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 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.

Some would be aware that l had the pleasure of accompanying twenty three of our students on a study tour of Indonesia with our committed staff: Brendan Bawden, Kirsten Phyland and Anna Rowland. Our students were engaged in a homestay and local Immersion Trip in Jakarta and Bali. I was so impressed by our students willingness to take risks, be open to adventure and be willing to learn from people of different cultures and faith beliefs as well as their desire to improve their Indonesian language skills

In Jakarta our students visited Istiqlal Mosque the largest mosque in Southeast Asia and the sixth largest mosque in the world in terms of worshipper capacity. Within Jakarta, the mosque is positioned next to Merdeka Square and the Jakarta Catholic Cathedral. Our students were open to different ideas and were able to step outside their comfort zone. The group were welcomed by the staff from Bloombank and were able to practice and further develop their Indonesian language and culture skills.

I encourage all our students to continue to learn a second language – to further develop cultural awareness, language skills but to understand the life of people from different backgrounds. ‘To live by the light of Christ,’ challenges each one of us to understand the other; to be in dialogue with people from different faith backgrounds and to listen with the ear of our heart.’ Our students demonstrated genuine empathy and were welcomed in a Muslim culture and Indonesian community with grace and hospitality.

Our VCE and VCE 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.

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 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 18 July from 5:30pm – 8:00pm. Parents and carers will receive an email later this week 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 remind families that this year’s Performing Arts Production of The Addams Family will be held on Wednesday 19 July through to Saturday 22 July. Over the school holidays the Performing Arts team, Andrew, Nicole, Maria, Marcus, Anne and Alex were here more days and nights than not! We appreciate their commitment to the behind the scenes preparation and support to our students in the upcoming school musical - The Addams Family. I look forward to seeing our students hard work and perseverance come together in an eventful performance.

I would like to welcome Georgia Nicht to the College staff. Georgia has come to the College as an experienced classroom teacher from Loyola College in Watsonia where she taught both Senior and Junior Science. We also welcome to the College Greg Wright who commenced over the school holidays in our maintenance Team.

With every blessing.

Welcome to Term 3.

Next Tuesday evening, beginning at 5.30pm, Damascus College will provide a range of opportunities for families to come in and gain more information regarding the subject selection process for 2024. The opportunities provided allow you to seek more information about your student's respective course in 2024 or to speak with teachers in the learning area that your student is considering, to gain a specialised insight into specific subjects or courses. For more information on the evening and opportunities to book, please click the following here https://www.trybooking.com/CJOKY

Here at school, the lead-up to next week's production of "The Addams Family" has been very busy with rehearsals and set construction. The staff, cast and crew worked solidly over the holidays under the guidance of our committed Performing Arts teachers, and I am sure that while these students and staff are experiencing some weariness from their efforts, the gifts that they will bring forth from opening night next Wednesday will be truly amazing! I acknowledge the enormous effort of Andrew Seeary, Maria Russell, Marcus Ryan, Nicole Burness and all those supporting them and the Damascus students in the lead up to the performance next week. Excitingly, all tickets sold out very quickly and there is great anticipation for upcoming performances. I wish everyone well for what will be an exciting week of performances.

In the last week of Term 2, the Justice Action Group organised events to provide support to the St Vinnies Winter Appeal. St Vinnies recognises that there is an increase of women over 55 who are experiencing homelessness at alarming rates. The events held will be able to provide these women in crisis a safe place to sleep, food, clothing and a chance to rebuild their lives. Our initiatives have enabled us to raise $1,453.80 as a community. We thank all those members of our community who have supported the Hot Chocolate Fundraiser and the Casual Clothes day. We pray that our efforts are able to make a difference in these women’s lives.

This Thursday afternoon our distance runners will compete in the Ballarat Associated Schools (BAS) Road Relay. This is the first distance running event of the season, and we wish our team well. I acknowledge with gratitude the work of Rod Mathews, Hamish Walsh and Gavan Walsh in the lead up to this event and wish our students the very best.

Term 3 sports commence in week 2. All students who have signed up to a sport have been added to a MS Teams channel relevant to their sport. They are reminded to check into MS Teams on a daily basis and continue to monitor the daily messages for any details regarding training sessions and game information. Parents can also check the daily messages on PAM and the Damascus Facebook page for the weekly BAS Afterschool sport overview. For further information and FAQ’s regarding the BAS Afterschool Sports Program, please head to the Damascus College website.

With another busy Term ahead and some exciting activities and events occurring, I wish everyone well for the Term.

Chris

TA (7-10) and Subject (11-12) Interviews

We would like to remind you about the upcoming Term 3 interviews and provide you with some additional information. Bookings for the interviews will open at 9.00am on Friday 14 July 2023 and we encourage you to secure your preferred time slot as soon as possible.

Term 3 Interviews

Monday 24 July 2023 – Wednesday 26 July 2023

During the interviews, we will focus on facilitating subject selections and providing guidance on future pathways for our students. Please note that the interview format differs for each year level.

In order to enhance the effectiveness of these meetings, we request that you and your student(s) complete a brief online form before attending. The purpose of this survey is to gather valuable information about your student's achievements, goals, and pathways. By having this insight beforehand, we can ensure more focused and meaningful discussions during the interviews. It will allow us to tailor our discussions to address specific areas of interest or concern. We believe that this additional step will greatly benefit both you as parents and/or carers and our teachers, fostering a stronger partnership in supporting your student’s education. We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to engaging in conversations that will contribute to your student’s success. We encourage parents, carers and students to complete the survey together by Monday 17 July 2023 (Survey Link).

For this round of interviews, families can book to be either onsite or virtually.

The interview schedule is as follows:

• Monday 24 July 2023 and Wednesday 26 July 2023 from 3.45pm – 6.30pm

Families are welcome onsite or virtually for the interviews.

• Tuesday 25 July 2023 from 8.45am – 5.45pm

Interviews will be conducted onsite and virtually. This virtual option allows for flexibility and ensures that everyone can participate in the interview process.

Year 7-10: Teacher Advisor (TA) Interviews

We will be conducting TA interviews for Year 7 and 10 students, capitalising on the Teacher Advisors' role in fostering social-emotional growth, particularly for Year 7s. This will also provide an opportunity for Year 8-10 students to receive guidance as they navigate the process of selecting electives for 2024. Each TA interview will be scheduled for 10 minutes, with an additional 3 minutes allocated for changeover.

Years 11-12: Subject Interviews

Subject interviews will be conducted for students in Years 11 and 12, focusing on future pathways based on subject selections. Each subject interview will be scheduled for 10 minutes, with an additional 3 minutes allocated for changeover. We would like to emphasise the importance of parents and carers attending subject interviews for Year 11 and 12 students. Research has shown that your presence and involvement during these interviews can be an effective catalyst in enhancing academic performance and supporting your student's educational journey. Your valuable insights and guidance can make a significant impact on their future success.

Year 10 TA Interviews: Signing up for Vocational Major and VET Subjects

We would like to emphasise the importance of attending TA interviews for Year 10 students, particularly those who are considering pursuing a VCE Vocational Major (VM) and/or VET subject. We highly recommend that these students come onsite for their interviews to ensure a comprehensive discussion regarding their academic and career pathways.

Following the TA interviews, we have arranged for the Careers and Applied Learning team to be available in the St Martin Resource Centre. They will provide valuable support to students and families in the application process for acquiring their Universal Student Identifier (USI) number, which is a mandatory requirement for VET and VM courses.

By signing up on the day of the interviews and engaging with the Careers and Applied Learning team, students significantly increase their chances of acceptance into their desired VET courses for the 2024 academic year.

To book your interview slot, please visit our online booking system through PAM. Remember, it is important to secure your preferred time slot as soon as possible as availability may be limited.

We believe that these interviews will play an important role in helping your student make informed decisions about subject choices and pathways for their future. Your active participation and engagement are greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to seeing you during the interviews. Should you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Parent and Students Pathways and Subject Selection Evening 2024

(Current Year 8-11 Students)

Date:  Tuesday 18 July 2023 

Time:  5.30pm - 8.00pm

Workshop Booking RSVP: https://www.trybooking.com/CJOKY

Click on the link above to select the appropriate workshop you would like to attend.

Purpose:

To provide an opportunity for parents and students to:

• participate in VCE/VCE VM workshops that will clarify any queries involved in subject and pathways selection for 2024. 
• request further information from Learning Areas on subjects offered and requirements. 
• request Careers assistance and direction to support students pursuing career options and pathways.
• generate active discussion at home to facilitate effective decision-making with respect to student subject choices and pathways. 

Information:

• Parents/Carers and Students are encouraged to access the student Pathways and Subject Selection Handbooks, as well as watch the information videos prior to evening workshops (all documentation is accessible from the College website). 
• This event is open to all 2024 Years 9-12 students. We do, however, encourage booking a time to attend the VCE and VCE VM workshops which will be in the College Library (SMRC).
• Parents and carers are encouraged to attend with their student (please bring stationery for notetaking).
• Learning Area, Careers and VET workshops will be held in the DEC. 
• Parents and students may utilise documentation provided by the College to assist in the decision-making process. 

Format for the Evening

Towards the Finishing Line for Year 12 VCE and VM students (Year 12 Students)

Term 3 marks the start of the homestretch for VCE and VCE VM students as we enter the final semester of their school education. This will be an extremely busy time with multiple SACs and Assessments in some weeks. Families of VCE students are encouraged to be conscious of the dates when organising family events for this period.

We would like you to be aware of the following school events which have been organised to support or celebrate our Damascus Year 12 students.

Parent and Student Information Evening

Tuesday 8 August 202 at 7.00pm in the DEC

We have proposed a Parent and Student Information Evening, titled "Towards the Finishing Line for Year 12s" that aims to equip both parents/carers and students with the necessary tools and information to successfully apply for courses through VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre) and students undertaking exam excel in their Year 12 final examinations. By addressing these topics, we aim to empower students to make informed decisions about their future education and provide them with strategies to excel academically. 

Year 12 Final Day and Graduation Mass

Wednesday 18 October 2023 and Monday 20 November 2023

The Year 12 final day will be Wednesday 18 October 2023 and the teaching program will conclude with a final assembly. Students are welcome to come onto campus in the ‘swotvac’ period but are expected to be in school uniform. Students who are still completing assessment requirements will be required to use this time to complete all outcomes to a satisfactory standard. They are also expected to wear their school uniform for the final examinations. This may include the Year 12 hoodie. The Year 12 Graduation Mass will be on Monday 20 November 2023 followed by a Graduation Dinner at the Mercure. More information about these events will be sent out later in the Term.

VCE Students Trial Examinations

Friday 15 September 2023, Monday 25 September to Thursday 28 September 2023

(Year 12 students and those completing a Unit 3 and 4 subject)

The Unit 3/4 trial examination week is an essential part of the Year 12 program Damascus College offers and, as such, is compulsory for all students completing Unit 3 and 4 subjects. This allows students to prepare for the VCAA October/November examinations and provides them with the opportunity to look at the timing and to understand the level of revision required for each subject. The exams will be assessed, and feedback will be given to the students. The results may also be used by teachers to assist with the indicative grade calculations that are required to be submitted to VCAA. Indicative grade scores are used by VCAA to assist with calculating a derived exam score should it be needed. Students can wear casual clothes on these days.

The English and English Language trial examinations will be held on the morning the final day of Term 3 (Friday 15 September 2023). In light of this, Thursday 14 September 2023 will be a revision day and Year 12 VCE students will not be expected to attend school on this day. The remaining examinations will be held in the second week of the Victorian school holidays (Monday 25 September 2023 to Thursday 28 September 2023). We encourage students to spend part of the first week revising for the examinations and some Learning Areas may offer revision lectures.  We request that that "family" holidays, while tempting, should be avoided for this coming break, please.

The examination timetable is below. We anticipate there will be clashes and students will be sent information about rescheduled examinations later in the term. 

NAIDOC - National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee

The origins of NAIDOC can be traced back to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920’s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

National NAIDOC Week was celebrated from Sunday 2 July – Sunday 9 July 2023. Damascus College recognises the work of the committee and the ongoing work and opportunities inspired by the committee for indigenous and non-indigenous people to participate in a range of culturally rich activities.

The theme for this year is For Our Elders. In the words of National NAIDOC Committee Co-Chair, Steven Satour,

"The Elders are the ones that hold onto the culture and the lore, they are the most important aspect of healing our people. They have the enormous task of maintaining and passing on traditional knowledge, values and customary practices, while helping us find balance as we navigate between two very different worlds. They have laid the foundations for us to be successful across multiple sectors like health, education, the arts, politics and everything in between.” (National Indigenous Australians Agency website)

We reflect on the lives and stories of elders in our communities, our College and in our families. We celebrate their presence in our lives.

Reflection on Community

Engrave this upon my heart:

‘There isn’t anyone

You couldn’t love

Once you’ve heard their story.’

(Sister Mary Lou Kownacki, Benedictine Nun)

Welcome back to Term 3. In my last report I took the opportunity to encourage parents/carers to spend some time connecting with your students through informal conversations. Given the weather that we have had over the last two weeks, hopefully you had the opportunity to engage in these discussions with the young people that you are supporting.

Staff have taken a considerable amount of time to complete school reports with these being generated at the commencement of the school holidays. While you are automatically drawn to assessment tasks and exam results, I draw your attention to the reporting of social and emotional competencies within this document. The competencies of organisation, confidence, persistence, engaging in relationships and resilience have been identified as the key tools in supporting wellbeing for learning. The contributions that parents and carers can make in supporting these skills is undeniable. If you see an opportunity to support your students, I encourage you to do so. Making sure that all resources are right to go for Semester 2 classes assists with organisation. Modelling skills in perseverance as you go about your daily duties is one way to demonstrate this skill. I really encourage you to acknowledge growth that your student may have displayed in these skills.

Tonight, Damascus College is conducting its inaugural Middle Years Mental Health and Wellbeing Forum. The forum is focused on a community response in supporting students with their mental health and wellbeing. The College will outline services which are available on campus, online and within the wider Ballarat community. A speaker from Ballarat Youth Mental Health will attend to discuss various services which are available. The College will also discuss results obtained from student surveys, and what this indicates about the levels of mental health and wellbeing of our students. Tickets are still available for this event and can be purchased through https://www.trybooking.com/CJFIW.

The wellbeing team looks forward to supporting our students throughout the semester.

The Addams Family is this year’s Performing Arts production at Damascus College, which will kick off on 19-22 July.

We are excited to introduce our community to the wonderful student cast members, this time being Year 11 student Caleb Inglis, playing Lurch.

What made you want to Audition for this show?

I wanted to get involved in a performance and I saw an opportunity.

What is it about the show that makes you enjoy it so much?

The show is just funny, it deals with taboo ideas and makes them interesting.

What is the best piece of advice someone has given to you about preforming?

It would be from Mr Seeary, he is always telling us to push characters. I don’t have many lines so I really have had to emote.

What is your favourite thing about your character?

An ever stoic character, Lurch makes sense to me in the way that he is kind of always there and involved without being to over bearing, he is like a big brother.

What is something you are looking forward to about this show?

I am really looking forward to production. It will be great to see all our hard work go on stage.

A lot of kids ask why we do music and it is such a great question. Music connects us to our history, culture and community, as well as our collective emotions, spirituality and values.

At Damascus, students experience these bigger concepts in music through practicing and performing, composing, listening, and analysing music. Year 7 students were asked about what they learned in music across semester 1 and they gave some great summaries. Here are some of the responses:

In music this semester, I not only learnt how to read and write notes, what tempo, rhythm and dynamics is and all the instruments in the traditional orchestra, but I also became a better person, becoming more aware of the things and people around me, how to be more confident not only in performing, but also life in general. Thank you, Ms. de Jong for all the incredible opportunities in music this semester! - Polly Dawson

In music this semester, I learnt how to read notes and compose my own 12 bar composition. I also learnt what tempo, dynamics and rhythm mean and how to find them in a piece of music. – Ava Mende

In Music this semester, I learnt all about rhythm, body percussion, notes and their names, certain instruments, music dynamics, tempo and solfege. Music was so fun and engaging and I can't wait to do it next year. – Tess Fletcher

In year 8, Damascus offers a unit about Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander music and reconciliation in action. Students analyse important Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander songs, learn a song in a lost language, learn about chords, write a song inspired by themes they have explored in Aboriginal songs, and explore the history and emotions we all share through the lens of music. The goal is to be active allies in reconciliation, celebrate all the great music from Australia, and weave students’ personal reflections on these themes into their own musical compositions. We also delve into the remarkable world of Indonesian music and different composition strategies. Here are some responses from our students about the year 8 music curriculum:

I liked having an Aboriginal topic in music and I liked sharing my culture with my classmates in music class. It was great listening to Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander songs. – Kyeema Brown

I have really enjoyed doing music this semester experimenting with the gamelan instruments and music. I love working with others in a group to make music- it's great fun. Having the chance to make up our own rhythms and being able to play them on instruments such as the xylophone and ukulele has been a great learning experience. – Jemima Rowland

This year in music I enjoyed writing lyrics about something I was passionate about. I chose Irish dancing and (as I love writing poetry) I rhymed each line. We learnt a few chords on the ukulele and I put some of my lyrics to them which was a lot of fun. – Ruby Lethlean

There are many other reasons music is valuable and important in education. Research shows that music improves outcomes in the following:

• Literacy: phonological awareness, word decoding, reading difficulties, builds the skill of learning new words, build the skill of using new words, language syntax, and comprehension.
• Executive functioning: modulating attention, attention stamina, focus, verbal memory and fluency, processing speed, cognitive control, impulse control, control of hyperactivity, creativity, task switching, and flexibility.
• Social skills: prosocial behaviour, non-verbal communication, social cohesion, social inclusion, decision-making, engagement, attention, trust and respect, helping behaviours, sharing behaviours, ethics, empathy, depression, wellbeing, and immune health.

Everyone can learn to become good musicians with practice and perseverance, and our junior music students are really acting on the school moto to Be. My. Best.

We hope all families have enjoyed a safe, restful break.

As Semester two commences, English classes continue in earnest. Following the Semester One English Examinations for Years 8-11, we trust that parents have spoken with their children about diligent study habits that will contribute to their ongoing growth in English. It is important to cultivate the habit of reading for pleasure and we encourage parents to model this habit at home as much as possible. Over the break, I had the opportunity to read with my kids and it was such a calm, fun and fulfilling thing to do in the wet weather.

The upcoming TA interviews will be a terrific opportunity for Year 10s to discuss their English pathway and I encourage you to read through the course outlines and study designs for VCE English, English Language and Literature to ensure that your child makes an informed decision as there are different requirements for each subject. Please keep in mind that there is an application process for those who are interested in studying VCE English Language and/or VCE Literature in 2024 and this application needs to be completed in a timely manner to earn a position in the class. As part of the process, students need to submit three best pieces of work to support their application. All relevant forms can be found in the VCE Pathways booklets on the school website.

On the 24^th of June, 23 students from years 9-13 along with teachers Anna Rowland, Kirsten Phyland, Brendan Bawden and Mr. Mifsud travelled to Indonesia for the two-week 2023 Damascus College Study Tour.

We flew into Jakarta where we stayed at local school Bloombank for 1 week. This home-stay was absolutely amazing and very eye-opening to witness and immerse yourself in their culture and everyday life. Most students had been talking to different teachers at Bloombank for up to 3 year via Microsoft Teams, so, to meet them in person for the first time was very special and an experience I will cherish forever.

We participated in several activites in Jakarta such as fishing competitions, lots of singing and dancing (special mention to the four teachers who shamelessly sang ABBA’s Dancing Queen on our last night at Bloombank), as well as attempting to teach Mr Mifsud basic Indonesian, a cooking class, and a visit to the Safari Park where we stayed in Tree Houses with indoor slides that were enjoyed by all four teachers (I have video evidence for anyone questioning this).

The friends we made during our Bloombank stay and the smiles that lit up the younger kids faces when we played games with them or even just waved at them through the bus window made this week incredibly special.

Although our closing ceremony was filled with mixed emotions, we were all excited to escape the 38-degree heat and 100% humidity Jakarta weather and relax beach and poolside in Bali.

Bali while so different to Jakarta was just as spectacular. We spent our days bargaining at the markets, swimming in the pool, watching traditional dance performances and listening to Mr Mifsud scream as he went down slides at WaterBom Park. It was just what we needed after a jam packed, fun filled schedule in Jakarta and I think we were all very appreciative for our free days in Bali.

To sum up the two weeks in Indonesia is very difficult as we saw and experienced so many things that personally I can’t do justice with words. A huge thank you to Anna, Kirsten and Mr Mifsud who made the trip so fun and were often just as silly and loud as the students. But, an even bigger thank you and all my appreciation goes to Brendan Bawden who organised the entire trip and kept our family members updated regularly with his photos, videos and posts. The trip would not have happened without him and to look after 23 students overseas is definitely a stressful job so terima kasih banyak (thank you very much) Bawdy!

For anyone reading this and studying Indonesian at school, I cannot encourage you enough to continue studying, as this trip is an experience of a life time and one you do not want to miss out on.

The Addams Family is this year’s Performing Arts production at Damascus College, which will kick off on 19-22 July.

We are excited to introduce our community to the wonderful student cast members, may we introduce Year 11 student Niamh Seare, playing Grandma Addams.

What is one of your favourite rehearsal memories?

I don't particularly have any, I honestly just enjoy everything

Do you have a favourite song in the musical? If so which one, is it?

Move toward the Darkness

What made you want to audition for the show?

The hoodie was my main goal

What is it about the show that makes you enjoy it so much?

The crew and cast

What is the best piece of advice someone has given to you about preforming?

No one knows when you make a mistake besides yourself

What is your favourite thing about your character?

That I can have a lot of freedom with my character, and I can have fun when I am preforming her

What is something you are looking forward to about this show?

Not having to go to a chiropractor after every rehearsal

Please see following information from the Ballarat Cart Club and their major fundraiser raffle for the year: -