On Monday morning, as I moved around the school, there was a genuine sense of excitement and anticipation in the air. Year 9 students were boarding buses to head off to Anglesea for their camp experience, Year 10 students were milling in the Undercroft prior to heading out for their Retreat Day and Year 12 students were in to see their English teachers for final reassurance prior to their exam yesterday. It was comforting to have the activity of school happening as it should when so much has been restricted or diminished in 2020. These events have all progressed with the week, and the feedback has been positive. Year 12’s came out of their first and longest exam recognising that they had done their best in the most unusual of circumstances. Our pride in their ongoing achievement is enormous. Year 9’s change over on camp today, and we wish core groups 5 -8 well for the rest of the week.

Year 11 VCE exams commence today, and Year 11 students will bring the same sense of fortitude to these final assessments and a perspective of the place of exams in the scheme of life and learning. Regardless of the results any young person achieves in 2020, the learning from this year has been enormous, and it is important that we keep reiterating to our young people our pride in their response to the disruption and uncertainty of 2020.

Our rowers represented the College proudly at the Regatta on Lake Wendouree last Saturday, and I congratulate all those students for whom it was their first competitive row. It was great to see so many young people active and collaborating. I thank all those adults who volunteer their time to allow rowing to happen!

Today is Remembrance Day. Remembrance Day remains an opportunity for us to remember those who have laid down their lives for us. It is an important time for remembrance and reflection. There is also a sense of significance that Remembrance Day falls in the month of November, which for those of the Catholic tradition is the month where we remember those who have gone before us. The recent feasts of All Saints and All Souls are closely linked to this week’s secular celebration of our fallen heroes.

Gerard Macklin, Leader of the Humanities Learning Area, facilitated a reflection for the College community this morning and I thank and acknowledge Gerard for creating this opportunity.

Remembrance Day also falls this year within NAIDOC week, and it is important that we remember the First Nations people who have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. The theme of this year’s NAIDOC week is “Always Was, Always Will Be” which acknowledges and celebrates the fact that the very first footprints on this continent were those belonging to First Nations peoples. We pray with joy and gratitude for the richness of the oldest continuing culture on the planet this week.

And while Remembrance Day has important significance to the entire community, it also marks the anniversary of the death of Catherine McAuley who founded the Sisters of Mercy. Today we also remember her legacy as an educator, mobiliser of the poor and health care provider. Her international global legacy of education, health and care for the underprivileged is a wonderful expression of the living Christ amongst us. That living Christ is present in the joys and sorrows of the young men and women who we have the privilege of working with each day and I am confident that Catherine would feel proud that her Christian endeavours continue here at Damascus College.

Until next week …

MATT

The Damascus College Rowing Program is proud to announce Angus Shillito and Olivia Reyntjes as Rowing Captains for the 2020-21 Rowing Season.

We look forward to their leadership throughout the ups and downs of rowing and wish them the best of luck in their upcoming regattas.

Damascus Rowing is competing in its first regatta for 2020 this Saturday 7 November, although no supporters are allowed to attend we ask everyone wishes our rowers a good row – particularly our Juniors who are competing in their first regatta ever!

The Christian Personal Development Award (CPDA) is a program which brings together the many personal development opportunities available to students and reinforces the need to be proactive about personal development in the senior years of College life.

The CPDA Introductory Program intends to introduce the Award for Year 10 students with the view to encouraging a holistic approach to personal development in the senior levels of the college.

In 2020 in a Covid-19 environment the introductory program became a one-day experience, a Reflection Day. Specifically, it intended to develop the reflective potential of the students in terms of the corporal works of mercy found in Matthew 25:32 ff. Held on 9^th and 10^thNovember the sessions focused on a developing a series of small group presentations. The presentations were prepared in the process of the morning shared in the prayer in the afternoon.

After roll call the group departed for Adekate Forest Lodge, near Creswick. The day proceeded to plan and the weather was kind. A day of peaceful renewal.

A big congratulations to all crews who participated at last weekends regatta at Lake Wendouree. Whether this was your first regatta or not, it was great to see everyone out on the water representing our school proudly. What a fantastic start to the season! We hope you all enjoyed the day, maybe learned a little about how these events work and are as excited for the coming season as we are. Good Job DMAC!

Olivia Reyntjes & Angus Shillito

Damascus College Rowing Captain's

Year 12 VCAL students within their Work Related Skills study were able to develop a range of employability skills by promoting and organising the development of a 2020 time capsule. The students then held a small ceremony to celebrate the sealing of their time capsule. Team leader Reed, alongside Tamara, Mackenzie, Natasha and Jacinta, explained that the capsule contained interesting items such as letters and photographs, as well as items specific to 2020 – including a roll of toilet paper. The time capsule was then handed over to College Archivist Natasha, to be safely stored in the archives until the group come together to celebrate their 10 year school reunion.

On Tuesday 10 November, our Year 12 students sat their first VCE exam – English. Whilst there were many nervous faces entering our new Damascus Events Centre that morning, sights of relief and joy were widespread among our students, having conquered the first task in their examination journey. We wish our Year 12 students the best of luck as they continue their preparation in the coming weeks.