31 July
By Hannah Keating, Acting Assistant Principal - Student Wellbeing
Damascus College Hosts Inspiring Presentations from the Pat Cronin Foundation
Last Wednesday and Thursday, Damascus College had the honour of welcoming a guest speaker from the Pat Cronin Foundation, who delivered a compelling presentation on the "Be Wise: Violence is Never Okay" campaign. This event forms part of our continuous efforts to educate students on the dangers of violence, and to foster a culture of peace and respect.
Background on Pat Cronin and the Pat Cronin Foundation
Pat Cronin, a 19-year-old from Melbourne, was known for his kindness, intelligence, and zest for life. In April 2016, Pat's life was tragically cut short by a single coward punch during a night out with friends. This senseless act of violence devastated his family and community, who chose to channel their grief into creating positive change.
In response to this tragedy, Pat's family established the Pat Cronin Foundation with a mission to end the coward punch and prevent violence. The Foundation's "Be Wise" campaign focuses on educating young people about the dangers of violent behaviour, emphasising that violence is never acceptable. The campaign raises awareness of the severe physical, emotional, and legal consequences of such actions.
Student Reflections:
The presentation at Damascus College explored the root causes of violence and practical strategies for avoiding violent situations. The guest speaker highlighted the profound impact of a single act of aggression and the importance of making wise choices.
One student shared their thoughts on the presentation: "Before this presentation, many of us didn’t fully understand the severe impact of a single cowardly punch. As a result of the presentation, we are now able to identify and prevent these situations from occurring in the first place."
Another student remarked:
"This presentation educated us on the causes of senseless violence, and ways to prevent it for ourselves and our friends. It made me realise how important it is to think before we react."
Upcoming Event: Tuning into Teens
To further support our students and their families, Damascus College will be hosting the "Tuning into Teens" programme. This programme is designed to help parents and caregivers develop their emotional intelligence and improve their relationship with their teenagers. It focuses on teaching parents how to recognise, understand, and respond to their teen's emotions in an empathetic and supportive way.
Key components of the "Tuning into Teens" programme include:
Emotion Coaching: Techniques for helping teens understand and manage their emotions.
Communication Skills: Strategies for improving communication between parents and teens.
Conflict Resolution: Tools for resolving conflicts in a constructive and positive manner.
Building Resilience: Ways to foster resilience and emotional strength in teens.
This six-week programme aims to create a more connected and supportive home environment, helping teens navigate the challenges of adolescence with confidence and security.
Dates:
Steven is an innovative and passionate leader and his leadership style is one that is highly relational and visible. His personal educational vision is to work in relationship and in partnership with all members of the community to create a faith learning dynamic that celebrates, affirms, and challenges people to achieve personal excellence.
Damascus College wishes to thank Mr Christopher Grant, Interim Principal for the leadership he has given to the College, since the departure of Mr Matthew Byrne at the end of Term 1 2022.