It has been a busy fortnight at the College. We have had many celebrations that helped us to embrace the College theme ‘Living Mercy.’ Our Annual Father’s Day / Male Mentor Breakfast was a wonderful success where we were able to participate in prayer and to reflect on the scripture about the meaning of unconditional love. I thank the many fathers, stepdads, and male mentors who made themselves available for their children to share a meal together, to break bread and to be truly present to their child. It is these moments that our young people remember and these events that create family stories and narratives.

Masculinity in the 21^st century has evolved and shaped and there is no one way to be a dad, male figure, stepdad or role model, our children need a male who is compassionate, gentle and modelling respectful relationships – help your children see the face of our God in your behaviours, actions and interactions with others. Father’s Day is a gift and acknowledgement that to have a child is a gift that needs to be treasured and valued. Nothing is more important than our relationships with our children and families. In a world experiencing violence and conflict our homes need to be places of safety, love and respect.

Student Voice is an integral part of our growing community. Interviews and elections of student leaders for 2025 have been occurring. I had the pleasure of listening to our speeches from potential candidates for School Captains. I was so humbled by the student’s vision and passion for Damascus College. I have been able to read and watch their speeches. I admire our students who are emerging as the future leaders of our society with this new competence of dealing with and responding to regular and unplanned change. Our students are encouraged to participate in the decision-making process at the College and we endeavour to work with them to build a strong student focussed learning environment. I am confident that student voice and advocacy will continue to flourish under our new leaders. I look forward to announcing the successful team at the upcoming Damascus Day Liturgy. Families are invited to join us for Eucharist at 10.30am in the John Shannon Centre on Tuesday 17 September. If you are able to attend please RSVP Katrina McGearey my EA via email k.mcgearey@damascus.vic.edu.au.

Our Unit 4 students are working through a heavy assessment period. The holiday period provides an opportunity for them to catch their breath and consolidate their learning and continue revision. Our Unit 4 students will soon have their trial exams and revision lectures. Families and students were sent the schedule earlier this week via email. I ask families to support their young people during this important time of their final year.

This afternoon l had the pleasure of attending the College Production of The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon. I am continually in awe of our student skills, talents and passion. Thank you to Andrew Seeary and the cast and supporting crew. The team bring great joy and insights to our community.

This Thursday 12 September is R u Ok Day. R U Ok Day is a National Day where the community is encourage to come together, raise awareness about the importance of checking in on each others mental health and wellbeing. The College used the message of R U OK Day as an ongoing educational tool, teaching students that supporting one another should be an everyday practice. If you, or someone you know needs support, please reach out to one of the services available and listed on the R U OK website.

This week welcomed Brenda Brady to the College as VASS/VCE Administration Officer who comes to us from St Mary MacKillop College Swan Hill. Next week we welcome Nicolette Williams to her role as Daily Organiser, as Kirsten Dent moves into her role as People and Culture Advisor. Dan Jans St Martin’s House Leader will be on leave next term and we look forward to welcoming him back in 2025. Ms Jayde Tangey has kindly stepped into the role of House Leader. Next term, we welcome back Andy Robertson, Naomi Olthoff and Marty Ryan. I am currently interviewing for Year 10 Leader for term 4. The Leadership Team is busily recruiting and discerning for 2025 and will be shortly able to make announcements.

Ealy this year the College participated in the School Improvement Framework and this week we received our Validation Report. The College should be proud of our achievements in the past five years and the review has supported our continual focussed growth and the embedment of excellence practice. I have attached the summary report below.

External Validation and Review Report Damascus College Mt Clear 2024

This is our last newsletter for the term, we wish our families a safe and restful holiday.

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

Building a Learning Culture- A Damascus College Approach to Learning and Teaching 2025-2029

Damascus College is embarking on a five-year journey aimed at enhancing its learning culture through strategic initiatives focused on instructional excellence and student engagement. A core aspect of this plan is the transition to a 60-minute period timetable in 2025, which will allow for deeper learning and reflection in each class. This adjustment is aligned with the College’s instructional model, which is built on the 5Es framework: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate. These phases are designed to guide teaching and learning across the curriculum, fostering consistency and excellence in instructional delivery.

The five-year roadmap prioritises the gradual embedding of this model across all learning areas. In 2025, the focus will be on the first and final phases of the model—Engage and Evaluate—which emphasise activating prior knowledge, ensuring students are prepared for learning, and fostering a reflective practice that helps students assess their progress. By focusing on these phases, the College will support the establishment of strong entry and exit routines, essential for classroom management and creating productive learning environments.

Beyond 2025, the roadmap will introduce more advanced strategies, integrating Explore and Explain phases that centre on inquiry-based learning, chunking information, and ensuring students develop deep conceptual understanding. The Elaborate phase, planned for later in the roadmap, will support students in making connections across disciplines and applying their learning in real-world contexts.

Throughout this journey, Damascus College is committed to ensuring that its instructional practices remain innovative and accessible. The College’s strategic focus includes strengthening literacy through structured approaches, aligning with Rosenshine’s principles of instruction, integration of SEL competencies and ensuring that all curriculum is accessible and engaging for students with diverse needs.

In addition to curriculum changes, the College will focus on professional development for staff, ensuring teachers are equipped to implement these new instructional practices effectively. The shift to a 60-minute timetable will create opportunities for teachers to delve deeper into the subject matter, fostering richer discussions and greater student engagement.

By 2029, the instructional model will be fully embedded, along with the integration of Mercy Values and Damascus Attributes that reflect our Catholic identity. These foundational values guide our approach to education, ensuring that our students are not only academically equipped but also socially and emotionally prepared for the world beyond school.

This strategic focus on instructional excellence is supported by ongoing professional development for staff, ensuring they have the skills and resources to implement these practices effectively. The College is also dedicated to developing personalised learning pathways, catering to the diverse needs and aspirations of each student and fostering an inclusive learning environment.

The St Brendan's Year 8 Program: An Immersive Learning Experience

Starting in 2025, Damascus College will proudly launch the St Brendan's Year 8 Program at the Dunnstown campus. This initiative is designed to immerse students in a holistic educational experience that reflects the Mercy values of compassion, justice, hospitality, courage, service, and respect. With a strong focus on leadership, social responsibility, and personal growth, the program seeks to nurture students into well-rounded, responsible individuals.

Why Year 8 at St Brendan’s?

Year 8 represents a critical stage in students' development, and the St Brendan's Program is designed to address the unique needs of students at this age. By creating a learning environment that emphasizes respectful relationships and community responsibility, the program encourages students to become intrinsically motivated and self-directed learners. Immersing students in the rich community of Dunnstown will promote growth in both academic achievement and personal development, reflecting the Mercy values of service and hospitality.

Program Structure

The St Brendan's Year 8 Program will run for one term per group of students, starting in terms 2, 3, and 4 in 2025, expanding to all terms by 2026. Each term, 2 to 3 classes will participate, with students divided into smaller groups of 13, each led by a dedicated teacher. Students will travel daily from the Mt Clear campus to Dunnstown, ensuring they stay connected to the wider Damascus College community while experiencing the unique opportunities the St Brendan's Program offers.

Duration: Each group will spend 8 to 11 weeks in the program.

Structure: The program runs from Monday to Thursday, with Fridays dedicated to "Discovery Day"—a reflective day for learning, project work, and engagement with external speakers.

Curriculum and Key Projects

The curriculum is centred around two major projects that embody the Mercy values:

• Environment & Lifestyle: This project integrates leadership, stewardship, and environmental awareness, challenging students to take responsibility for creating sustainable futures. Rooted in the values of justice and courage, students will explore the impact of their actions on the environment and their community.
• Creative Cultures: This project focuses on social justice and community engagement, encouraging students to think critically about culture, creativity, and their responsibility to contribute positively to society. Students will live out the Mercy values of compassion and service as they engage with real-world challenges.

Fridays, or Discovery Days, are dedicated to fostering respectful relationships and offering students opportunities to learn from external speakers and work on collaborative projects.

A Day at Dunnstown

Each day begins with students meeting at Damascus College and traveling by bus to Dunnstown with two staff members. The structured daily schedule includes a combination of routine activities, academic sessions, and reflection periods. Shared meals and collaborative projects foster a sense of community and support the development of hospitality and respect among students.

The program is designed to foster personal development, offering opportunities for students to grow emotionally and socially through both academic and extracurricular activities.

Staffing and Support

The program will be supported by a dedicated team of teaching staff and a Program Leader. Each staff member will work closely with one group of students to provide personalised support throughout the term. External speakers and community partners will further enrich the students' learning experience, offering diverse perspectives and reinforcing the values of service and compassion.

Building Community and Lifelong Skills

The St Brendan's Program is designed to offer a unique learning experience that extends beyond the traditional classroom. By engaging with the Dunnstown community and working on real-world projects, students will develop skills in leadership, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship—all of which are grounded in the Mercy values.

These experiences will not only enhance their academic journey but will also prepare them for life beyond school, ensuring they leave Damascus College with a strong foundation in courage, service, and a commitment to justice and respect for others.

R U OK? Day – Thursday 12 September

This Thursday marks R U OK? Day, a national day dedicated to encouraging all of us to regularly check in with others. It’s a day that reminds us of the power of connection and how a simple conversation can make a significant difference in someone’s life. We don’t always know what challenges people are facing, and R U OK? Day helps us be more mindful about offering support to those who might be struggling.

Why is R U OK? Day Important

Mental health can sometimes be difficult to talk about, especially for young people who might not know how to express what they're feeling. In the fast-paced world of school, work, and social media, it’s easy for someone to feel overwhelmed. R U OK? Day encourages us to pause and check on those around us, creating a culture where it’s okay to ask for help.

Starting the conversation is one of the simplest, yet most powerful, ways to show support. Research shows that genuine conversations, even short ones, can prevent mental health issues from escalating.

How to Start the Conversation

If you notice someone seems down, withdrawn, or not quite themselves, take the opportunity to start a conversation. Follow these four simple steps:

1. Ask

• Find a quiet, private place where you can talk, and start with an open, friendly question like, “How are you going?” or “You don’t seem yourself lately. Is everything OK?”
• It can help to show that you’ve noticed specific changes, like, “You seem more tired than usual,” or “You’ve been quiet lately.”

2. Listen

• Give them your full attention and don’t interrupt. It’s important to listen without judgment. Allow them to open up and share their thoughts at their own pace.
• Acknowledge what they’re feeling, and try phrases like, “That sounds really tough,” or “I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling this way.”

3. Encourage Action

• If they mention challenges, ask if they’ve considered taking any steps, such as talking to a trusted friend, family member, or health professional. Offer your support to help them take those steps.
• You might suggest they visit their GP or a counsellor or engage with a service like Headspace or a local mental health support line.

4. Check In

• After your conversation, make sure to follow up. It can be as simple as saying, “I’ve been thinking of you. How have you been since we last spoke?” This lets them know you genuinely care and that your support is ongoing.

For more information on how to have these conversations and further resources, please visit R U OK?

Additionally, we have a special report on SchoolTV covering R U OK? Day, which provides further insights into mental health, wellbeing, and how to support one another effectively.
You can access it here: SchoolTV R U OK? Day Special Report

Live4Life and Year 8 Teen Mental Health First Aid Training

We are thrilled to share that our Year 8 students have now completed their Teen Mental Health First Aid training as part of the Live4Life program. This initiative plays a critical role in empowering our young people to recognise when a peer is struggling and equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to respond.

What is Live4Life?

Live4Life is a community-driven mental health initiative specifically designed for young people. The program addresses youth mental health issues by engaging students, teachers, and the wider community in conversations about mental health. It promotes mental health awareness, provides practical mental health education, and reduces the stigma associated with mental illness.

Why Teen Mental Health First Aid is Vital

Our Year 8 students have now learned key skills that will enable them to:

• Recognise the signs of mental health challenges in themselves and others
• Reach out and offer immediate peer support
• Guide friends towards appropriate adult or professional help when necessary

By building mental health awareness early, we’re ensuring our students can contribute positively to their own mental health and that of their friends and families. This is part of our broader commitment to fostering a mentally healthy school environment.

Upcoming Community Youth Mental Health First Aid Courses

As part of our commitment to supporting the community, Live4Life Ballarat is offering two Youth Mental Health First Aid courses.
These courses are open to all community members and are an excellent opportunity to further engage in mental health education.

These courses are designed to provide participants with the skills to offer initial help to a young person experiencing a mental health crisis or developing a mental health problem.

Help Seeking and Young People: Headspace Ballarat Initiative

Some of our students have been working closely with Headspace Ballarat, who have recently gathered feedback from young people in our community. One clear message was that many young people wanted more visible information on how to access mental health and counselling services outside of school. Specifically, they requested that this information be displayed on posters in easily accessible locations, such as toilet doors.

In response, Headspace have collaborated with a number of community organisations to create a poster outlining various local counselling and mental health services available to young people. These posters have be placed in strategic areas around the school, including the restrooms, ensuring they are easily visible to all students.

These services provide vital support and ensure our young people know where to turn if they need help outside of school hours.

Staff recently had a Faith Formation Day. This is the one day in the year where the focus is on our context as a Catholic school and what that means to us collectively and on an individual level.

The theme for the College this year is Living Mercy. In the spirit of the theme, the formation day explored our heritage through the Gospel, and positioned the Mercy Values of compassion, respect, justice, courage, hospitality, and service within the Christian story.

We were challenged to see ourselves as agents of change in a world that is in need of reflection and action based on our Christian call.

We were joined by Juliet Talarico from Young Mercy Links. Juliet helped us to understand the focus of Laudato Si: Care for Our Common Home and the eighth work of Mercy as declared by Pope Francis in 2016. Juliet explored the idea of having an ecological identity. Thus, challenging us to not only have ecological ideas but to also have an ecological self that places us within a holistic cycle of the environment.

Juliet left us with some powerful quotes to reflect on and inspire us in the work we do with our students:

‘Young people...are empowered to take action – we must listen to their voices and help them take action.’ (Jane Goodall)

‘Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.’ (St Francis)

We ended the day honoring our Catholic tradition with a Mass led by Fr Matthew Restall. The Mass was celebrated in the open air. Even with the brisqueness of the breeze, and a dark and cloudy sky as the back drop, all staff standing together as one was a true representation of community coming to the table as one, unified in our vision.

Catholic School Parents Australia (CSPA) is running a parent survey in partnership with the University of New England on Student Wellbeing and Learning and are seeking your perspective as parents/carers of children who attend a Catholic School in Australia.

You are invited to share your views on existing and emerging affirmations and/or challenges in relation to your child/children’s wellbeing and learning.

The survey is anonymous, confidential, and completely voluntary.

For more information about the study and to participate go here.

Thank you for your support.

As we approach the end of Term 3, we acknowledge that our students are now in the homestretch of their secondary school education. This is an extremely busy time, with multiple SACs and SATs due dates occurring in the next few weeks. We have the final examinations beginning soon. VCAA have already published the examination timetable on their website, and families are encouraged to be conscious of the dates when organizing family events for this period. Pages - VCE examination timetable (vcaa.vic.edu.au) Students were given their official notification of their individual examination dates in the EXCEL classes on Monday 2 September. Please note that performance, language orals and the VET Creative Digital & Media computer examinations are held in other venues, and it is important that the students have the relevant examination slip for those examinations.

The Unit 3/4 trial examination week is an essential part of the Year 12 program at Damascus College. It is expected that all students completing Unit 3 and 4 subjects sit the practice exams. This allows students to prepare for the VCAA October/November examinations, regarding the amount of time and revision required for each subject. The exams will be assessed, and feedback given to students. The results may also be used by teachers to assist with the indicative grade calculations that are required to be submitted to VCAA. Indicative grade scores are used by VCAA to help calculate a derived exam score. Students may wear casual clothes for the trial examinations.

The trial examinations will be held in the second week of the Victorian school holidays, from Monday 30 September to Friday 4 October. We advise that family holidays are best avoided at this time, giving students the maximum chance for success. Thursday and Friday of the final week of Term Three are revision days - Year 12 VCE students will not be expected to attend school on this day, however, please be aware there will be some revision lectures running over these few days. We encourage students to spend part of the first week revising for the examinations. Learning Areas are running the following revision lectures:

• Health and Human Development: 9 September, 3:30pm (2.5 hours)
• General Maths: 16 September, 3:30pm (2.5 hours)
• Specialist Maths: 18 September, 11:00am (2 hours)
• Chemistry: 18 September, 1:30pm, 18 September (3 hours)
• Mathematical Methods: 19 September, 1:30pm (3 hours)
• Business Management: 20 September, 9:00am (2 hours)
• Media: 20 September, 11:00am (2 hours)
• Psychology: 23 September, 9:00am (3 hours)
• English: 27 September, 10:00am (2 hours)
• History Revolutions: 8 October, 9:00am (2 hours)
• English Language: 10 October, 1:30pm (2 hours)
• Physics: 14 October, 1:30pm (2 hours)
• Legal Studies: 18 October, 9:00am (2 hours)
• Health and Human Development: 9 September, 3:30pm (2.5 hours)

2024 Unit 3&4 Trial Exams

SCIENCE AT DAMASCUS

It has been a very busy time in Science during term 3 as students engaged in practical work and assessment tasks to complement and extend the work studied in class.

Year 7 Science

Year 7 students have just finished the Forces unit by completing their assessment task on Parachutes. They worked collaboratively with their partner to investigate whether the size of the parachute is important for slowing down the speed of the fall and then changing one of the variables. Here we see students making their parachute and dropping it from the science B3 balcony.

Year 8 Esteem

Year 8 Esteem students have been working on their “Net Zero” unit, exploring renewable and non-renewable resources along with concepts of sustainability. Students had the opportunity to spend a triple explore session using STELR Housing Kits kindly loaned from Ballarat Tech School. This was an incredible learning opportunity for our students, as they were able to test the efficiency of different building materials in the context of solar power, as well as being challenged to research, construct and test their own “Net Zero” housing design, right here in our science labs at Damascus.  Esteem students also had the opportunity to participate in either a STEM Automation or Tessellation program at Ballarat Tech School this term as well. Students enjoyed the opportunity to further refine their STEM skills, such as coding and 3-D printing, in a hand-on way.

Year 9 Horticulture

The start of spring is an exciting time at Horticulture: there are blossoms popping up, both in the native garden and in the orchard; there is an intensity to the need to get propagating in the green house; and of course, the weeds are flourishing just as much as the desired plants. Students are currently working on creating an instructional video or manual for propagating vegetables and ornamental plants that will be ready for the farmer’s market in March. In addition, they are working at managing the weeds and pests in the garden, and learning about the importance of maintaining soil health. It’s a busy time, but as always, very satisfying and enjoyable.

Year 11 Chemistry

Here we see Year 11 Chemistry students creating and testing a simple galvanic cell, called a Daniell Cell, in which chemical energy is converted to electrical energy.

Year 11 Physics

Students have been studying the physics of roller coasters.

Year 12 Psychology

For their final Psychology SAC, students have been designing and conducting a scientific investigation related to mental and psychological functioning. The photo shows students busily completing their logbook in preparation for their presentation of their findings in a scientific poster.

Year 12 Biology

Year 12 students delve into hands-on learning, completing their experimental designs in biology with investigations focused on antibiotics, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and enzyme activity. From testing the effects of antibiotics on bacteria to exploring the mechanics of photosynthesis and cellular respiration, and examining the role of enzymes in biochemical reactions, these budding scientists apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios, developing critical skills in scientific inquiry and analysis.

Girls and Boys in STEM

This week, a few of our year 8-10 girls and boys will be attending the third 2-day session of the Ballarat Tech School STEM program. We look forward to hearing of their experiences and wish them a most enjoyable time as they work collaboratively with students from other schools.

Periodic Table Challenge 2024

The Science Learning Area held the annual ‘Periodic Table Challenge’ for Science Week.

We congratulate the following winners on their fantastic achievements:

Junior year 7 – 9: Ruby Lethlean total of 236 out of 236.

Senior year 10 -12: Equal 1st - Axel Durham 236 out of 236 and Marlin Phillips 236 out of 236

We also congratulate the following students for participating: Ben Watt, Meg Jones, Emily Crumpler, Niamh Seare, Maddy Coffey, and thank Mrs Patricia Brown for organising this annual event.

Student News

We congratulate Haileigh Buttigieg, in Year 11, who has been selected to attend the National Science youth Forum in Brisbane in January. The NYSF Year 12 Program is designed to give students a broader understanding of the diverse study and career options available in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and to encourage continued studies in these fields. Participants stay at university colleges and have the opportunity to become immersed in science and technology through a range of activities, including:

• participating in tours of science and technology facilities,

• learning about cutting-edge research, university, training and STEM career pathways,

• mixing with other like-minded students from all over Australia, and

• participating in social and team-building activities.

We wish Haileigh the very best and look forward to hearing about her experience.

Confirmation of Re-enrolment for 2025 – CLOSES next Monday 16th September

A reminder to families of current Year 7-11 students that have not already responded regarding re-enrolment for 2025, could you please ensure you log into PAM at Parent Access Module and complete by this coming Monday 16th September 2024. You can indicate ‘Yes’ (student returning); ‘No’ (student not returning) or ‘Undecided’. The College Registrar – Mrs. Erin Marshall will then contact all ‘undecided’ and ‘not returning’ student families (via email) to obtain further details.

If you have any queries, please contact Erin Marshall 5337 2222 (Option ‘4’ - Enrolments) or email e.marshall@damascus.vic.edu.au

Various local Cricket Clubs are looking for players for the upcoming 2024 / 2025 season - please review below:

Buninyong Cricket Club

Mount Clear Cricket Club