It has been a pleasure greeting students in the warmer spring conditions which have presented themselves this week. The mornings are often my favourite part of the day where you get the opportunity to have informal chats about what is happening in the lives of our students. The mornings also provide an opportunity to observe the pride in how students present themselves wearing their school uniform.

Recently I have been questioned by several students when I approached them for wearing the incorrect socks to school. The students politely questioned how a pair of ‘black globe socks’ was going to impact on their ability to learn in the classroom. A reasonable question which is often used by students when they are present in incorrect uniform.

Damascus College is a proud community which continues to evolve as an inclusive, progressive and innovative learning environment. The uniform is an internal and external representation of the community in which our student’s belong.

House Leaders have found that when students are wearing their school uniform correctly there are less behavioural issues and greater connectedness. When lines start to be blurred such as wearing incorrect socks, the incorrect hair ribbon and incorrect skirt lengths, students sense a drop in standards and in turn expectations of them. This can then infiltrate into the classroom where students standards are not reflective of their potential learning ability. As parents and carers we are all aware when we take short cuts in one area we generally see repercussions in another. Wearing the uniform with pride represents our place in the broader community. The uniform is the public façade of how the community see our college. Wearing the uniform with pride confirms Damascus is a learning environment that students are proud to be part of and where personal pride and presentation is valued.

I would ask that as parents /carers you too share the same values that we ask of our students. Accepting close enough is good enough when you see your child leave for school can commence a cycle which is difficult to break, and potentially go well beyond secondary school.

The two boys who I spoke with earlier this week were gracious enough to admit that they had been apathetic in preparing themselves for school and could sense their motivation was waning. It was pleasing to see that the following day they presented themselves immaculately ready to prepare for the final weeks of classes

I would like to take this opportunity to wish our VCE students all the best for their upcoming exams. This can be a potentially stressful time for students and parents. Please be assured that support services at Damascus are still available for students throughout the exam and post exam period.