Last Thursday, the College community gathered for our annual Mother’s Day Breakfast, a joyful occasion that celebrated the vital role of mothers and caregivers in the lives of our students. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming as families shared breakfast together and students expressed gratitude for the love, guidance, and support their mothers provide. Thank you to all who joined us for this beautiful celebration of family and faith. I am thankful for our wonderful student leaders who led the liturgy and hospitality and modelled our sense of shared Christian story and connection to the gospels.

Congratulations to all students who represented Damascus College with pride at the recent BAS Athletics Carnival. Our athletes demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship, determination, and team spirit throughout the day. Their efforts on the track and field are a testament to the College’s commitment to holistic education and active participation. Well done to all who competed and supported their peers. Thanks to the many staff who supported our athletes whether on the track or back at the College taking additional classes.

The recent RICE House Assembly was a powerful showcase of leadership, reflection, and unity. Students explored the House’s patron, Edmund Rice, and his legacy of education and justice. The story of the Rice House is pivotal in our school heritage, as it celebrates the work of the Christian Brothers in one of our founding schools, St Paul’s Technical School. The assembly provided a valuable opportunity for students to reflect on how the values of RICE House can guide their daily actions and contribute to the wider College community.

Our annual Lap of the Lake event brought students from Years 7 – 10 and keen athletes in Years 11 and 12 and staff together for a meaningful experience around Lake Wendouree. This tradition not only promotes physical wellbeing but also reinforces our sense of community and purpose. It was encouraging to see students supporting one another with energy and enthusiasm as they walked, ran, and reflected on the journey.

In recent global news, the Catholic Church has entered a new chapter with the election of Pope Leo XIV. This historic event offers our community a moment to reflect on the role of the papacy in shaping faith, unity, and service across the world. Students and staff have taken time in Religious Education and prayer to consider how the Holy Father’s vision may inspire our mission as a Catholic school.

Damascus College is currently engaged in the collaborative writing of a new Vision and Mission Statement, working closely with the School Advisory Council and staff. This important process is grounded in prayer, reflection, and community voice, ensuring our strategic direction continues to reflect our values and aspirations as a Catholic learning community. I look forward to continue this process of discernment with our student leaders.

As Term 2 progresses, we encourage all students to remain focused and committed to their learning goals. Now is a crucial time to stay organised, seek support when needed, and take pride in the learning journey. Staff are here to guide and support every student as they strive for excellence and personal growth.

On behalf of the community, we extend our congratulations to Ash Pillai on his appointment as Deputy Principal – Pedagogy, Learning Design at Sacred Heart College, Geelong.

Ash has made a significant and lasting impact in his role as Assistant Principal – Learning and Teaching at Damascus College. His leadership has been instrumental in driving meaningful change across the learning landscape, particularly through his work in STEM education, the St Brendan’s Learning Space and the implementation of the Instructional Model just to name a few.

Ash’s passion for innovative learning design and commitment to student growth have left a remarkable legacy at Damascus, and we are confident that he will continue to inspire and lead with vision and integrity in his new role at Sacred Heart.

Ash will finish at the College at the end of Term 2.

We wish him every success in this exciting new chapter!

We welcome several new staff members to the Damascus team this term and are excited for the gifts and energy they bring to our community. At the same time, we acknowledge the resignation of Maria Russell, a valued member of staff whose contribution to the College over many years in Music and productions has been deeply appreciated. We thank Maria for her dedication and wish her every blessing in the future.

With every blessing

Last Sunday was Mother's day, and we pray for our Mum's and the significant women in our lives. We offer a prayer of gratitude and ask that God bless and care for Mums and all women!

We pray for our mothers, who give life and count toes and tend to

our every need; May they be blessed with patience and tenderness

to care for their families and themselves with great joy.

We pray for our own mothers who have nurtured and cared for us;

May they continue to guide us in strong and gentle ways.

We remember mothers who are separated from their children

because of war, poverty, or conflict;

May they feel the loving embrace of our God

We pray for women who are not mothers but still love and shape us

with motherly care and compassion.

We remember mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers who

are no longer with us but who live forever in our memory and nourish

us with their love.

Amen

A New Chapter Begins: Xavier Flood Senior Learning Centre

We are delighted to announce the completion and upcoming official opening of the Xavier Flood Senior Learning Centre, a transformative new facility that marks a significant milestone in the history of the College.

From Monday 19 May, our senior students will commence classes in this state-of-the-art building, which features 23 modern learning spaces designed to support collaboration, independence, and deep engagement with learning. The thoughtfully designed centre includes flexible classrooms, quiet study zones, and integrated technologies – all tailored to meet the needs of senior learners as they prepare for life beyond school.

The building will be officially opened and blessed on Thursday 22 May, a special occasion that will bring together students, staff, invited guests, and members of our wider school community. This celebration will honour not only the physical structure but the values and vision that inspired it.

The centre is named in honour of Mother Xavier Flood, a foundational figure in the Mercy tradition. Her legacy of courage, compassion, and commitment to education lives on through this new space. As our Year 11 & 12 students become the first cohort to learn within its walls, they carry forward her example, setting the tone for all who follow.

We extend our deepest thanks to the many people who have made this project possible – our school leadership, architects, builders, and most especially our teaching staff, who continued to deliver high-quality learning experiences throughout the construction process.

The Xavier Flood Senior Learning Centre represents more than a new building – it is a powerful symbol of renewal, growth, and hope. We look forward to the many memories, milestones, and moments of learning that will unfold within its walls for years to come.

Chris

Celebrating Rice House and Reinforcing Responsible Social Media Use

Congratulations to Rice House, led by House Leader Nicole Hexter and House Captains Ruby Byrne, Angus Kasbach, Ruby Lavery, and Bridie Orchard, for their contributions to an outstanding House Assembly last Friday. The event was a powerful showcase of the deep talent and spirit that exists within our Damascus community.

The assembly featured a diverse range of student-led participation, including musical performances, a creative and reflective profile of House Founder Edmund Rice, a lively and entertaining Year 12 dance, and a heartfelt acknowledgment of Do It For Dolly Day—an important reminder of our collective responsibility to promote kindness and stand against bullying.

Following this assembly, our Year 8 and 9 Coordinators, Shaun O’Loughlin and Kateyln Clark took the opportunity to revisit the importance of responsible social media use with students. The College has recently been made aware of posts on popular social media platforms that reference Damascus students under official College branding. We take these matters seriously, and it's vital that all members of our community understand the potential impact of their digital footprint. In addition to this some of the comments made are hurtful and damaging to students' mental health and wellbeing. In the event that students have been identified parents and carers have the right to pursue these matters through Victoria Police.

We urge all parents and carers to remain actively engaged in monitoring their child's social media activity. As part of recent legislative changes, age-restricted social media platforms are now required to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from creating accounts.

We encourage families to review these new guidelines, which are detailed in the Australian Government’s fact sheet, available here:
👉 Social Media Minimum Age and Age Assurance Trial Fact Sheet

As always, we thank you for your continued support in nurturing a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all Damascus College students.

Regards,

Andy Robertson

Bonjour from Ballarat. A French Tale of Cheese, Chat, and lots of Chateaus.

“A different language is a different vision of life.” – Federico Fellini

After two weeks navigating metro stations, devouring endless baguettes, and being mercilessly quizzed on my French vocabulary by 16 amazing students, I can safely say, France changed us all. And no, not just because my jeans are now tighter thanks to an aggressive cheese-eating campaign I may or may not have led.

Travelling through Angers, Amboise, Saumur, Saint-Malo, and finally Paris, our days were filled with discovery—and our mornings? Well, they were a mix of bleary-eyed students and teachers trying to decipher what the plans were for that day and how we were going to get to our destinations. Mr Augustin somehow always looked composed (we suspect secret French ancestry), while Mrs Myers and I often looked like contestants on The Amazing Race: Fromage Edition. I have to say, though, our Tour guides were fantastic, and we were blessed to have them with us.

This trip wasn’t just a tick-the-box tourist trail, and it's not about the fabulous sites we saw...and believe me, they were extraordinary. It is about the immersion, a beautiful deep dive into French life, language, and yes, their sacred daily ritual: the two-hour lunch. You’d think 16 teenagers would squirm at sitting down for that long without doom-scrolling on social media, but they embraced it. As did I. It made me realise just how much of my own life is lived at a gallop, food scoffed between meetings or on the run. In France, we learned to pause. We learned to talk. And we learned to listen, not just to each other, but to the rhythms of a culture that cherishes connection over convenience.

There was one evening in Paris when I confidently told a French waiter, “Je suis plein” thinking I was saying “I’m full.” The look of horror she gave me told me I’d said something wildly inappropriate. (Hmmm, I later learnt that phrase actually means you’re pregnant. You're welcome.)

Each morning, without fail, my students would test me and correct me on my French phrases. It became a game: “Mr Pillai, how do you order a coffee?” “How do I say, I have sore feet?” (An important one after 20,000 steps a day.) My confidence in speaking grew with each interaction, and I noticed something beautiful: the locals were patient, encouraging, and truly delighted when we tried. Even the cranky ones softened with a “Bonjour, monsieur!”

The truth is, learning a second language isn’t just about vocabulary and verbs. It’s about empathy. It’s about understanding another way of life. It’s about fumbling through a new phrasebook and still being met with a smile. In this year of “Respect”, this is all too poignant.

I’ve come back with a fuller heart, an appreciation for long dinners, and a newfound desire to keep learning. I can see that in our students, too. They’ve returned with stories, confidence, and curiosity and possibly some videos of Mr Pillai dancing... “cringe”. But their commitment to their French classes has doubled. They've seen that French is not just a subject, it’s a passport.

So as we consider our subjects in Term 3 for 2026, consider continuing in a language you’re choosing electives or encouraging your student to “stick with the language”, think of our French tale. Think of the friendships forged over raclette and the thrill of ordering your first crêpe in perfect French. Think of the world that opens when you learn to speak another’s language.

Because in the end, we didn't just come back from France with souvenirs.
We came back with perspective...And maybe...a few extra kilos of camembert.

“Peace be with all of you!” — the first words of Pope Leo XIV, newly elected leader of the Catholic Church. Just hours ago, from the central loggia of Saint Peter’s Basilica, the traditional announcement rang out: Annuntio vobis gaudium: Habemus Papam! I announce to you a great joy: We have a Pope.

Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost has been elected the 267th Bishop of Rome, taking the name Leo XIV. This is a moment of significance for Catholic communities around the world, including here at Damascus College. As a school in the Mercy tradition and part of the Diocese of Ballarat, we acknowledge this new chapter in the life of the Church.

Whether we personally identify with the Catholic faith or not, this moment invites us to reflect on leadership, hope, and our shared vocation in education. In Pope Leo XIV’s simple and generous greeting—“Peace be with all of you”—we hear a call that resonates deeply with our mission: to be people of peace, integrity, and compassion in the lives of young people and in our community.

May this new papacy bring renewed energy to the values we hold dear: dignity, justice, and the transformative power of learning.

As a diverse and inclusive community, we honour this new chapter with openness and reflection. May it be a time of renewal for those who find meaning in faith, and a reminder to us all of the values that bind us together in education and humanity.

We offer our warmest wishes and prayers for Pope Leo XIV as he begins his papal ministry, may his leadership be marked by wisdom, courage, and peace.

Caritas Australia’s major fundraiser, Project Compassion, was run throughout the season of Lent in churches and Catholic Schools throughout Australia. Damascus College ran several fundraising and awareness raising events throughout Term 1 including the Swimming Carnival BBQ, SRC Bake Sale, TAPITAS, a Hydration Hike and a Poverty and Education Human Board Game.

TAPITAS

Here at Damascus, it is easy to take for granted the ability to turn on a tap whenever we need running water. This year, Caritas highlighted the plight of students in Samoa who often run out of water and if they are unable to source water from their neighbours, have to send their students home. With this in mind the Year 12 Youth Ministry students led the TAPitas initiative, where for $2 staff and students could buy a droplet which would be displayed on the school’s TAPITAS window. When someone bought a droplet, they were invited to write a prayer or a message of hope to show their solidarity for people for whom getting water is not as simple as turning on a tap.

Hydration Hike

Currently, 292 million people spend more than 30 minutes a day walking to collect water. To show compassion for these people, the 10.3 Youth Ministry class held a Hydration Hike where students completed a couple of laps of the Murrnong Trail while carrying buckets of water. The students were sponsored by their families and the school staff and were very grateful for the support.

Human Board Game

Education is a right for everyone, unfortunately there are many factors that can affect one’s access to education. For students living in poverty the struggle to finish a year of school, let alone six, is great. Through this game students were able to experience the setbacks felt by students around the world who, through no fault of their own, struggle to get to school let alone access the curriculum. By supporting Caritas, we can assist students, and their families, to rise out of poverty and get an education.

Through the Damascus College Community’s kind donations, we were able to raise over $3,000 for Caritas.

Thank you to everyone who supported our Fundraising and Awareness Raising initiatives.

Though Lent is over, let us continue to Unite Against Poverty.

Thank you to all families who have adapted to the updated student absence notification process via SMS.

Please note that if you receive an absence SMS, you will need to log the absence directly through PAM. Replies to the SMS should only be made if you believe the absence has been recorded in error.

To support families in transitioning to this new system, the College will continue to respond to SMS replies with reminders about the updated process until Friday, 20 June. After this date, any absences not recorded in PAM will be considered unapproved unless subsequently updated by parents or carers in PAM.

Please also note that the PAM portal now accepts absence entries until 3:30pm each day.

If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact our Student Reception team or the Leader of College Administration

220 students have signed up to represent the college in Term 2 BAS Sport. This is an outstanding and significant number, it gives me great pleasure to have the task of organising all the behind the scenes tasks that need completing prior to and during the term to ensure all students have success. The benefits from playing after school sport include, but are not limited to; enjoyment, fitness, increased game sense, a greater connection to our college, meeting new friends and learning from our experienced and enthusiastic staff about your chosen sport. A big thank you must go to the 15 staff who are coaching, supervising and umpiring throughout the term, for without their contribution after school sport would not be viable. In particular I would like to acknowledge Sports Administrator’s Ellie Meade and Pat Dillon for all their work thus far in 2025, our program would not run as well as it does without the contribution from those two.

Damascus Lap of The Lake

On Friday, May 2 the Damascus community made its way to Lake Wendouree to participate in the annual Lap of The Lake. On a good day for running the Year 7 and 8’s started proceedings by starting from near the Forest Street roundabout to run 4km. The Year 9-12 students completed a full lap (6km), with the start and finish line at Loreto. It was wonderful to see a large number of staff modelling a healthy lifestyle by running or walking the lake with our students. This demonstrates that regular daily exercise is achievable and is an important lifetime habit to establish. Results were as follows.

Year Level Winners

Term 2 BAS Sport

See below for a summary of what sports are available in Term 2. The majority of sports commenced in week two.

BAS Athletics

On Tuesday, May 6 the annual BAS Athletics Carnival, was held at Llanberris Reserve. We had 140 students represent the college across all track and field events on what was a nice sunny day. Thank you to the staff who gave up their time to officiate and support on the day, Dan Jans, Nikki Hexter, Rachel Wallbank, Ellie Meade, Hamish Walsh, Kirsten Phyland, Pat Dillon, Joe Carmody, Tom Inverarity, Georgia Shillito, Wayne Forster and Paul Blanchfield. Special mention and a huge thanks must go to Rod Mathews, who was ill on the day, who spent many hours preparing the squad after collating all the results from our own carnival. Rod’s passion and dedication is second to none. It was also wonderful to see parents drop in and support their son or daughter on the day.

Event Winner’s

• Boys 19 & Under 800 Meter Race Walk Open Div A - Kuchel, Ethan - 4:11.08
• Boys 16 & Under High Jump Yr 11 Div B Division B - Kuchel, Ethan - 1.60m
• Girls 12 & Under Shot Put Yr 7 Div A Division A - Adams, Ava - 7.87m
• Girls 12 & Under Shot Put Yr 7 Div B Division B - Fletcher, Evrah - 8.24m
• Boys 19 & Under Triple Jump Yr 12 Div B Division B - Orton, Liam - 10.49m
• Girls 16 & Under 400 Meter Run Yr 11 Div A Division A - Jones, Lucy - 1:00.98
• Girls 16 & Under 800 Meter Run Yr 11 Div A Division A - Jones, Lucy - 2:18.08
• Boys 16 & Under 800 Meter Run Yr 11 Div A Division A - Burge, Oaklee - 2:05.08
• Girls 19 & Under High Jump Yr 12 Div B Division B - Orchard, Bridie - 1.34m
• Girls 14 & Under 100 Meter Run Yr 9 Div B Division B - Spratling, Tahlia -14.37
• Boys 13 & Under High Jump Yr 8 Div B Division B - Cross, Darcy - 1.45m
• Girls 13 & Under High Jump Yr 8 Div B Division B - Westlake, Jess - 1.26m
• Boys 13 & Under 400 Meter Run Yr 8 Div A Division A - Thorne, Nate - 59.12
• Boys 13 & Under 200 Meter Run Yr 8 Div A Division A - Thorne, Nate - 26.24
• Girls 16 & Under 200 Meter Run Yr 11 Div B Division B - Reynolds, Mia - 29.99
• Girls 12 & Under Triple Jump Yr 7 Div A Division A - Preston, Maya - 9.31m
• Girls 19 & Under 1500 Meter Run Yr 12 Div A Division A - Ashley, Gretta - 5:21.21
• Boys 16 & Under Long Jump Yr 11 Div B Division B - Handreck, Samuel - 5.26m
• Boys 12 & Under High Jump Yr 7 Div B Division B - May, Jimmy - 1.45m
• Girls 14 & Under 400 Meter Run Yr 9 Div B Division B - Spratling, Tahlia - 1:10.98
• Boys 16 & Under 400 Meter Run Yr 11 Div B Division B - Den Heyer, Jackson - 55.83

Victorian School Associations Competition – Swimming Championships

On Monday May 12, Jonty Ward, Estelle Karslake, Mason Firth and Luke Gallagher represented BAS at the VSAC Swimming Championships at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC). This is as a result of their strong results from the BAS Swimming Carnival in term 1. This is an outstanding achievement and due reward and recognition for not only their ability but dedication to the sport of swimming. A big thankyou to Jasmeyn Brooks, who has the staff member on the night.

Term 2 Key Dates

Damascus Sport Uniform

Students need to ensure they are in the correct uniform to participate. Students should check with their coach as to what is required and bring your own drink bottle.

I wish all students and coaches the best for Term 2 Sport. Always play the game in the right spirit, wear the correct uniform, respect the umpires, staff in charge and the facilities. You all have an opportunity to add to your school experience by being the best you can be, both in and out of the classroom.

Please do not hesitate to contact myself (g.webb@damascus.vic.edu.au) or Sport and PE at the College with any questions.

Regards,

Gavin Webb

Sports Co-ordinator

Term 1 was a busy and inspiring start to the year in the Science department, with students across all year levels engaging in a wide range of exciting learning experiences.

Our Year 7 students were welcomed into the world of Science by developing key foundational skills and exploring the states of matter through hands-on investigations. In Year 8, our ESTEEM students focused on sustainability, designing and testing energy-efficient Net Zero Houses using our brand-new STELR kits.

Year 9 students deepened their understanding of chemistry, investigating atomic structure, bonding, and the periodic table. Year 10 students explored genetics and inheritance, using plant-based experiments to observe genetic variation in action. Meanwhile, our Year 9 Horticulture students had a productive term preparing for and running their annual Farmer’s Market—a great success that showcased their produce, teamwork, and marketing skills.

VCE students have been working hard across Biology, Psychology, Environmental Science, Chemistry, and Physics, with many practical experiments and off-campus learning experiences. Highlights included excursions to Ballarat Tech School, where students accessed specialist biology technologies, and Luna Park, where physics concepts came alive in a real-world setting.

Our ongoing partnership with Ballarat Tech School continues to offer outstanding STEM enrichment. Selected students for the Boys and Girls in STEM program—Luca Probert, Dante Gosney, Ben Henderson, Harry Elliot, Leuca Henderson, Isabeau Turner, Asha Chapman and Elsie Angove—participated in their first two sessions, engaging in 3D printing, laser cutting, virtual reality, and prototype presentations to the Mars Wrigley engineering team. A special congratulations to Noah Kennon and Madison Buttigieg, who were named STEM Leaders for 2025.

We were also proud to see Girls in STEM alumni Haileigh Buttigieg and Isabella Brown-Kenyon attend the International Day of Women and Girls in Science event at the Victorian Parliament House. Hosted by the Royal Society of Victoria, the event gave them the chance to engage with female leaders in STEM and connect with like-minded students from Banyule Nillumbik Tech School.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to be rolling out our new STEM Pathways Program in collaboration with Ballarat Tech School, giving all Year 7–9 students the opportunity to participate in a full-day program of coding, engineering, design, physics challenges, and tech-based problem-solving. These programs aim to grow not just STEM skills, but also leadership, creativity, and resilience.

It’s been a fantastic start to 2025, and we can’t wait to see what Term 2 brings!

As flagged in my Term 1 Newsletter article, we are currently in the process of updating much of our RE curriculum to engage with the Department of Education’s Respectful Relationships curriculum via the lens of Catholic faith and tradition . For Yrs7-10, this term has taken on the title focus of ‘Right Relationships’, looking through a spiritual lens at the formation of healthy, thriving individuals in our contemporary world.

For Yr7, this term’s unit entitle ‘Fostering Respectful Relationships’ has offered students the opportunity to come to an understanding of Human Rights, Human Dignity and the relationship of love God invites all people into. Through the lens of Covenant Theology and Catholic Social Teaching, students explore what it means to be an individual living in community with others: respecting difference while affirming our shared humanity. Picking up on the Mercy Value of Respect, students have been challenged to consider the dignity and rights of themselves and others, identifying some of the challenges and great opportunities this can present in life. Yr7 Students & Staff have also had the opportunity to vote on the design of their inaugural Yr7 Respect Badge – with Kayla B’s amazing image winning the most support. Kayla’s image (below) calls each of us to adopt respect as a lens through which we view each other and the world around us, respecting difference while valuing the fundamental human rights of all. Congratulations Kayla!

Aligning with the opening of our St Brendan’s campus, Yr8s have been exploring the theme of ‘right relationship’ with a focus placed on the environment. Also applying a lens of Covenant Theology and Catholic Social Teaching, students are exploring the current state of our natural world, identifying areas where signs of negative change have become evident and researching the possible causes for this. Reflecting on the deep human connection we all share to the environment, students will have the opportunity to reflect upon God’s call to “dominion” (Gen 1:26) as being a key component of both what it means to be human as well as people in relationship to a Creator God.

Yr9s have been exploring the idea of living in ‘right relationship’ with ourselves and others in a unit which asks them to consider what ‘Justice’ should look like in our contemporary world. Current events in international politics seems to provide a steady stream of materials from which discussions are being focused, with students being invited to question how well we are currently achieving – or falling short – in terms of achieving God’s dream for our world: a world where “justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like an ever-lasting stream” (Amos 5:24). In light of this, students have been asked to consider the difference between ‘equality’ and ‘equity’, and recognise the important role individual perspectives play in such discussions.

Yr10s are being challenged to consider what they consider ‘success’ to be in their own lives and that of individuals whom they admire. Is ‘being my best’ – all about a high ATAR, financial gain or Insta recognition? How can the idea of living in ‘right relationship’ with others actually add to my feeling of self-worth? What does it mean to live a fulfilling, meaningful life? Examining the theories of both Aristotle and Kant, students will be challenged to re-think what true ‘happiness’ is and consider what they really hope to achieve in life. Hopefully many of you at home will find dinner-time conversations leaning in the direction of these big questions, giving you an opportunity to engage with your young people about some deeply personal, meaningful reflections.

Our Senior RE classes continue to explore the nature and purpose of religious faith in a number of different learning opportunities being offered to them: be this in their VC Religion & Society units, VM RE, Youth Ministry or our Yr12 RE classes. In the coming weeks, Our Yr11s will be given the opportunity to explore our local First Nations spirituality and reflect upon how these ancient traditions can shape an individual’s world view.

As always, I hope the work your young person/people are doing in RE makes it home for general discussion as such opportunities can be fertile ground for deep, rich and meaningful connection.

Annette Hirth
RE LAL

We're delighted to share a special piece about our beloved Damascus College support dog, Remi, written by Blake, a Year 7 student. Remi, who joined Damascus in 2022 and is now three years old, has made a significant impact on our school community.

Recently, Remi attended the 2025 Year 7 Immunisation Day, offering comfort and calm to students by sitting with them and enjoying ear rubs while they overcame their nervousness. Parents often stop Mrs. Brown to share how much their children talk about Remi and enjoy spending time with her.

Blake loves meeting Remi every Monday in 7205 during the student support group session, illustrating the special connection they share.

Thank you, Blake, for capturing Remi's wonderful contributions to our school life. We're fortunate to have both Blake and Remi as part of the Damascus College family.

At Damascus College, our Archives serve as more than just a repository of records and heritage items—they are a vital resource that connects our current students and staff with the rich history that has shaped our school community over the past 140 years. This history includes not only Damascus College itself but also our three foundation schools: Sacred Heart College, St Martin’s in the Pines, and St Paul’s Technical College.

In Term 1, some of our Year 7 Religious Education classes had the opportunity to visit the Archives Gallery, located on the lower ground floor of the Damascus Events Centre. During these class visits, students learnt more about and explored the history of our foundation schools through historical displays, vintage school uniforms, and engaging, hands-on activities. This immersive experience allowed them to gain a deeper appreciation for the legacy of those who came before them and the journey that has shaped our college and made us who we are today.

As we celebrate 30 years of Damascus College in 2025—it is more important than ever to reflect on and celebrate our history. Built upon a legacy dating back to 1881, our school community continues to be shaped by the Mercy values, traditions, and stories of the past. Opportunities like these visits to the Archives Gallery ensure that our students develop a strong connection to their school’s history and a sense of pride in being part of the Damascus story.

As we celebrate 30 years of Damascus College in 2025—it is more important than ever to reflect on and celebrate our history. Built upon a legacy dating back to 1881, our school community continues to be shaped by the Mercy values, traditions, and stories of the past. Opportunities like these visits to the Archives Gallery ensure that our students develop a strong connection to their school’s history and a sense of pride in being part of the Damascus story.

Please see following information in relation to joining the 1st Mount Clear Scout group: