Thank you to the many parents and students who have attended our recent Teacher Advisor Interviews to date. The interviews continue this afternoon and tomorrow from 3:30pm – 4:30pm. The interviews have been a good opportunity for our families to meet and support our students to establish goals and plans for learning into 2023. Students are currently in the middle of a very heavy assessment period. I encourage families to engage with the Parent Access Module (PAM) to support your student/s in fulfilling the learning demands of their respective subjects and to affirm students' endeavours. Keep reminding students that our exams are an opportunity to learn and refine techniques. It is important to keep looking to improvement and growth for students and to take a growth mindset in seeing the opportunities they present.

Our rowers are looking forward to their first hit out at the Victorian Schools regatta here in Ballarat on the weekend, with this being the first experience of a race for many students. We wish all our Rowers well for this event.

Our Early Start Program kicks off for all current students on Thursday, 17th November. The College has a Curriculum Day on Wednesday, 16^th November, and this is a student-free day. Within the Early Start Program, students will progress to the next year level for the final two weeks of the College year. Students will commence their new pathways subjects and will be in their new core groups. I remind families' that there have been booklist requirements for this period notified, predominately stationary and English texts. The program aims to ensure that learning opportunities are optimised to the very last day of the year for all students and that they are getting the best learning experience possible at Damascus. Where staff are leaving the College, they will begin the classes for the teacher who will succeed them in 2023. Where new staff can join us, they have been engaged for the Early Start. Students of families who are relocating or moving to other schools will be aligned with a class for these last two weeks of the year, and students who are moving off to employment or non-secondary educational settings will conclude classes on Tuesday, 15^th November.

All students are required to attend Mass and Ball games on Friday, 2^nd December; non-attendance will be recorded and will influence students' ability to engage in extra-curricular and leadership opportunities.

Next week the College offers diverse learning opportunities to students of Years 9 and 10, with the Year 9 camp to the Strathbogie Ranges and the Year 10 week of Work experience or the introduction to the Christian Personal Development Award (CPDA). If your student is experiencing concerns about any of these experiences, the College goes to great lengths to ensure the appropriate adjustments are made to enable students to access this important learning. Please liaise with us if there are concerns. It is not helpful to anyone for students to 'just stay home' – as adults, we often have our own anxieties and concerns about experiences which we are unfamiliar, so please talk to us about the planning that is in place to enable students to attend.

With every blessing

Steven

Please see below important information on a Supporting the Mental Health of Young People Information Session - to book your place please click here.

Last week Damascus students and staff were treated to concerts in the Valda Ward Auditorium thanks to the significant efforts of Performing Arts Coordinator – Music Maria Russell and her dedicated team as well as the talented students.

After two years of being unable to perform, or only performing with limited audiences and heavy restrictions it was thrilling to see so many students take to the stage.

On Wednesday the Damascus College Band took to the stage for its debut performance. It consists of string, brass, percussion, and woodwind players.

The Wednesday lunchtime concert also showcased our singing groups, the African drumming group, and our String Ensemble. During the concert, a range of pieces were performed including the much loved Radio Ga Ga by Queen, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and the theme from the Avengers movie.

Students that participate in the music program at Damascus have not only developed musical skills but are learning teamwork, and commitment, and also enjoy performing together.

The video is just a few highlights from the concert, and sadly the sound recording didn’t do the actual performance justice, so a backing track is used for the video.

Students or families who are interested should contact the College to discover more about learning an instrument in 2023, or you are invited to participate in an open rehearsal before the end of the year. More details on this will be posted on the student bulletin.

#DamascusCollege #DamascusPride #BeMyBest #FindMyCalling

As Damascus College celebrates Enviro Week, a special tree has been created to symbolise the very thing we need to care for, our planet.

The Sustainability Committee would like to invite our school community to find ways to make small personal changes that help reduce our negative impacts on the environment. The tree, a symbol of growth and rejuvenation is fitting, as small changes in our behaviour can repair any human-imposed damage to our environment.

The wooden tree was created by technology teacher Mr Ross and will be displayed in the St Martin’s Resource Centre for all to enjoy. The tree has been deliberately left unpainted so that the natural beauty of the woods grain can be appreciated.

Thank you to everyone who has been making a special effort to respect and care for our fragile planet.

#DamascusCollege #DamascusPride #BeMyBest #ImPartOfSomethingGreater

Conveyance Allowance – Last Claim for 2022 – Families who have not yet submitted their claim for this year please note the cut-off date to claim Conveyance for 2022 is November 24^th.

To be eligible for a conveyance allowance, individual students will be assessed under the following criteria:

1. Attend a school/campus located outside the metropolitan conveyance allowance boundary
2. Attend the closest appropriate school/campus at which admission is permissible
3. For students attending specialist schools, this will be determined by the specialist school’s Designated Transport Area (DTA) in which the student resides
4. For students attending government schools, this will be the closest school/campus appropriate to the age and gender of the student (e.g. primary, secondary, single sex)
5. For students attending non-government schools, this will be the closest school/campus of the recognised denomination for conveyance allowance purposes.
6. Reside 4.8km or more from the school/campus (shortest practicable route calculated by the school attended at the time of application from the student’s home to the school/campus)
7. Be of school age (between five and 18-years-old at the time of application), and a resident of Victoria
8. Be enrolled and travelling to school three or more days per week.

Students’ circumstances can change during their school years (e.g. moving residence or changing schools/campuses). Change of circumstances affects eligibility and a new application must be submitted with each change of circumstance.

Private car
A private car conveyance allowance is not available if the journey could have been made using a public transport service or free school bus.

• Where there is more than one student in the vehicle, there are two rates claimable: ‘furthermost’ and ‘additional.’
• Where there is more than one student in a vehicle, and they attend different schools, the amount claimable is based on the distance travelled to school by each student. That is each student must be the subject of a separate application and the student attending the furthermost school is identified as the ‘furthermost’ student; each of the other students must be claimed as ‘additional’.
• Rates are calculated according to the distance (measured in kilometres) from home to the campus attended using the Department’s standard measurement method; for details of the rates claimable, refer to Appendix 1 Conveyance Allowance Rates
• It is assumed that all students from the same family will travel in one car therefore only one family member may claim furthermost student allowance.

Pro-rata adjustment of reimbursement (time fraction)

Where students change school, transport mode and/or address that affect the payment of conveyance allowance, pro-rata payments are made, having regard to the number of days of actual attendance. It is the responsibility of each school to report any mid-semester student changes and the required pro-rata adjustments that are required.

Late payments
Late (past year) applications cannot be accepted or paid.

Any inquiries relating to this allowance or to any bus travel matter may be directed to Tracey Williams at the College office Phone: 5337 2236.

Please see following a flyer in relation to the 2023 COB Youth Volunteers: -

Please see details following of various free Parent Webinars during Term 4.

• Stress & Wellbeing - November 9th, 6:30 - 7:30 pm (AEDT)
  
• Resilience - November 23rd, 6:30 - 7:30 pm (AEDT)
  
• Setting Up for Success - December 7th, 6:30 - 7:30 pm (AEDT)

To book any or all of these click here.