Welcome back to Semester 2, l hope you and your family have had an opportunity to enjoy some of the school holidays together. We welcomed our students back to the College on Monday and were pleased to hear the energy and excitement of our young people and staff who were genuinely pleased to see one another and to engage in another term of learning and faith. Social connections and relationships are at the heart of a Damascus education.

Learning is at the core of our community, we are all learners engaged in discovering more about our world, ourselves and the impact we can have on other people. Curiosity and inquisition are dispositions we need to be open to learning to challenge our thinking and to have the courage to preserve when we find learning difficult. On Monday morning, l undertook my learning walk and l focussed on the St Paul’s Technology and Arts Centre. Learning walks support me and the members of the College Leadership to observe learning, make mental notes and to assess the embedding of our instructional model.

Last term l was approached by a group of Year 11 Materials Technology Wood students wanting to know if l would like a piece of furniture made for the Mercy Administration Wing. As some may have noticed we are making changes to the Administration Wing, so it continues to be a place of welcome, conversation and student focus. I set the challenge for our students to create a meeting table that will be positioned in the open area in the Mercy Administration. So to my delight as l walked through the Wood Room l was in awe of our students problem solving, collaborating and working as a team. My brief was to create a stand table that can be placed in the Administration waiting area that can be used for impromptu meetings, casual conversations and even as a work station. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting our students in Term 1 & 2 to discuss their proposal, the construction of a brief and now l am watching as the students construct the piece. Learning takes time, application, trial and error and importantly perseverance. These young students modelled that learning takes time, we need to apply many skills, use prior knowledge collaborate and check for understanding. Each one of us is a learner, but each one of us needs to push ourselves and rely on grit to face unknown and difficult work. I look forward to seeing the final piece.

Our Unit four students and Senior VM students have entered the final chapter of their secondary education. Our young people need your support and guidance to help them balance the demands of study, work and recreation. I encourage our students to maintain their leisure and appropriate downtime to preserve their wellbeing. As parents and carers we need to help students balance the demands of part time work and study. As we move towards the examination period l urge parents and carers to support their student to reduce hours of part time employment, to be able to proactively revise and study for their trial exams which begin at the end of this term. Preparation, organisation and regular review will support our learners to be their best and to achieve the outcome that they deserve; that will position them to access TAFE and or university pathways. I urge all students to regularly touch base with our Careers Team, to explore their future pathways and to explain the many Early Entry pathways to many of our universities and TAFE providers.

To further support our senior learners the College will provide our VCE/VM students the opportunity to meet with their subject teachers in the upcoming TA Interviews. I urge our parents/carers of Senior students to make appointments in the upcoming interviews, so you are fully aware how you can support your child to achieve their best.

Next week we commence the 2024 Subject Selection process. The College will be holding a Pathways and Careers Information evening on Tuesday 23 July from 5:30pm – 8:00pm. Parents and carers will receive an email with detailed information about the format of the evening and also the subject selection process. The College will also be holding a Pathways and Careers expo for all students from Wednesday 18 July to Friday 22 July at lunchtime.

I am excited to see this years College production, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, l believe this production highlights the inclusive and respectful community that we have at Damascus. The production explores the life of young man living with autism. Each one of us is unique, valued and loved, this text encompasses our Christian message of hope and love. It encapsulates our human frailty and need for unconditional positive love and regard. I have witnessed a couple of scenes and believe our performers captured the intensity of difference, understanding and emotion. Over the school holidays the Performing Arts team were here more days and nights than not! I look forward to seeing our students hard work and perseverance come together in an eventful performance.

This term a number of staff are on leave and therefore we welcome the following new staff:

• Ravelle Kenny – Administration and Compliance Officer
• Toola Strachan – Teacher
• Jess Harrison – Teacher
• Matthew Taylor - Teacher
• Sarah Lofts - Teacher
• Jack Bannister - Teacher
• Lexie McNaughton - Teacher

With every blessing.