Principal's Report
From the Principal
As we adjust to a new COVID-normal, what remains certain for us all is the uncertainty of the pandemic and the challenges that may still lie ahead in this respect. Related to this, undoubtably, is the spike in COVID cases we witnessed late last week and this week in both students and staff. More than ever, it is essential to take note of the following simple messages:
If you are unwell you should not attend the College.
Although mask wearing is no longer mandated, there are certain settings in schools where it is still sensible to have a mask that you can access and wear. I would like to communicate to our parents that many students and staff are still wearing masks on a regular basis.
Sensible social distancing and hand hygiene practices should still be practiced.
The use of the available Rapid Antigen Tests should be continued for the remainder of this term. These tests are making a difference and I can only strongly encourage their continued use.
I believe that we can take comfort in knowing that as a community, we continue to support each other through these challenging times and by each and every one of us playing our small roles, we can continue to provide a safe and operational school environment.
Year 7 Orientation Camps
Last week our Year 7 camps were held at Anglesea with highlights including surfing, giant swing, high ropes, group sporting activities and the night walks. Given the trials and tribulations of the past two years and the real uncertainty as to whether this camp was going to be able to proceed, it was great that students and staff were afforded this opportunity to connect and participate with enthusiasm in the range of events planned for the week.
Could I acknowledge the Middle School team for their extensive planning of the event – in particular Justin Bond (Head of Middle School), Tina Marchant (Transition Coordinator), Mark Rickard, Kim Schwartz and Bec Morris (Year 7 Coordinators). Thank you to each of our staff who contributed to the success of the camps and gave up their own valuable family time in doing so.
Our Year Level Coordinators were very encouraged to witness the interactions between students as their confidence, friendships, and connection with each other grew visibly in that short space of time. I trust that our students enjoyed their camp; every indication was that this was certainly the case.
EDSC win 2022 Whitehorse Division Swimming Carnival
Last week I had the great pleasure of attending the morning session of the Whitehorse Division Swimming and Diving Carnival at the Aquarena in Doncaster. A contingent of over 25 competitors proudly represented our College in a great fashion. At the conclusion of the Carnival, East Doncaster Secondary College once again won the overall tally of the events – a terrific performance by the team!
Although our squad of swimmers this year was smaller in numbers than previous years, it was fantastic to see the entire squad participate with such enthusiasm – with most swimmers entering multiple events and relay teams. Well done to the entire squad, we were very proud of your spirit and participation on the day!
Overall Team Scores:
771 - East Doncaster SC
509 - Blackburn HS
417 - Koonung SC
321 - Box Hill HS
87 – Box Hill SSC
Congratulations to the following students who were awarded age champions:
Boys 12-13 - Christopher
Boys 14 - Alex
Girls 15 - Courtney
Boys 16 - Matthew
Girls 18-20 - Misha
Matthew broke two records on the day, with Misha, Charlie and Victoria breaking one record each. Of significant note, the record Victoria broke stood for over 17 years!
Our team now moves ahead to the EMR Swimming Carnival on March 29.
Congratulations to our Sporting Carnival Coordinator, Michael James, Event Coordinator, Glenn Baker, and our Physical Education staff who assisted on the day.
Cycle One College Reports
A reminder for parents that our College Cycle One reports will be available on the Compass system on Friday 18 March.
Our first assessment cycle, although reflecting a short time frame for all subject areas, offers important feedback at this early stage of the school year. It is our aim that this level of initial feedback will allow for positive outcomes and work-habits to be reinforced and for identified issues to be addressed and improved upon in a timely manner that allows for a successful platform for learning growth throughout the year.
Given the major disruption to student learning over the past two years, it is hoped that parents and students will focus on this initial feedback to monitor learning progress and positive study habits.
Finally, it is also acknowledged that the number of students who have missed classes this term, whilst involved in a COVID-related isolation period on a personal basis or as a close contact, has resulted in a higher level of student absence than would be normal at the start of a school year.
Our teachers have been spoken to about the need to ensure that students have appropriate time to touch base with their teachers and seek assistance with work before being given assessments they may have missed. We have not sought to rush work through for the sake of a reporting cycle.
Where needed, we will seek to notify parents that their child’s result will be delayed due to their extended absence, and we will seek to update the report at a later date.
Opening of the Philip Gardner Wellbeing Centre
Even though we completed construction last year, I am pleased to announce that our College is celebrating the official opening of the Philip Gardner Wellbeing Centre on Monday 21 March.
The Manningham Mayor, Cr Michelle Kleinert has graciously accepted our invitation, along with Mrs Gaby Gardner, wife of the late Philip Gardner, to officially ‘cut the ribbon’ and open the centre, alongside our student leaders.
The Philip Gardner Wellbeing Centre is a state of the art, purpose-built centre, which houses the College’s multi-discipline wellbeing team who provide students and their families with information, support, advocacy, and referral. The centre also consists of a large ‘wellbeing hub,’ where programs that focus on positive mental health promotion are delivered to students of all year levels, and two prayer/spiritual reflection rooms.
A former Principal of our College from 2001 – 2008 and well-respected educator, Philip Gardner, retired in 2008, and sadly passed away in 2019.
Philip was a highly respected member of our school community and more broadly, the education community. Philip was passionate about his work with young people and positively impacted the lives of not only our student cohort, but also his colleagues, who saw Philip as a mentor and friend.
College Open Night
On Thursday 17 March the College will host parents and students of our community at an Open Night to introduce our school to them. The evening will commence with School Tours at 5.30 pm. We look forward to this opportunity to showcase the varying dimensions of our College to prospective families of our community.
Attendance at this year’s Open Night will be by booking only, to ensure a COVID-safe environment. This will impact the number of parents and prospective students who may be able to attend. In recognition of this, we have organised several extra College Tours to be conducted for the remainder of Term 1. I would refer parents and students to the College website for further details of both events.
Parent – Teacher - Student Interviews
A reminder that our Term 1 Parent/Teacher Interviews are to be held on Wednesday 30 March.
We encourage parents to avail themselves of this important opportunity to meet our teachers to discuss student progress. All bookings must be made via Compass.
Interview Times are:
Interviews 1.30pm – 4.45pm
Interviews 6.00pm – 8.30pm
The Parent - Teacher - Student Interview Booking System will be accessible from:
Year 12 Student Bookings - 12.00pm Friday 18 March until 4.00pm Tuesday 29 March 2022.
Year 7 to 11 Student Bookings – 10.00am Monday 21 March until 4.00pm Tuesday 29 March 2022.
Students are not required to attend school on Wednesday 30 March but are encouraged to attend interviews with parents and teachers. Location map will be posted with entrance instructions once confirmed.
As a College, we are required to have lodged a COVID-Safe plan for this event. Please note the conditions that will apply on this day both on our website and when making a booking on Compass.
We fully acknowledge that the logistics of the afternoon and evening make it difficult for all parents to meet with each teacher, I would therefore advise parents to be selective and prioritise their bookings.
If parents are unable to attend personally on day or unable to secure an interview with a particular teacher, could I remind all parents that the COMPASS system allows for ongoing communication via email. I would encourage parents to contact any teacher if they have specific concerns/queries regarding the education of their child. Alternatively, parents may contact Year Level Coordinators to arrange meetings and discuss overall performance or other issues.
Please find attached further information regarding Parent – Teacher - Student Interviews and booking information. For further booking instructions please go to https://www.compass.education/guide#section-09
Vale John Landy AC, CVO, MBE
It was with great sadness that we noted the passing of John Landy, the former Governor of Victoria, on Thursday 24 February at the age of 91.
John Landy was responsible for one of the most iconic moments in Australian sporting history - when he went back to check on a fallen runner mid-race at the 1956 Australian National Championships.
Among various achievements in athletics, Landy represented Australia at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
In 1954 in Finland, Landy became the second man behind Roger Bannister to achieve a sub-4-minute mile.
Landy’s famous moment in 1956 with Ron Clarke, another famous Australian athlete, became a touchstone for sportsmanship. It was a testament to his athletic prowess and dominance that after assisting Clarke in the rear of the field, as the race continued, Landy then went on to win the race in a time of 4:04.2. His win is often considered one of the greatest moments in Australian sporting folklore and was voted the ‘finest sporting moment of the 20th century’ by the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in the lead-up to the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
Apart from a famous and distinguished sporting career, John Landy’s list of achievements is long and impressive. He was a Secondary School Science teacher before undertaking further University studies that led him to a career in the management of several large companies.
He was also an avid lover of nature and science, writing two books on the subject and served on the board of the Victorian Land Conservation Council for many years before becoming the Governor of Victoria.
When our College constructed the Senior School building in 2002-03, it was decided to name the new building in honour of John Landy, who was the Governor of Victoria at the time. It was felt that John Landy’s deeds and character, not only in his sporting career but in his subsequent achievements, embodied the values that the College sought to uphold and display. John Landy personally opened the building on 7 April 2003.
John Roberts
Principal
Parent Payment arrangements for 2022
The Parent Payment arrangements for 2022 are available via Compass on your home page under “Course Confirmation/Payments”.
Payments can be made through Compass or directly to the College via credit card or cash using the College Payment Envelope (when the General Office re-opens to parents).
If you do not wish to pay via Compass, please ensure you return a copy of the completed form to the General Office, available under “pay in person at the school” link at the bottom of the page in Course Confirmations/Payments, or you can request a copy from the College via
parentpayments@eastdonsc.vic.edu.au
Payments were due by Tuesday 23 November 2021
Your ongoing support of the College allows us to continue to offer a broad range of programs and enhanced curriculum experiences.
Please refer to the attached Parent Payments Policy and further links to information via
https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/parent-payment/policy
College Philosophy
At East Doncaster Secondary College we have a strong tradition of academic excellence and we aim to promote and sustain a reflective learning culture. We want students to experience a sense of achievement and growth in their academic, personal, social and emotional development. We have high expectations of our students’ commitment to being mutually supportive and striving for success as learners. We are proudly multicultural with a student population from 43 nationalities including a number of International Students. 68% of our students speak a language other than English at home.
A student’s life at school is full of opportunities, being rich and varied with a range of co-curricular activities in music, sport, productions, debating, clubs as well as camps and international experiences for the educational and personal development of students. Our students are vibrant, energetic, and talented young people. There are many student leadership opportunities and we aim to continue to increase student access to decision-making and self-determination as learners.
We endeavour to create a "Culture of Curiosity" with goals of ensuring learning improvement for every student – every student, every period, every day.
Our school’s purpose is to develop passionate learners who are critical thinkers with the confidence and capability to engage in the global community.
Care and Compassion, Curiosity, Excellence, Fairness, Resilience, Respect and Teamwork are the core values that underpin the culture of our school as we embrace the challenges of 21st Century learning.
We aim to sustain a learning culture that provides every student with a sense of achievement and of being their best in their academic, personal, social and emotional development.
Privacy and Data at East Doncaster Secondary College
East Doncaster Secondary College uses a number of digital platforms to support your child’s education, such as Compass, Google Drive and Office 365.
The College has an Information Security Policy and complies with the Department of Education and Training Privacy Policy. Click on the below link to access these documents.