Welcome to Spring! It has been lovely to see some sunshine around our campus this week as our community enjoys the energy and renewal that this season brings. With only two and a half weeks left until the end of term, there are several significant events on our College calendar that I would like to highlight.

College Open Evening
On Wednesday 10 September from 4.30pm to 7.00pm, Damascus will host our annual College Open Evening. This is a wonderful opportunity for prospective families to explore our College, meet staff and students, and experience the vibrant learning environment that makes Damascus unique. Families will be able to enjoy guided tours, interactive displays, and information sessions about the wide range of programs we offer. If you know of a family considering a Damascus education, please extend this invitation to them – we would love to welcome them into our community.

Father’s Day Breakfast
Tomorrow, we look forward to gathering for our much-loved Father’s Day Breakfast. This event has become a special tradition at Damascus, where students and their fathers or significant mentors share a meal together and celebrate the role these relationships play in our young people’s lives. We are thrilled to be hosting almost 300 members of our community tomorrow morning. A sincere thank you in advance to our Faith and Marketing & Development teams for their coordination and organisation of this event – I have no doubt it will be a memorable morning for all involved.

End of Term Arrangements
As we approach the conclusion of the term, please note that school will finish at the earlier time of 2.18pm on Friday 19 September. We have received confirmation from CDC Bus Lines that both country and CDC services will run at this early finish time, ensuring all students are able to travel home safely.

Scholarships Now Open

We are pleased to announce that scholarship applications for 2026 are now open.

Scholarships provide an exciting opportunity for students to be recognised and supported in their learning journey. A range of scholarships are available across different areas of student life, including academic achievement, leadership, the arts, sport and community involvement. Each scholarship reflects the College’s commitment to supporting young people to thrive and live out our values of compassion, justice, respect and service.

We encourage students to explore the scholarship opportunities and apply before the closing date. Please note, closing dates for scholarships vary.

For further details, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, please visit the Scholarship page on our website.

Emergency Management Drill – Shelter in Place

On Friday, 5 September, the College will conduct our quarterly Emergency Management Drill. As an education facility - particularly given our beautiful bushland setting – we are required to complete four emergency management drills each year. So far, we have practiced an evacuation (Term 1) and a lockdown (Term 2). This term, we will undertake a Shelter-in-Place Drill during this day, with shorter periods in operation.

A shelter-in-place (SIP) is an emergency response that involves remaining safely inside the school rather than evacuating, as there may be greater risk outside the buildings in certain situations. For this drill, McAuley and Xavier students will shelter in the Damascus Events Centre, while St Martin and Rice students will shelter in Building 5.

We encourage families to speak with their student about the importance of these drills in helping us prepare for a range of scenarios. Please note that no cars or visitors will be permitted to enter the site during the drill. Further details will come regarding the time. If you have any concerns about how your child may respond, please contact their Teacher Advisor or a member of the Student Growth and Engagement Team.

Thank you once again for your continued support and partnership in the education and wellbeing of your student.