Yesterday we celebrated St Martin House and St Martin De Porres. It was a great showcase of student gifts with great performance pieces from all levels of the College. One of the great components of the assembly was the contribution of the following students; Euan MacDonald Adelle Kierce, Isabelle Stevens, Archie Jones who showcased their skills in song, Nikita Goossens, who played violin and James Martin who played saxophone. We also enjoyed listening to Jacob Hanrahan on Drums, Kylan Jans on Piano, Henry Sexton on Guitar and Vocals showcasing their specific skills in their band.

These young people highlighted that we can have strong relationships and friendships through music and finding joy in being creative. I also want to congratulate our St Martin House Leaders, Mackenzie Aspland, Brady Lucas, Mikayla Montgomery, Campbell Palmer and all the St Martin House members on a great event and thank Dan Jans and Karen Goonan for their work with our students.

St Martin’s de Porres was a contemporary religious figure, a person repressed by our Church and society because of his racial difference. Accounts reflect St Martin kept “the other” at the heart of his actions and is a genuine model for Christian living today.

This week l have been meeting with the students in Years 7–10 in formal Year Level Assemblies. I was so impressed to see so many of our students wearing their uniform with pride. Our uniform is what binds us as a community and models to the broader Ballarat community that we belong, and we are proud to be Damascus! I thank the many families who continue to support the College in maintaining our uniform code. I revisited the College’s Social and Emotional Learning Framework and explained that to be successful we need to be resilient, organised, preserve and work respectfully with our peers and teachers. Belonging to a community has both rights and responsibilities.

Yesterday we welcomed back our students from their music camp at Rutherford Park. We thank the staff who organised the event and provided a deep learning experience for our students providing them with an opportunity to enjoy their passion and love. Our most successful students engage in the fullness of College life. Busy kids are happy and organised kids.

We congratulate Eden Willow, Kaitlyn Handreck, Audrey Merlin and Shae Goon who participated in the Frayne Festival hosted by Emmanuel College, Warrnambool and attended by students from eight Victorian Mercy schools, from Mildura to Melbourne. The Frayne Festival is a gathering of students from schools founded in the traditions of Mercy Education. It provides an opportunity for spirited competition in debating, public speaking and voice choir. The festival fosters excellence in speaking and unity across the schools. The festival is named in recognition of Mother Ursula Frayne who opened the first Mercy school in Australia on 2 February 1846.

Next Wednesday our senior students will be participating in the GAT (General Achievement Test). Information has been forwarded to our families via email by Matthew Hallowell (VCE Coordinator).

Can I remind families of the Fathers’ Day Mass and Breakfast that will take place here at school on Thursday 1^st September from 7:30am. We wish all our Father’s and Male mentors a happy Father’s Day.

We keep Isla Hawker (Year 8) and her family in our prayers on the passing of her beloved grandfather last week. May he rest in peace.

With every blessing

Steven