Welcome to Term 3, everyone! It was great to welcome our Year 11 cohort back onsite today and for us to be able to finally complete the General Achievement Test, The GAT, with students undertaking VCE Unit 3/4 studies yesterday. 2021 is progressing rapidly, and our Year 12 students are down to their last two weeks of classes. I thank and acknowledge VCE Coordinator Matthew Hallowell and Administrative Assistant, Taneka Gardiner and the many people who supported them in bringing the GAT to fruition. Matt commences Long Service Leave from today, and he will be replaced in leadership by Alysoun Smalley and Sarah McKnight in Term 4.

Year 12 students will be supported with trial exam opportunities after school over the next fortnight. Teachers will share these opportunities with students in class, but we encourage students to take up the opportunity to undertake papers in a formal setting ahead of their end of year examinations.

Our final year VCAL students will participate in the Damascus version of the “Big Freeze” event here on site tomorrow. Student competencies are being assessed in conducting this COVID safe event. The proceeds of this event are going to research for Motor Neurone Disease, and students have set a target of $3,000 to assist research into this devastating condition. If community members would like to support the event, donations can be made here.

In my recent communications, I have outlined the plan for the return to onsite learning. Next Monday will see our Year 7’s return, and then the staggered return of Year 8,9 &10 will take place from Tuesday for the next two weeks with all students back onsite from Tuesday 26^th October.

Yesterday we had guest speaker Luke Kennedy present to staff and families. Luke addressed issues regarding resilience and wellbeing, and I thank those families who were able to join Luke’s presentation.

As students return, can I reiterate the requirement to be in uniform. For the first two weeks of Term 4, students may wear summer or winter uniform, but not a combination of both. All students are expected in full summer uniform from Monday, 18^th October.

Next week, the canteen will recommence, but we encourage students to pre-order their lunches at https://www.quickcliq.com.au/ to diminish congestion in the canteen area.

As part of our overall safety strategy, students will be taking their breaks outside as much as is possible. In situations of inclement weather, we will run our distributed wet weather arrangements with indoor spaces available. Damascus College 5’s remain as important as we return onsite, as they have been at any point through our response to the pandemic. I ask that parents please ensure your students have an adequate supply of masks as they return onsite.

The City of Ballarat Immunisation team will provide students with their recommended school immunisation this week (please note this is the regular scheduled school immunisations that take place each year.)

Damascus College will be offering the School Immunisation program tomorrow morning, Thursday, 7th October, for both Year 7 and 10 students. This immunisation opportunity will proceed, even though it is during our remote learning period. If students cannot make it on this day, alternate times can be arranged with the Ballarat Immunisation Team. The immunisations will take place in the Damascus Event Centre (DEC) during the following times

There has been significant sadness for Damascus families over recent weeks. We keep staff members Ann and Brendan Bawden in our thoughts and prayers on the recent passing of Ann’s loved Mum.

The Busuttil family, Mark, Deanne (staff), Sophie (Year 10), Emily (Year 8) and Charlotte grieve the passing of Mark’s loved father.

We keep the Gordijn family, Casey (Year 12) and Mason (Year 9), in our prayers on the passing of their loved grandmother over the weekend.

In light of the struggle, so many are experiencing from loss, we are called to recognise with appreciation and gratitude the love in our lives.

St Paul’s letter to the people of Corinth reminds us that;

Love is always patient and kind;

Love is never jealous;

Love is not boastful or conceited,

It is never rude and never seeks its own advantage,

It does not take offence or store up grievances.

Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing but finds its joy in the truth.

It is always ready to make allowances, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes.

(1 Corinthians 13:4–7)

We are all called to embody this culture of love, which is so often sought but rarely found in the rush of the working week or the false promise of consumerism. As members of the human family, each is called to be a prophetic witness to the love so eloquently expressed by Saint Paul. We make this our prayer for this week.

Until next week …

MATT