I welcome all those who are new to our community and congratulate you on your efforts over recent days to make a positive start at Damascus. Our opening College assembly held on Wednesday was a fantastic start to our 2023 school year, with a reminder of what it meads to Be our Best in all that we do. The assembly concluded with a engaging, inspiring and uplifting performance from our music students, Mrs Russell and Mrs Withers, and set such a positive tone for the year ahead.

Naturally, the return of the school year brings with it higher levels of routine for school families following the more casual summer months. It does take a week for students to get back into routine. I cannot understate the value of plenty of sleep, a healthy diet and exercise to fuel good learning and assist your student/s in establishing sound routines from the start of the year. If there have been any concerns over the initial days of your student’s schooling, please talk with your Teacher Advisor, and they will support you to try and navigate solutions.

To support Year 7 Students in their start at Damascus, Year 7 students will be dismissed from class at 3.10pm each day until Friday 10th of February, to allow them to get to their lockers and the buses before the rest of the students leave class.

The ongoing safety and wellbeing of all children and young people is the primary focus of care and decision making at Damascus College. Particular attention is paid to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of children with a disability. Protecting young people from abuse is critical for Damascus College. Our Child Safe and Safeguarding Children and Young People policies and procedures can be seen on the College website here. Families are encouraged to engage with our policies and procedures and ask questions or suggest improvements. In partnership with our families, Damascus College ensures children and young people are engaged and active participants in decision-making processes, particularly those that impact their safety. This means that the views of staff, children, young people and families are taken seriously, and their concerns are addressed in a just and timely manner. For further information, please contact the College’s Child Protection Officer’s, Hannah Keating, Andrew Robertson, or myself on 03 5337 2222 or visit Child Safety on the Damascus Website here for more information.

If you are a current family who has a child in Grade 6 this year and are seeking a Year 7 placement in 2024, please complete your enrolment form before this coming Friday, 3^rd of February, as the demand for places is high. More information about enrolments and School tours can be found here.

Can I please remind Families that if your student(s) has an appointment, needs picking up prior to the end of the day or has a holiday coming up, that you contact the Front Office with this information in advance. This can be done via phone, PAM, or the App. Student's are unable to leave class without prior notification to the office.

We are excited about 2023 and the educational journey, and we look forward to sharing that journey with you.

Chris