Celebrating Learning, Talent, and Transitions at Our School

As we near the end of a busy and rewarding term, it’s a great time to celebrate the incredible work happening across our school community. Our students and staff have been working with enthusiasm and determination as they complete a wide range of assessment tasks. Their focus, resilience, and commitment to learning are commendable.

Next week, students studying a VCE Unit 3 or VCE VM will participate in the Annual General Achievement Test (GAT). Participation in the GAT is an essential part of senior secondary education in Victoria and should be taken seriously by all students. The GAT plays a key role in assessing students’ general knowledge and skills in areas such as written communication, mathematics, science, technology, humanities, and the arts. While it does not directly count towards a student’s ATAR, it is used to verify school-based assessments and exam results. It can be critical in determining derived scores in unforeseen circumstances such as illness or misadventure. A strong performance in the GAT can support the accuracy and fairness of VCE results, making it an important opportunity for every student to demonstrate their learning and capabilities. I encourage our students to participate in the test with rigour.

I was thrilled to visit students and staff at our St Brendan’s Campus recently. It was a wonderful opportunity to see the collaborative learning taking shape and the energy with which our students are engaging in the rich programs on offer. It’s always inspiring to see students embracing new experiences and making the most of every learning opportunity.

As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting student wellbeing, connection, and academic growth, we are currently reviewing the TA program to ensure it continues to meet the evolving needs of our students and aligns with the College’s strategic direction. Your insights as parents and caregivers are invaluable in this process.

Feedback Session Details:
Date: Monday 16 June 2025
Time: 7.00pm to 8.00pm
Location: St Martins Resource Centre, Damascus College
RSVP: https://www.trybooking.com/DCL...

This session is an opportunity for you to share your experiences, offer suggestions, and help shape the future direction of the program. We hope you can join us for this important conversation.

In the performing arts space, our talented students are deep into rehearsals for Oliver! The excitement and dedication are palpable as they prepare to bring this beloved production to life. The commitment on display is a testament to the vibrancy of our school’s creative spirit—students are certainly working hard and living life to the full!

We would also like to take a moment to thank Maria Russell for her valued contribution to the College. Maria has recently completed her time with us, and we are grateful for her dedication and care, particularly with our senior students. Moving forward, Olivia Walson will be teaching Maria’s Year 11 and 12 classes. For any Instrumental Music enquiries, please direct your questions to Naomi Olthoff, who will now be coordinating this important area of our co-curricular program.

Lastly, we wish Andy Robertson all the best as he begins a ten-week period of leave. We are currently in the process of interviewing for an interim replacement and will keep families updated once an appointment is made.

Thank you to all families for your continued support. It’s been a term full of growth, creativity, and community spirit—and we’re proud of all that’s been achieved.