Over the past fortnight, we’ve celebrated a period of learning, risk-taking, and the cherished gift of our Mercy community. Our VCE Vocational Major students recently participated in mock job interviews for our Damascus Day celebrations. I had the pleasure of interviewing a dozen students who approached the process with openness and humility, presenting themselves as prospective employees with grace and authenticity.

It was inspiring to hear our students articulate their learnings, strengths, and the challenges they anticipate in their future roles. They showcased a remarkable ability to connect their VET studies, VM experiences, and part-time jobs, demonstrating how theory and practice intersect. Their readiness to take risks, learn from various experiences, and clearly communicate their insights is a testament to the strength of our College.

In the afternoon, I attended the Year 11 Retreat, skillfully facilitated by Chris Doyle at the DEC. I was once again impressed by our students' collaborative spirit and their willingness to acknowledge both their own strengths and those of their peers. The retreat underscored the depth of our students’ faith, their personal stories, and their appreciation for one another. This sense of community and humility aligns beautifully with our College theme: Living Mercy. Our values of respect, compassion, justice, hospitality, service, and courage were clearly evident in their interactions.

Our staff echoed this sentiment, highlighting our students' vibrant spirit and joy. At Damascus, we strive to help our young people express their ideas, emotions, and feelings respectfully, fostering independence and self-respect. Our focus on social-emotional learning aims to enhance their awareness and growth, a goal we also strive to embody as adults.

On Tuesday evening, we celebrated the B2B (Broken Hill to Ballarat) Challenge, honoring our Sustainable Racing Team's incredible effort. They rode a remarkable distance, raising over $10,000 for the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute in Ballarat, in memory of Connor Prunty, a past student. This event, coordinated by Alan Strange, and Rachel Beardall, exemplifies the collaborative spirit of students from years 7–12 working toward a shared goal.

Subject selections for the upcoming year are now complete, and we are actively working through the subject blocking process for 2025.

This morning, we welcomed over 150 guests to our Inaugural Grandparents’ / Grandfriends’ Morning Tea. Our students proudly showcased our school to their esteemed guests, many of whom were past alumnae.

Next week, Anne Beaton will join our College Leadership Team as the Leader of People and Culture. Coming from Ernest Young Partners in Ballarat, Anne will bring valuable insights to support our growth as a vibrant faith learning community. We look forward to the expertise and vision Anne will contribute.

As previously mentioned to parents, Chris Grant, our College Deputy Principal, is currently on a six-month leave to lead a Catholic community in Broome as Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching. We eagerly anticipate learning from his experiences and insights upon his return.

With every blessing

Please see following important key dates for Damascus College

Tuesday October 15 - Open Evening

Tuesday October 22 - Year 12s Final Day

Monday November 4 - Student Free Day

Tuesday November 5 - Melbourne Cup Public Holiday

Murrup Art

It is always a great privilege to see our students engaged in activities that takes them out of their current understandings and into learning that challenges and extends boundaries and thinking. Two such occasions have been offered to students in the last week.

It was indeed a pleasure to welcome Jenna Oldaker to the college to work with students to create an Acknowledgement of Country. Jenna is an artist and creates work for her business, Murrup Art. Jenna led the students in the workshop to look at words and meaning when constructing a piece of writing that is contextualised and meaningful. They then worked to match it with symbols and images that meant something to them.

With Jenna’s guidance, the students were also able to show their creative skills in applying their knowledge and understanding to images on canvas

Year 11 Reflection Day

Reflection Days are very special days for our students to learn and grow personally. It is also an invitation for them to grow in faith. This year Chris Doyle for Karis Ministries led the day. He challenged them to transform themselves and present to the world as the best they can be by letting go of the past.

Chris uses Scripture as the basis of his facilitation. Music of all kinds is used to engage students. Singing is something students seem to enjoy as participants or spectators. Lots of high energy dancing also contributed to a joyful time. From the space of love and compassion, Chris encourages a positive outlook by embracing gratitude.

The students had time in the day to reflect, hear Scripture in the context of life, dance, enjoy one another’s company and have fun, while learning and developing personally and in faith.

Some comments from the students:

‘Chris inspires us to be better and more selfless people.

‘Be kind and compassionate to everyone, and always stay positive.’

‘I like that he taught us change comes from within.’

‘….that being a good person can make all the difference’

SRC Students Collaborate with St Patrick's College on Gendered Violence and Respectful Relationships

Last Friday, students from Damascus College's Student Representative Council (SRC) had the opportunity to participate in a significant student forum held at St Patrick's College. The focus of the day was on Gendered Violence and Respectful Relationships.

Among the participants was Ella Gordon, a Year 8 student from McAuley House, who shared her experience:

"I and eight other students were lucky enough to get the opportunity to attend a Respectful Relationships Workshop at St Patrick's College on Friday the ninth of August. We spent the final two periods of the day talking to the St Pats boys and discussing the importance of respectful and healthy relationships, as well as online safety. After having some discussion about what we needed to do, we split into groups of five, to create a campaign that supports respectful relationships, with a hashtag such as #STOP.

Working together with people from both schools, we took notes and started to set up a campaign to support respect. We will present them to the group at our next meeting, a few Fridays from now. Once they have been presented, we will select a few to be put up around our schools and in the Ballarat community.

Each school was also provided with a box that will be put in student admin, that students can fill with papers with things we can do within our school community to show respect to students and staff written on them. We will bring this box to the next meeting, and we will compare the notes from both schools and see which ones we can apply to the school’s curriculum.

In conclusion I am very grateful for the opportunity to make a change in our local community and help others. We are all looking forward to the next workshop and seeing the campaign we make take action throughout our schools, and the wider Ballarat community."

The collaboration between Damascus College and St Patrick's College in addressing such critical issues reflects our deep commitment to upholding our Mercy Values—specifically, the values of respect, dignity, and justice. These principles are fundamental to our efforts in nurturing responsible, empathetic individuals who understand the importance of treating others with kindness and equality.

Respect, as a core Mercy Value, calls us to honour the inherent worth of every person. In the context of gendered violence, this means recognising and actively opposing behaviours and attitudes that demean or harm others based on their gender. Our students’ engagement in these discussions is a powerful testament to their understanding of respect as the foundation for healthy, equitable relationships.

Dignity, another key Mercy Value, reinforces the idea that every individual deserves to be treated with honour and fairness. By addressing issues of gendered violence, our students are advocating for the dignity of all members of our community, ensuring that everyone feels safe and valued.

Justice, which lies at the heart of our Mercy Values, compels us to challenge inequality and work towards a world where all people are treated justly. The enthusiasm our students have shown in implementing real change underscores the importance of education in fostering a more respectful and inclusive future, where justice prevails.

We are eager to see the positive impact their efforts will have within our schools and the wider community, as they embody these Mercy Values and contribute to creating a more compassionate and understanding world.

ACER SEWB Survey Completion:

Yesterday, our students completed the ACER Social-Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) Survey. This important survey will provide us with valuable insights into the specific needs of our student cohorts. We look forward to analysing the results and using this data to structure our Wellbeing initiatives over the next 12 months. By tailoring our approach based on the survey findings, we aim to better support the holistic development of our students, ensuring that our Wellbeing programmes are responsive to their unique challenges and strengths.

The St Brendan's Programme at Damascus College for 2025

The St Brendan's Programme at Damascus College is set to be an innovative and transformative educational experience for our Year 8 students in 2025. Building on the College's commitment to fostering compassionate, engaged, and empowered young people, this program promises to be a pivotal journey in their academic and personal growth.

Vision Statement

The St Brendan's Programme aims to develop students who are empowered, engaged, and energised, ready to make a positive impact on the world. Rooted in the values of the Sisters of Mercy, students will cultivate a strong sense of purpose, self-belief, and hope, seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary. They will be equipped with critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills, preparing them to navigate and shape a just, sustainable, and enriching future.

Programme Highlights

• Three Thematic Projects:

The program is anchored in two immersive learning projects focused on Leadership, Stewardship, and Social Justice. These themes align with the values of Mercy and aim to engage students in real-world problem-solving.

• Leadership:

Projects will foster leadership skills through group initiatives, public speaking, and community service, encouraging students to lead with compassion and moral purpose.

• Stewardship:

Students will learn to be responsible stewards of their community and environment through hands-on sustainability and conservation projects.

• Social Justice:

Social justice projects will enable students to analyze societal issues, understand root causes, and develop solutions to advocate for positive change.

• Integrated Learning Spheres:

The programme integrates four key spheres—Focused Learning through Critical and Creative Thinking, Cultural Awareness and Global Citizenship, Mercy Tradition and Transformative Action, and Spiritual Formation—to provide a holistic educational experience.

• Project-Based Learning:

Students will engage in 2 project-based learnings across three domains—Environment (STEM), Culture (Humanities/Language/RE), and Lifestyle (HPE). These projects are designed to align with the Victorian Curriculum standards for Year 8, ensuring a rigorous and relevant educational experience.

Introducing the New Timetable

The programme will run in structured 4-week cycles, with each group of students rotating through the two thematic projects. Each project will run for 8 days in a 10-day cycle, allowing for deep engagement and exploration of each theme. One day in each cycle will be reserved for a discovery day for students focused on respectful relationships, cultural and STEM activities.

Monitoring and Evaluation

To ensure that learning is both meaningful and measurable, the St Brendan's Programme will incorporate various methods of monitoring and evaluation:

• Reflective Journals:

Students will maintain journals to reflect on their learning experiences, enhancing their self-awareness and critical thinking skills.

• Project Evaluations:

Each project will culminate in a presentation or demonstration, providing students with the opportunity to showcase their learning and receive constructive feedback.

• Regular Assessments:

Literacy and numeracy will be embedded in the projects, with regular assessments to track student progress and mastery.

Engagement with Community

The programme will actively engage the Damascus College community, including staff, families, and the Dunnstown and Wadawurrung communities. This engagement will be expressed through family workshops, end-of-term student showcases, and collaborative projects that connect students with their local environment and heritage.

Summary of Key Points

• Vision:
• Empower, engage, and energize students to make a positive difference in the world.
• Core Themes:
• Leadership, Stewardship, and Social Justice.
• Integrated Spheres:
• Critical thinking, global citizenship, Mercy tradition, and spiritual formation.
• Project-Based Learning:
• Three key projects across Environment, Culture, and Lifestyle.
• New Timetable:
• Structured 4-5-week projects rotations with dedicated planning days.
• Evaluation:
• Reflective journals, project evaluations, and regular assessments.
• Community Engagement:
• Collaboration with families and local communities.

We have recently had a case of Chicken Pox recorded in Year 10.

Chickenpox is a very contagious infection caused by the varicella zoster virus. Most people with chickenpox have mild symptoms and recover quickly. In rare cases, the virus can cause serious complications such as pneumonia or meningitis.

he main symptom of chickenpox is an itchy red rash. During the illness, the rash turns into fluid-filled blisters that burst and crust over.

You may also:

• have a fever
• have a headache
• feel generally unwell

Symptoms usually start about 2 weeks after being around someone with chickenpox. They can continue for between 10 days and 3 weeks.

Chickenpox is more common in children. When adults catch chickenpox, they usually have a more severe illness and can take longer to get better.

A chickenpox rash starts with small, itchy red spots.

If you feel your student(s) may have contracted Chicken Pox, please keep them at home and seek a medical diagnosis.

he Arts Learning Area has made significant progress in the first 4 weeks of term 3. Jessica Harrison has recently joined the Arts team, bringing her expertise to teach various subjects and year levels. As mentioned last week, Toola Strachan and Matthew Taylor are both dividing their teaching responsibilities between the Technology and Arts Learning Areas. All three have made valuable contributions to their respective teams.

Staff have been actively involved in the recent Careers expo, providing students with important information about their class options for the following year. Many members of the staff, student cohort, and our community had the opportunity to witness the first of two school productions in week 2 of this term, "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time." In addition, Damascus Ensemble students participated in a Music camp last week, where they enhanced their musical skills.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night- Time

The play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time comprised of a small ensemble cast of students from years 10 through to 12 and employed dynamic use of soundtrack, sound effects, projection and lighting to enhance the world of the lead character. 

The rehearsal process was always quite challenging as we sought to create in each scene the appropriate level of reality versus the theatricality. The exciting immersion into the life of Christopher Boone provided a great opportunity for student actors to explore a range issues that are presented within this dramatic yet heart-warming piece of theatre.

The eagerness, energy and enthusiasm of the performers and what they brought to rehearsals and the final performances was nothing short of inspiring. With two productions on the go this year and both being rehearsed simultaneously the Performing Arts department is forever grateful for the fantastic creative team at Damascus that supported us. These individuals made up of staff, current students, alumni and family members all gave so selflessly to make this production the best it could be.

 This play tackled many aspects of life that aren’t usually seen or depicted in a secondary school show. We hoped that by highlighting the life of a single person and their unique challenges, we did justice to those whose stories are not always heard. 

Based on the feedback received over the season the production was successful and the cast and creative team should be proud of their efforts.

Music Camp- Rutherford Park Country Retreat

Once again Damascus Ensemble students have ventured to Music Camp! This year we are lucky to have extended our stay from one night to two-nights. Forty students from Junior and Senior singers, Senior Rock Band, String Ensemble and the Murnong Concert Band were accompanied by 8 staff to Rutherford Park Country Retreat for three days of rehearsal, performance, music games, bush dancing, fun with friends and great food. Many students who participate in this camp learn an instrument as part of the Damascus Instrumental Co-Curricular Music Program. Others have committed their time to the ensembles such as the Vocal Groups just because they love music and want to be a part of a larger musical community within the school. Music is for everyone!

Last Tuesday during our House assemblies, students were presented with Semester One Academic Subject awards and SEL Personal Growth Awards for their achievements in their semester one studies.

Academic Subject Awards are given to the students whose assessment results place them in the top 5% for that subject and year level.

SEL Personal Growth Awards are awarded by class teachers to students who have demonstrated the most growth in one or more of the SEL attributes of organization, perseverance, resilience, confidence and engaging relationships.

Damascus College congratulates all our Semester One award recipients. We are proud of your efforts and achievements in your studies so far this year.

The full list of award winners for each house can be accessed via the links below.

Xavier

Rice

St Martin

Mc Auley

At Damascus College, the students enrolled in the Cert III in Allied Health Assistance recently had the invaluable opportunity to visit the Federation University Nursing labs. During this visit, they delved into hands-on clinical skills such as patient transfers, safe manual handling, and the proper use of equipment. These skills are fundamental for healthcare professionals, ensuring the safety of patients and minimizing the risk of injury to themselves. Witnessing the students immerse themselves in learning with enthusiasm, laughter, and a spirit of camaraderie truly highlights the dedication and passion they bring to their education.

We commend the students for their hard work and commitment to mastering these essential skills. Their eagerness to learn and grow in the healthcare field is truly inspiring. We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated staff whose unwavering support and guidance have played a pivotal role in shaping the students' educational journey. It is through the collaborative efforts of both students and staff that such enriching learning experiences are made possible.