Yesterday, we gathered together in the JSC to celebrate Xavier Day. It was a wonderful showcase of young people's capabilities and courage to sing, dance, play an instrument or talk about their passion and journey in their learning. I congratulate Xavier House Leaders, Karen Hocking and Hannah Keating and the team of Teacher Advisors and other staff who supported students.

Big Freeze 8 Beanies for Sale

For a number of years now, Damascus College has supported the FIGHTMND cause through the VCAL students raising funds for the cause with their "Ice Bucket Challenge" event. This term, the College will continue its support for people who suffer from Motor Neurone Disease and their families by selling "Big Freeze 8" beanies to students and staff.

Beanies will be on sale in the courtyard during recess and lunch from Wednesday 18th May until Friday 20^th May or until sold out. Beanies will be sold for $25.00, and cash or card payments will be accepted. Thank you to everyone for supporting this worthy cause.

Students will be allowed to wear their beanies during the last two weeks of term.

Thank you to all those parents who have ensured students are now in their winter uniform. No doubt there have been trips to the uniform shop and adjustments to hem lengths, etc., over the past couple of weeks. Your efforts to support your students to meet the College uniform expectations are appreciated. If you have not had a chance to adjust hem lengths for skirts and pants, could I please ask that you do so as a matter of priority.

Last Friday night, it was fantastic to witness our senior students' engagement with our College formal. Students were beautifully attired as they came together for the evening. With some trepidation, we allow our Year 12 students to invite a plus one, but these guests of our students have always been respectful and cooperative, and this was again the case on Friday night. Many of the "plus ones" were former students of the College who have moved off to other pathways, and it is always great to meet them again and hear of their success in the next phase of their lives. I thank Hannah Keating, Daniel Jans, House Leaders, and the staff who enabled this event to proceed. Thank you also to parents for your patience and support in getting students safely to and from the venue.

In many ways, this week is the calm before the storm. This week's learning programs are progressing, with regular classes and other activities taking place concurrently. Next week Year 8 students head off to their camp with Core groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 heading off from Monday to Wednesday, and Core Groups 5, 6, 7, and 8 are heading off from Wednesday to Friday. Most students are excited about the prospect of camp, but this creates feelings of anxiety for others. We encourage families to talk to the College if their child feels nervous about the camp experience to put strategies in place to support their attendance. Non-attendance does not help the young person and can contribute to diminished wellbeing. If this is the case for your child, please discuss the matter with your TA, House Leader or the College Counsellors through counsellors@damascus.vic.edu.au

Year 10 students also have a changed learning program next week and will undertake either the Christian Personal Development Award (CPDA) or Work Experience.

Beginning tomorrow, NAPLAN testing for Years 7 and 9 students will take place and continue through to Friday 20th May. NAPLAN is a national common assessment tool, and families are encouraged to explain to students that while it gives an indication of student progression, it is a single assessment on a single day and not to overemphasise its importance. At Damascus, we encourage all students to undertake the suite of NAPLAN tests; however, if you have specific concerns, please contact the College. This year, we move to have these tests completed online, allowing us flexibility during the timeframe mentioned above on when each test is conducted.

The dates of each test for each year level are listed below.

Thursday 12th May

Year 7 – Writing (42 min) – Period 1

Year 9 – Writing (42 min) – Period 3

Monday 16th May

Year 7 – Reading (65 min) – Periods 1 & 2

Year 9 – Reading (65 min) – Periods 3 & 4

Tuesday 17th May

Year 9 – Conventions of Language (45 min) – Period 1

Year 7 – Conventions of Language (45 min) – Period 3

Wednesday 18th May

Year 7 – Numeracy (65 min) – Periods 1 & 2

Year 9 – Numeracy (65 min) – Periods 3 & 4

There is an expectation for all students to participate in the NAPLAN testing. Catch up opportunities will be provided on Friday 20th May if your student is absent on any of the days.

I also remind families that as the tests will be completed on the student's own device, your young person must have a fully charged device on each day of the tests listed above.

With all these different comings and goings next week, we are not running our usual TA time in the morning. Students will head straight to Period 1, and rolls and notices will be delivered in class time. Particularly for Year 7 students and those students who are new to the College, this is a variation to our regular routines. These are all exciting learning opportunities in line with our intent of supporting holistic learning for the young people of the College, and I am sure it will be a great week.

We congratulate Tim O'Sullivan (Staff) and Alanna on their marriage over the weekend and wish them a lifetime of happiness together.

Until next week…

Chris

Recently Damascus College celebrated Xavier Day with a full school assembly in the John Shannon Centre. It was a wonderful celebration led by House Leader Karen Hocking and Assistant House Leader Hannah Keating. They were supported by the tremendous work of the Xavier Student Representative Council (SRC).

Xavier House is named in honour of Mother Xavier Flood, one of the founding Sisters of the Convent of Mercy, Ballarat East and the first Principal of Sacred Heart College. The values of Xavier House include Tolerance, Learning, Endeavour, Excellence, and Community.

The assembly included performances from Zeb Nelson, Yr 11 and Adele Lockhart, Yr 12, as well as a spirited dance routine by the Xavier Yr 12 students. Yr 7 students provided a rundown on the camp they attended earlier this year, while Belinda Dwyer and a couple of VCAL students gave a rundown on what they are doing. Sport coordinator Nikki Hexter had the opportunity to present medals to students to celebrate their athletic success.

Interim Principal Christopher Grant finished up the assembly by congratulating the Damascus students on all they have accomplished thus far this year and inviting the students from Xavier House to enjoy a pizza lunch.

“That was lit!”, “Had a ball!”, “Best fun ever” and much gratitude and thanks were expressed from students on the completion of the formal on Friday night the 6^th of May. Students were excited at the opportunity of participating in their senior formal which was represented by Year Eleven students and Year Twelve students (who could bring a plus one). With over 260 beautifully attired young people in attendance, the atmosphere was sophisticated and vibrant, with the JSC sprung floor bouncing rhythmically in unison with the thumping music provided by B and L entertainment solutions and student’s dancing.

This was a welcomed opportunity for students to interact in a social capacity, strengthening relationships and creating memorable school moments. We applaud all students for the way they contributed in making this event such a safe and joyous occasion for all present.

Special thanks go to Karen Hocking, Dave Myers and the wellbeing team and leadership team for their organisation and commitment to ensuring the successful orchestration of the event.

Special thanks also go to Anne Griffin who dedicates her time and expertise in providing and taking all professional photos for the evening and making these available to students and families to remember and share this occasion.

Thank you also to the maintenance team for sourcing, laying and removing the suitable and protective carpet for the JSC floor. This is a mighty effort which we are all grateful for.

I also sincerely thank the outstanding representation of staff who attended the event, without their presence these events could not proceed. We acknowledge this, particularly being at the end of the week, where energy levels can be depleted. These events allow staff to interact with our students and build relationships with them outside of a classroom environment, particularly with a sense of pride as at this occasion.

Many thanks to Tiarna Parry who headed up an exceptional, enthusiastic and diligent Formal Committee, ensuring an effective and decorative setup, a great backdrop for individual photos, breakout spaces for smaller group interactions, in addition to dance floor space.

It is the collective collaboration of all involved and the wonderful representation of our students at this event that we celebrate as a Damascus community and are extremely proud of.

Yours in wellbeing,

Dan Jans and Hannah Keating.

Acting Assistant Principals- Student Wellbeing.

In VCAL Year 12 Religious Education the theme for Term 1 was social justice. Inspired by the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, the students considered possibilities for fund-raising and the colour party (partly inspired by the recent Hindu festival of Holi) was born. The VCAL group facilitated by planning, advertising and coordinating the various aspects of the event.

Student who wished to participate paid $5 and brought a change of clothes. Loud music, a happy environment, coloured dust to share was a lot of fun.

Enjoyed by a smallish group and with donations from some VCAL students, almost $100 was raised by the Colour Party. All proceeds are going to the Caritas Foundation as part of our annual effort for Project Compassion.

Last week Damascus students participated in a debate against Assumption College, as part of the Debater’s Association of Victoria D Grade competition.

The topic was ‘that the government should employ state artists,’ and the Damascus team was on the negative side.

It was a very close debate with Assumption coming away with the win by just one point!

Well done to Ronan Sugars, Casey Howlett, Annabelle McDade and Isabella Brown-Kenton for getting involved.

Congratulations to McAuley House for winning this year's Athletics Carnival.

Victory is like a fine wine, as it has been some 22 years since McAuley held the shield aloft for the Athletics Carnival, as it was back in the year 2000, and 1995 before that.

Well done to the McAuley House. Great effort!

For a number of years now Damascus College has supported the FIGHTMND cause through the VCAL students raising funds for the cause with their “Ice Bucket Challenge” event.

This term the college will continue their support for people who suffer from Motor Neurone Disease and their families by selling “Big Freeze 8” beanies to students and staff.

Beanies will be on sale in the court-yard during recess and lunch from Thursday May 12th of May until Friday 20^th of May or until sold-out.

Beanies will be sold for $25.00 and cash or card payments will be accepted.

Thank you to everyone for supporting this worthy cause.

Students will be allowed to wear their beanies during the last week of term.

On Thursday 5 May the College welcomed 250 guests to the annual Mother’s Day Liturgy and Breakfast. It was a wonderful occasion to be able to welcome parents and families back to the College to come together in celebration of the significant women in our lives.

The liturgy was held in the John Shannon Centre where we welcomed Fr Jorge De Chavez to celebrate the Eucharist, giving thanks for all mothers and the special women in our lives who have nurtured us and loved us, just as Mary nurtured and loved her son Jesus.

Fr Jorge also said a special blessing over all the mothers present at liturgy, as the rest of the congregation extended their hands over these women to join in the blessing. It was a wonderful opportunity for the students and mothers of our school community to participate in a liturgy of gratitude, a wonderful example of the teamwork achieved by staff and students and a fabulous way to start the day. May God bless all mothers.

Guests then proceeded to the Damascus Events Centre and were treated to a full buffet breakfast with barista coffee including, bacon, eggs, hash browns, beans, pancakes, fruit and yoghurt, it was a delicious feast indeed!

The Mother’s Day raffle raised more than $1500 to go towards the Bright Futures Scholarship, which gives tuition relief to one Year 7 student per year, for the duration of their studies at Damascus. Funds raised at the breakfast, aim to extend the scholarship to more than one Year 7 student each year. For more information on this scholarship, please go to https://www.damascus.vic.edu.au/enrolment/scholarships

It is confirmed in the Book of Sirach that “those who respect their mother are like those who lay up treasure”. Our mothers deserve our respect unconditionally, just as they give us love unconditionally.

From 18th to 20th of May at 8pm senior drama students will present an original performance piece to showcase of their talents, skills and abilities within VCE Drama.

The performance is designed within the Unit 3 study to assess students on their abilities to create and work within an Ensemble performance. This year they have been given the challenge of creating an ensemble performance that focuses on the Seven Deadly Sins

It’s 2022 and after emerging from a global pandemic the business of the world has changed. To survive it’s often a case of reinvention, adaption or death and no one knows death like those involved in the afterlife. Yes, life has been tough for all businesses over the past few years….even in purgatory.

In the spirit of economic rationalism the ‘Collection of Lost Souls’ department is being brought in to account and the viability of the seven deadly sins are called into question.

‘Surely we don’t need all of these sins?’ is the phrase being bandied about in the boardroom.

A review is called and as each sin scrambles to prove their worth they demonstrate and recreate key examples of how they have influenced great moments in literature, history, popular culture and the ways they have recently appeared and impacted lives in lockdown.

Each student within this year’s task is responsible for the development of at least one substantial character. The complex task challenges them to master the skills required to both create and perform their own work. The play will be a strong blend of both comedy and drama and will be presented within an eclectic theatrical style. The performance will run for approximately forty minutes and will incorporate the use of a dynamic soundtrack and creative use of lighting and projection.

Seating is unreserved and no booking is required over the 3 night season.

Venue is the Mt. Clear Auditorium. Entry via gold coin donation

Do you have some spare time to help out in the College Canteen? Do you like having fun with great people and making a difference?

If so, the staff would like to hear from you....interested parties must hold a valid Working with Children's Check (which is free to apply online for) and meet Vaccination requirements.

Please click here to email the canteen and being the process.

CPDA Year10 Introductory Program Explained

Christian Personal Development Award, which is for Year 11 & 12 students, is an attempt to help students to see the need to be proactive about personal development. The Certificate, through its structures and processes, hopes to bring together the many personal development opportunities open to students. By collating the possibilities and recording the student’s participation in them, students will be able to have a record of their Personal Development in the form of a certificate. There are four categories that students must consider: Action of Mercy and Justice/ Community Service; Spiritual Development; Physical Development; Other Cultural Activities. The Certificate is presented to the student at the end of Year 12. At Year 10 level the students are introduced to the Award with a week of activities.

The Introductory Program at Year 10 runs opposite Work Experience and makes the connections for the students. On Monday and Tuesday students are taken on an overnight retreat to consider the corporal works of mercy: feeding the hungry, giving a drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked and visiting the sick and those in prison. This is considered both physically and figuratively, for at stages we all hunger and thirst and feel imprisoned. This experience leads to an encounter with the homeless of Melbourne through the “Big Issue” organisation and noticing those who are making a difference for the needy in our nearest capital city. The experience of volunteering shows students that they too can easily lend a hand up. On the day at school personal physical development supported by human movement students from Federation University and recreational activities were experienced as part of a fuller understanding personal improvement. The final day is an experience of volunteering on Earth Care or Social Justice / Community Service.

This all transpires through the generosity of staff members who support the various programs.

Below are the criteria used to determine a student’s eligibility for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF).

Criteria 1 – General eligibility

To be eligible for the fund, a parent or carer of a student attending a registered Government or non-government Victorian primary or secondary school must:

• on the first day of Term one
• on the first day of Term two

For the list of eligible financially-means tested cards refer to the CSEF Policy:

https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/camps-sports-and-excursions-fund/policy

Parents who receive a Carer Allowance on behalf of a child, or any other benefit or allowance not income tested by Centrelink, are not eligible for the CSEF unless they also comply with the above.

Criteria 2 - Be of school age and attend school in Victoria

For the purposes of CSEF, students may be eligible for assistance if they attend a Victorian registered primary or secondary school. CSEF is not payable to students attending pre-scho ol, kindergarten, home schooled, or TAFE.

Special Consideration

A special consideration category exists for

• Families on a bridging visa, temporary protection visa, in community detention or are asylum seeker families
• Student’s in temporary out of home care arrangements, including statutory kinship care

For more information, see https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/camps-sports-and-excursions-fund/guidance/eligibility

Eligibility Date

For concession card holders CSEF eligibility will be subject to the parent/carer concession card being validated successfully with Centrelink on the first day of either term one (31 January 2022) or term two (26 April 2022).

PAYMENT AMOUNTS

CSEF payment amount

The CSEF is an annual payment to the school to be used towards camps, sports and/or excursion expenses for the ben efit of the eligible stud ent.

• Primary school student rate: $125 per year.
• Secondary school student rate: $225 per year.

The CSEF is paid directly to your child’s school and will be allocated by the school towards camps, sports and/or excursion costs for your child.

For ungraded students, the rate payable is determined by the student’s date of birth. For more information, see: www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx

HOW TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORM

NOTE: ALL SECTIONS MUST BE COMPLETED BY PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN

1. Complete the PARENT/CARER DETAILS section.

Make sure that the Surname, First Name, and Customer Reference Number (CRN) details match those on your concession card. You will also need to provide your concession card to the school.

If you are claiming as a temporary Foster Parent or a Veteran Affairs Pensioner, you will need to provide a copy of documentation confirming your status as a temporary Foster Parent or provide your Veterans Affairs Pensioner Gold card to the school.

If you are seeking special consideration, mark this in the form and provide a copy of the relevant documentation.

1. Complete the STUDENT/S DETAILS section for students at this school.
2. 3. Sign and date the form and return it to the school office as soon as possible. The CSEF program for 2022 closes on the 24 June 2022. Please submit your application prior to 3.00pm on the 24 June.

Forms are available through the front office or online Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) application form (education.vic.gov.au)

The Santos Science Experience STEM program is essentially a 1, 3 or 4 day hands-on science, conducted in 35 universities and tertiary campuses Australia wide for students currently in Years 9 and 10.

The program includes a variety of hands on activities in laboratories, excursions (depending on COVID restrictions), career information and interesting presentations by leading Australian scientists and engineers as well as the opportunity to make new friends.

It will be held in 35 Australian universities and tertiary institutions including Federation University, Ballarat (27-29 June 2022). The full cost for a student to participate is 1 day program- $65, 3 day program is $190 and the 4 day program costs $260 but your Local Rotary clubs may be willing to sponsor students to attend. There is no selection process and all students are welcome to attend.

For further information and application forms please contact your science teacher, the science learning area leader Miss Ivanka Saric, your local Rotary Club or check out the website www.scienceexperience.com.au The availability of places can be checked on the ‘Where and When’ page of the website.

If you enjoy Science then we encourage you to attend the Santos Science Experience. You will need to register online.