last week, Teacher Advisor interviews are a critical interface between the home and this school in supporting each young person’s best outcomes. Thank you to all those families who have prioritised the opportunity, and if for some reason you have not been able to, please reach out to your TA to arrange a time. Interviews will continue through this evening and will be available tomorrow remotely via Microsoft Teams.
Last week was a hive of activity around the College, as I indicated through the newsletter. I want to thank again all the staff who made these diverse opportunities available, particularly those who took organisational roles.
It was great to join the Year 10 students yesterday morning during TA time as our professional Careers Team; Georgia Shillito, Joanne Lawrence and Michelle Tapera talked to the Year 10 students about their upcoming Careers interview. All students in Years 10 – 12 are supported with a Careers interview to support subject selection and planning for student pathways beyond Damascus. The team have done great work in increasing the support for students and always welcome student enquiries.
We welcome new Learning Support Officer (LSO) Damien Harris to the Damascus staff this week. Damien has extensive experience in the LSO field and will be a great addition to the Damascus community.
Next Monday, a small number of students will accompany Mrs Prunty and I into St Patrick’s Cathedral as our diocesan community comes together to celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in Australia.
This week we are attentive to God’s presence in our lives and work. God supports us too, this week between the feast of the Ascension and Pentecost. The National Council of Churches in Australia invites us to a week of prayer for Christian unity. This year the council build on the recent scriptures capturing the work of the vinedresser in a theme “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit.”
We are all invited to abide in God’s love this week in a spirit of unity
I want to take the opportunity to promote our Bright Futures breakfast on June 3rd. This year Jocelyn Bignold (OAM) is our guest speaker. Jocelyn is the CEO of McAuley Community Services for Women, which supports women and children experiencing family violence and homelessness. Jocelyn has over 25 years’ service to the community and was recognised for her commitment to making people’s lives better with a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2020.
In holding this fundraising breakfast, the College seeks to extend the Bright Futures scholarship opportunity to offer it to more than one Year 7 student per year. Proceeds raised at the event will support this worthy scholarship fund to extend its reach to multiple students each year. I encourage families or students to get a table together for a delicious and enjoyable breakfast experience that the proceeds of will genuinely help others.
More information about Jocelyn, the Bright futures Scholarship and how to book tickets can be found here.
This week, we keep in our prayers the family of alumni Joel Coatsworth (Alumni 2001), may his soul and the souls of all the faithfully departed rest in peace.
I am attending a Principal’s conference in Healesville from Tuesday next week, so my newsletter will be sent from there.
Until next week ….
MATT