I had written today's newsletter prior to today's press conference. I have put the content of the press conference at the start of the newsletter.

Premier Daniel Andrews made the following announcements today:

• Lockdown will lift in Regional Victoria, with the exception of Shepparton, at 11:59pm tomorrow, Thursday 9th September.

• Regional schools will reopen for on-site learning for Prep to Grade 2 and Year 12 students who live in regional Victoria on Friday 10th September. *Note: We are awaiting further clarification through the School Operations Guide on Year 11 students studying Units 3 and 4 subjects; however, we expect that they will be permitted to attend onsite.

• Remote learning will remain for all other year levels.

• Onsite supervision at schools remains available for vulnerable children and children of essential workers at all year levels

• Face mask requirements apply to everyone 12 years and over.

• The Authorised Worker list will no longer apply in regional Victoria.

For further details, watch today's Press Conference, and read the Premier's media release and updated Table of Restrictions.

It will be great to welcome our Year 12 students back for their VCE, VET and VCAL programs from Friday. It is anticipated that Year 11's studying a Unit 3/4 class will be required to attend the Unit 3/4 class on-site. Any Year 11 students will be provided supervised study space at school for their other classes. Year 12's and Year 11 students studying a Unit 3/4 need to have earphones for TA and any remote classes undertaken onsite.

Remote learning for Year 7 -11 students will continue unless they are children of essential workers or vulnerable students; these will be supported on-site.

There will be no Canteen available for the rest of this term. Students will need to bring their own lunch.

This week, I found this lovely story that came through my LinkedIn profile; when I searched its source, I found it came from a website called Aleteia (Prononouced Al-A-Tay- Ah). Aleteia (aleteia.org) is an online publication distributed in seven languages. It offers a Christian vision of the world by providing general and religious content free from ideological influences created by lay Catholics.

The story I loved this week was focused on an 87-year-old man who rewrote the news headlines for 2020. It is written by Cerith Gardiner, and while it relates to last year, our challenges have continued into 2021, and the message remains pertinent.

"2020 has been a year we'll never forget. While we may have started the year in hope, it's been a struggle for so many of us, and the implications of recent events will have lasting effects — some of them life-altering.

However, when we reach the point of wanting to give up and we start to lose hope, we need to consider what's really important. And a message posted by Beverly Geer that's also been appearing on various social media platforms is an inspiring reminder:

Sometimes I just want it to stop. Talk of COVID, protests, looting, brutality. I lose my way. I become convinced that this "new normal" is real life. Then I meet an 87-year-old who talks of living through polio, diphtheria, Vietnam protests and yet is still enchanted with life.

He seemed surprised when I said that 2020 must be especially challenging for him. "No," he said slowly, looking me straight in the eyes. "I learned a long time ago to not see the world through the printed headlines; I see the world through the people that surround me. I see the world with the realization that we love big. Therefore, I just choose to write my own headlines. "Husband loves wife today. ""Family drops everything to come to Grandma's bedside." He patted my hand. "Old man makes new friend."

His words collide with my worries, freeing them from the tether I had been holding tight. They float away. I am left with a renewed spirit. My headline now reads "Woman overwhelmed by the spirit of kindness and the reminder that our capacity to love is never-ending "

Take the time to read it and let it sink in. Take the time to apply it to your own lives and rewrite your headlines for 2020 (or 2021). You could even get your young people to do it, too. It's similar to a gratitude journal, but in headline form, it's a quick reminder of everything that is right when lots of things seem to be falling apart. 87-year-old man rewrites news headlines for 2020 ... and inspires us all (aleteia.org)

We pray for all those who are struggling in our world at the moment, and we pray that the God who "loves big" manifests for them in their challenge.

I shared correspondence on Monday about timetable changes for today to support students to have some time away from screens. With the forecast of a pleasant day today, I hope students take the chance to get outside. Tomorrow is also RUOK Day; our wellbeing team have put together a lovely presentation to encourage students and staff to check on the wellbeing of one another that will be shared in TA time. Our altered timetable today provides the opportunity for people to put in a call to one another – another valuable way to spend the extra time today.

Through the Victorian Government's vaccination blitz, I remind families of final year students and students studying a VCE Unit 3/4 subject of the vaccination opportunities to help support the safe conduct of end-of-year exams. From Tuesday 7th September and until Friday 17th September, final year students will have access to priority timeslots to attend their vaccination appointment at a vaccination centre. Eligible students can book their first and second dose appointments via a dedicated booking hotline. The hotline operates from 8:00am to 8:00pm. The hotline number is 1800 434 144. For more information, families of senior students should refer to the Damascus email on Sunday evening.

Tonight, from 5.00pm, we commence the enrolment process for Year 7 students for the 2023 school year through our information evening webinar. More information on the webinar can be found here or click here to view it live.

Our 2022 Year 12's are courageously putting themselves forward for student leadership roles at the moment. This is a time of growth and vulnerability for these young people. It is exciting that these genuine and caring senior students see that they have great things to offer the student leadership of this College, and I thank them for their preparation and courage.

The last day of classes and remote learning for Term 3 will be Thursday, 16^th September. There will be no onsite supervision for students on Friday, 17^th September.

We wish staff member Julian Petrie well as he heads off on two weeks of Long Service Leave from the end of this week.

We pray for Sister of Mercy Anne McMillan, who died this morning. Sr Anne has been an amazing supporter of Damascus College. Anne was a woman of great intellect and faith. Her influence on liturgy and lay ministry has reached well beyond the Diocese of Ballarat. We keep the Sisters of Mercy in our thoughts and prayers and commend Anne to the loving God, to whom she dedicated her life in the spirit of Catherine McAuley. May she rest in peace.

Until next week … or the next government announcement.

MATT

From September 1 to October 4, the Christian family celebrates the good gift of creation. This global celebration began in 1989 with the Ecumenical Patriarchate's recognition of the Day of Prayer for Creation and is now embraced by the wide ecumenical community. Pope Francis has spoken of the need to recover our concern for the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. The Catholic Bishops of Australia have taken up the call and prepared this year’s social justice statement on this theme.

To celebrate the Season of Creation Damascus College is hoping to develop a Season of Creation Photo Wall.

We would also welcome sharing from families, parents and grandparents, and friends, about the environment. Images, prayers, and stories would all be welcome. These may be shared on our Seasons of Creation Wall

Contributions are rolling in …

Upload your contribution by clicking on the link below:-

Upload Here

The Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor statement is available here

The Yearbook Committee this year is looking at involving some of your experiences from this Remote Learning, and we need some input!

We would love for you to send through photos of Remote Learning, with the theme of “Enjoying Spring” - whether it be of nature, a selfie or something different, you are only limited by your imagination. (See the image of the cygnet for inspiration!)

We would also love to get some drawings, sketches that you have done over Remote Learnings if available. To email your images please clicker here

The deadline is the 13^th of September, so don’t be afraid to shoot through any photos to me before then, and please feel free to shoot through any questions also.

Thank you!

Kaitlyn Handreck - Yearbook Member

Congratulations to Year 10 students Kaitlyn Handreck and Akaisha O’Keefe, as their opinion pieces have been selected to be published today on the Ballarat Courier website.

Kaitlyn, Akaisha and a group of committed students are taking part in the SHOUT project, involving secondary school students from the region, writing topical stories to be later published as part of the Youth publication – SHOUT.

The exciting publishing announcement is a wonderful affirmation and celebration of Kaitlyn and Akaisha’s writing ability and creativity, but it also is a tribute to their compassion and integrity to understand the challenges experienced by many, during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Akaisha tells her heartfelt story of what her family was up to when the latest lock-down was announced, with just two hours notice, and the impacts on her immediate family.

Kaitlyn pens a love letter of thanks to all parents from students, and it is an honest and real opinion piece sharing such gratitude for the sacrifices parents and careers make to home-school their children, during these challenging times.

Read Kaitlyn’s story here: https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/7413435/

Read Akaisha's story here: https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/7413489

Well done Kaitlyn and Akaisha – bravo!

*if you are unable to access the links please click on the button below to open a PDF verison.

OPINION pieces The Courier

Last Friday during TA students and staff paused for a moment to watch together the 2021 Damascus College Father’s Day video. It was an opportunity for us all to reflect and give thanks, to remember the significant men in our lives.

To our fathers, grandfathers, brothers, uncles and all the significant men in our Damascus community, thank you for everything you do that makes a difference to us all.

While Father’s Day is a special day in the calendar, we hope you can find a moment to watch and enjoy our video. We hope that the prayers, reflections and images compiled in this video, inspire you to gratitude for the significant males in your life. They are a gift.

Earlier in the year, as part of the Social Dilemma project, Damascus students were given the opportunity to create an artwork that encapsulates how young people see social media in our lives.

We had a great response to the competition and the College staff voted for the artwork that best fitted the brief. The chosen artwork beautifully depicts the two contrasting worlds we find ourselves balancing in modern times.

Unfortunately due to the current circumstances, the Year 9 cohort will be unable to take part in the inaugural Damascus College Social Dilemma in Term 3.

We congratulate Year 9 student, Charlotte Doherty on her winning artwork as seen below

Recently our RE classes have been working on an “Act of Kindness Task” related to their study of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

Please see below some of the wonderful ideas they have come up with:-