Our students at Damascus College continue to value, challenge and be their best. As a College community, we continue to offer all our learners experiences and opportunities to reach their individual potential and to grow in their human dignity. The learning program is enriched by our participation in the Ballarat Association Sports (BAS), camps, work experience, and CPDA, just to name a few. Engagement in the breadth of our learning program extends our students, teaches resilience, promotes confidence and harnesses organisational skills, all at the heart of our Social Emotional Learning.

This week our Year 9 students travelled to camp in the Strathbogie ranges; this experience challenges our students physically, mentally and emotionally. Camp experiences allow our students to be taken out of their comfort zone and to challenge themselves. Additionally, our Year 10 students are participating in Work Experience or the CDPA. The Christian Personal Development Award is designed to help students to see the need to be proactive about personal development. There are four categories students must consider: Action of Mercy and Justice/ Community Service, Spiritual Development, Physical Development and Other Cultural Activities. In Year 10, the students are introduced to the Award with a week of activities.

Thank you to the many students and families who have had the courage to be challenged, stretched and experience some levels of discomfort. We can only grow as people if we experience discomfort and uncertainty. If we are too comfortable or complacent, we do not experience the richness of life or the exhilaration when facing the unknown. It is important that young people are encouraged to take safe risks, to be pushed to go to the unknown and to be uncomfortable. The best learning occurs when we are uncomfortable, take risks, and think outside our usual routines. It is through the camps, work experience and CDPA that positive and negative memories are made. I would like to thank the staff who accompanied our students on the camp – they gave up precious professional and family time.

Our senior students have been involved in many examinations and completing assessment tasks. On Wednesday, 16^th November, our staff are involved in a professional practice day – finalising marking and preparing for the Early Start Program.

Our rowers had a strong hit out at the Rowing Victoria Schools regatta here in Ballarat on the weekend, with this being the first experience of a race for many students. There were some very strong results, and I congratulate all involved.

In today's newsletter is an invitation to meet me on 24th November. I have been at the College for nearly a semester and have been welcomed with honesty and humility. I look forward to meeting you as parents and carers. Please register here

Last week Victoria Police from the Victorian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) delivered a media conference in relation to an increasing trend of Sexual Exploitation of Children, especially young males. Leading Senior Constable Des Hudson, the Youth Resource Officer from Ballarat Police, has provided information from the media release and asked if, as a College, we could distribute the information to parents to create conversations at home that can make a difference in helping to keep young people safe.

Often the young person may feel too embarrassed to come forward, believe that they have been doing something illegal, and do not realise they are being manipulated or are aware that they are actually the victim of a crime. Please see the information from the media release below: -

Police Media Release

Tonight the College is participating in the Headspace Webinar Ballarat parent / carer information session: supporting the mental health of young people experiencing grief and loss previously advertised by the College. It is not too late to register. Please register here.

This week's prayer reminds us to be present, to be the gift to one another to celebrate our dignity.

Holy, life-giving Spirit,
infuse in us your ability to remain present to your people.
Help us to be there,
to be right there,
for the people who need us.
There for young people,
there for the elderly,
there for the brokenhearted;
fire our hearts with your life-changing presence.
Even though we know you to be everywhere
and in everything,
give us the ability to be fully in one place at a time,
open and ready to love.

With every blessing

Steven