As we move into the final days of term 1, we are in the unique time of Holy Week. Our students who are performing or are the crew for the Final Hours commenced their first performance last night, and their representation of the scripture was fantastic. Tomorrow we move into the John Shannon Centre just before we move off to holidays for our Easter Liturgy. It is poignant that it is for Easter that we come back together as an entire school community for prayer and reflection.

The school community is currently working together to support Project Compassion, the Catholic Aide Agency of the Catholic Church. Families are encouraged to support this fundraising activity by equipping students to make a donation on a casual dress day this Friday. Students will work six shortened lessons tomorrow before a 2:17pm dismissal.

Concurrently, Year 9 student Dylan Pengelly is beginning his campaign to raise funds in the spirit of our tradition to support research into Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Dylan is taking part in The May 50K challenge, and he will be leaving his limits behind to raise funds for life-changing research into MS! Sadly, MS is commonly diagnosed in the prime of life between just 20 - 40 years old. Dylan is seeking support to leave MS where it belongs, behind us. Research is the key to changing the future of MS, and Dylan has accepted The May 50K challenge to change lives and is looking for support to do so. Support can be offered through https://www.themay50k.org/fundraisers/dylanpengelly.

Term 2 will commence on Monday, 19^th April.

If you have a child in Year 10 who has work experience next term and the paperwork has not been returned to the College, could you please attend to this as soon as possible.

Students will be able to wear Summer or Winter uniform (but not a mixture of both) for the first two weeks of next term. Can I ask families to please get out their Winter uniform now and attend to it if there need to be some alterations made. As parents, daughters will say to you that no-one else has their skirt to knee length – please hold firm in supporting the College requirement and ensuring that it is the required length to avoid unnecessary and embarrassing follow up! There is also a pant option if students are uncomfortable with the skirt or an appropriate length.

You may also be pressured to purchase a rain jacket. This item of uniform was introduced to cover the expensive blazer as students walk to and from school or as they wait at bus stops. It is an optional item of uniform.

Holidays should be holidays, but I encourage families to log onto PAM and ensure that you are up to date with your student’s progress in their respective studies. Holidays may provide an opportunity to catch up on work that has been missed or to create a summary of first term learnings. Year 12 students are now one-third of the way through their learning program, and so a comprehensive revision of content to date will be important.

Last Friday, after a wet week, we had a great day for the Damascus House Athletics Carnival. There was a great level of engagement by students, and staff worked hard to provide these opportunities for participation. Results and age-group champions will be announced at tomorrow’s assembly. There was a significant number of records broken last Friday, and I congratulate students on their achievements. Thank you also to Sports Coordinator Nikki Hexter for an enormous effort across Term 1 with various carnivals conducted.

We welcome Chiara Angeli to the staff team this week. Chiara was College Captain of 2016, and she is joining the college as the Performing Arts Support Officer. Chiara’s support comes at an important time with two productions and a swathe of musical opportunities underway!

I have been sitting with this little prayer this week; it is helping me in a time when there is so much going on in our world. It may have some meaning for you too.

Risen Jesus, when all the world seems so chaotic,
keep our hopes alive.
Help us to remember that after crucifixion
comes the resurrection,
that after the darkness comes the dawn,
and after the bitterness of defeat comes a new beginning.
Keep our hopes alive so that we may be ready.
Amen.

Easter Reflections | The Billabong

I am taking leave for the first week of next term, and the College will be well led by Chris Grant and the Leadership Team. I wish everyone well for a blessed Easter and look forward to catching up next term…

MATT

To celebrate the significant milestone of 30 years, a video to commemorate this achievement has been produced. We invite you to enjoy it as we commence the 16^th production in 30 years.

Congratulations to everyone who has been involved over the course of this very special journey, as once again in 2021 we “Walk the way of the Cross” with The Final Hours production.

Congratulations to Year 12 student Chris Armstrong and his team for placing third in the Touch Rugby 2021 Junior State Cup for the U/18 boys. Chris also received the Captain's MVP award as a testament to his efforts.

Well done to everyone involved.

Anticipation is mounting, as the rehearsals kicked in to high gear last week for The Final Hours, which commenced last night, Tuesday 30 March.

This is the 30th anniversary year of this incredible and moving performance, portrayed with all the passion and sensitivity we have learnt to experience from a hugely talented cast of young people.

This story of Jesus’ final hours on earth is the heart and essence of our Catholic faith tradition.

The story and tradition continues...

As we enter Holy Week, we continue to reflect on the lives of people vulnerable to extreme poverty and injustice and how we can respond through supporting Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion appeal.

Let us take time to remember the life and teachings of Saint Oscar Romero. His many lessons include: live a simple life, commit to bringing peace to the world, speak the truth and of course aspire not to have more, but to be more. Some words from what has become known as the Oscar Romero prayer; “We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.”

Thank you for supporting Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion Campaign. Your generosity will work for the freedom of those living in poverty, challenge unjust structures, and empower people to work for a sustainable way of life.

The Project Compassion story is a long one. See a representation of this at the following link.

https://youtu.be/qraK73QR-nM

Please see following information on the National Youth Week Art Exhibition:-

Click below to download a Registration Form:-

NYW2021 Art Exhibition REGISTRATION FORM

2021 INAUGURAL LADIES WINTER INDOOR CRICKET COMPETITION

FREE TRIAL NIGHT

• Where: Ballarat majorleague indoor cricket
• When: FREE trial night Wednesday March 31^st
• Time: 7pm or 8pm (pick your best suited time)
• What you need to bring: sporting clothes, drink bottle, cricket gloves (optional) and a cricket bat if you have one (these can be provided for no cost)
• There is no experience required, just come down and get involved in women’s cricket!

WINTER COMPETITION (15 weeks)

• First round: Wednesday April 21^st at Majorleague
• $10 per game

If you are interested in the FREE trial night or the winter competition please contact:

• Brydie on 0407 752 359
• Our Facebook page: Ballarat Women’s Indoor Cricket

The Ballarat Lawn Tennis Club, in conjunction with the Buninyong Tennis Association, is excited to announce two junior tennis competitions that are being developed this year to take place over autumn, on a Saturday morning 9:00 to 10:30am. During term 2 of the school year.

These will be ladder based competitions and not a team-based competition. Singles and doubles will be played. The games will take place at Ballarat Lawn and at Buninyong. B and C grade will alternate between Buninyong and BLTC each week.

Each week BLTC will be hosting 9–11-year old’s who are starting comp or have been playing and/or having coaching and 7–10-year old’s beginners who are just starting match play or having coaching.

Please contact Jenny Jolliffe 0408735068 to enquire and/or register.

Please see below the latest Career News Tool - Please click on the button to download it.

Careers Newsletter Term 1 2

On Tuesday March 23, Damascus had four representatives in the BAS Golf Championships – Jacob Hanrahan, Kiera O’Beirne, Jack Sproull and Gemma Gale.

It was a great day out for those involved. Congratulations to Jack Sproull who came 3^rd in the 9 hole, junior boys competition (+12, 48) and to Gemma Gale who came 1^st in the 9 hole, junior girls competition (+5, 41).

On Friday 19^th March a conference for students and staff with an interest in sustainability was held at Damascus College in the Board Room in the Mercy Administrations Center. The aims of the conference were to identify what sustainability at Damascus could mean, what sustainability actions we should be undertaking, and how we should prioritize these actions. It was a very successful afternoon with great contributions from all the students and staff present. Thanks to all conference attendees.

Rachael Beardall (Learning Support Officer / SRT)

Luke Borg (Student Year 11)

Liana Canfield (Student Year 10)

Tony Haintz (AP - Catholic Culture)

Kaitlyn Handreck (Student 10)

Paul Jans (Business Manager)

Kara Linayao (Learning Support Officer)

David Neate (Green Group Leader)

Dylan Pengelly (Student Year 9)

Liza Sheridan (Student Year 8)

Lucas Wells (Student Year 9)

Nick Yandell (Sustainability Coordinator)

What Is Sustainability at Damascus? - Word Cloud from participant contributions

From the contributions of participants, we will be able to determine the College priorities for sustainability, and with a soon-to-be formed Sustainability Committee see those priorities put into action.

Thanks to all the participants and we look forward to working with community members in the near future as we address the areas raised during the conference.

Nick Yandell

Sustainability Coordinator.

Our Junior BAS Cricket Team were successful in defeating Ballarat Grammar on Tuesday to remain undefeated for the term.

The final score in the Finals playoff was DC 98 to BG 66.

A great effort by all boys in the team. Well done.

Please see following information on a new After School Table Tennis Comp:-