This week is National Reconciliation Week (NRW). It is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements and explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

Reconciliation must live in all Australians’ hearts, minds, and actions as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part, we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.

Before many of our meetings or gatherings, we acknowledge the country in which we live, learn and work.

We acknowledge all the country in which we minister in Catholic education in this Diocese. Those of us in Ballarat are in Wudawurrung country, and all of us are located in culturally significant lands.

We acknowledge our first people who have nurtured and cared for Country for tens of thousands of years, and we acknowledge that they have managed to survive and thrive, demonstrating their strength, resilience, and adaptability.

We also acknowledge their elders as custodians of this land that was taken from them without consent, without compensation, without treaty, but not without resistance.

We commit to the work of truth-telling and reconciliation in our nation.

We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

The funeral for our much loved friend, colleague and teacher, Jeff Simpson, will take place at Peter Tobin Funerals, 1251 Doveton St North, Invermay Park, on Tuesday 7^th June at 2:00pm.

We are expecting a large number of staff wishing to attend the funeral and, at this stage, anticipate running our regular education program with the support of our wonderful team of casual relief teachers. There are numerous exams taking place on Tuesday, including Year 11 students who will be studying from home if they do not have any exams scheduled. As I have said, there will be a strong staff contingent present, grieving the loss of a friend and colleague.

We understand that there will be students and families who would like to attend the funeral. Grief is a very personal experience, and we believe that for students to attend, it must be done with the support of family members. If students are in attendance, I kindly ask them to wear their full winter uniform.

I will email those families who were in Jeff’s TA, given their special relationship with Jeff, and we will follow up with them regarding their student’s needs and wishes on Tuesday, and we will support them as best we can.

On Friday night, the College hosted the Catholic Education Leadership Dinner in the Damascus Events Centre. It was a lovely night acknowledging the 30-year award recipients, including Wayne Forster, for their service to Catholic Education. Three significant Diocesan Leadership Awards were presented on the night, and our very own Martin Ryan was awarded the Catholic Leadership award. This award is for leadership that provides active witness to God’s presence in the education, parish, and/or diocesan community and enhances the education community’s Catholic identity. It is for excellence in leadership around Religious Education, spirituality, liturgy, religious art, social justice, the founding charism, evangelisation and/or ecology.

Martin has completed 40 years of consecutive service to Catholic Education, with a significant portion of this time in Religious Education Leadership. He has been instrumental in writing the Awakenings curriculum and sacramental programs within the Diocese. We congratulate Martin on this fantastic achievement!

A huge thank you to Dan Cook for his management of the event, Alan Archbold, Maria Russell and students for their support on the night.

This Friday evening, 3rd June, the Middle School formal will take place from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. This is a social opportunity that Damascus College facilitates for the Year 9 and 10 students of our community. It has always been a very positive event on our calendar, but it is important that I reiterate that normal school rules apply. It is an alcohol, drug and smoke-free event; any student who is suspected of having consumed alcohol will not be let in. There are no pass-outs through the evening. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the evening, please contact your House Leader. It is a social activity, and hair and make-up appointments are not more important than school on Friday. Any student who is away on Friday will not be able to attend the formal. I must reinforce my encouragement that parents support one another by not condoning after parties. If you say no to requests from your child, you’re supporting other Damascus parents who may receive the same pressure from their student. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the evening, please contact your House Leader. Students are encouraged to bring a plate of food to share.

Damascus Staff were to gather with staff from Loreto College and St Pat’s College on the first day back in Term 3 as a combined Faith Development Day. The scheduled international presenter cannot make it to Australia this year and therefore will not be available. We are looking at alternative presenters; however, it will not be on the first day back. The first day of term 3 – Monday 11^th July will be a day of normal classes for all students. We are looking at an alternative day for our Staff Faith Development Day later in Term 3 and will communicate with families when available.

I wish our Year 8-11 students well over the coming week as they undertake exams beginning this Friday. The last day of Semester 1 will be Friday 10^th June, and we will commence Semester 2 with Early Start on Wednesday 15^th June. Tuesday 14^th June will remain a non-teaching day for students to enable staff to prepare for Early Start and continue to provide feedback on end of semester assessments.

We keep Toby Sharp (Year 7) and his family in our thoughts and prayers on the passing of his beloved grandmother this week. May she rest in peace.

We also keep the Emmanuel College Warrnambool community in our thoughts and prayers this week as they mourn the loss of a dear staff member, Ms Michelle Joseph. We can certainly empathise with how their community will be hurting at this time, and we send our love and prayers.

Until next week…

Chris