Secondary Happenings
Have You Met Laura??
Name: Laura Green
Role: Social Worker & Wellbeing Program Coordinator
What do you enjoy most about working at DCC?
Without a doubt, it’s the people and the strong sense of community. There’s a real culture of support here where people genuinely care about one another. It’s the kind of place where you feel encouraged, valued and part of something bigger, which makes DCC a really special place to work.
What do you love most about your role, and why?
One of the most rewarding parts of my role is building connections with students and families. I love helping create an environment where everyone feels safe, valued and cared for. I also really enjoy coordinating the wellbeing program. It creates space for meaningful conversations and helps students grow in important life skills such as emotional intelligence, resilience and confidence—skills that support them both in and beyond the classroom.
How does your faith shape the way you approach your role in administration?
My faith is central to how I approach my work. I’m reminded that every student has inherent worth because they have been “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139). I love encouraging students to recognise and develop their unique gifts and strengths. Faith also guides the way I listen and support others, helping me to walk alongside students and families with compassion, grace and hope as they navigate both challenges and celebrations.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Outside of school life, I love spending time with my husband, our two children and our dog Monty. I also enjoy catching up with friends over coffee, making the most of the sunshine, and heading to a Geelong AFL game (go Cats!). When I’m not doing that, you might find me on the tennis court or dancing in a fun Zumba class!
What are you most looking forward to for the rest of 2026?
I’m excited about continuing to grow our wellbeing initiatives in 2026 and supporting students as they build resilience, confidence and strong connections with one another. I’m also looking forward to working alongside families and staff to help create a school community where every student feels supported, valued and able to flourish.
VCE Art Excursion
Maria Hotton, Secondary Art Teacher
On Friday 20th March, our VCE Art students set off on a full day creative adventure through Melbourne’s vibrant arts precinct. We started off wandering through the iconic Hosier Lane, taking in its everchanging street art before heading to the National Gallery of Victoria to explore the inspiring Top Arts 2026 exhibition. Showcasing high-quality folios and artworks from last year’s talented Year 12 students, the exhibition filled our students with inspiration offering new ideas for technical skills, conceptual development and exhibition design.
From there, we dived into the NGV’s major international exhibition celebrating two influential fashion designers, Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo. Students were captivated by the bold curatorial choices and striking exhibition design behind this large‑scale display.
In the afternoon, we visited smaller commercial and not-for-profit spaces—Flinders Lane Gallery, Fortyfivedownstairs, and Arc One Gallery. These intimate venues highlighted the important role they play in supporting emerging and midcareer artists, offering a fascinating contrast to the larger exhibition spaces.
Overall, the excursion delivered a wonderfully diverse day of contemporary art practices, inspiring students’ folios and providing valuable knowledge for upcoming SACs and final exams.
EISM Division 1 Swimming
Tommaso Zanneti and Cory Liu, Swimming Captains
The EISM swimming event on Tuesday was an exciting and action packed day for everyone involved. Our DCC Swim Squad gave their all in every event they participated in, showing determination, effort, and commitment throughout the competition. From the very first race to the final events, each swimmer pushed themselves to achieve their best and support one another.
It was especially great to see the improvement across the squad, with younger swimmers showing confidence and strong technique, and more experienced swimmers leading by example. The support and encouragement between teammates really stood out, creating a positive and motivating atmosphere throughout the day. Our team also showed great sportsmanship towards other schools, representing the school with pride.
There were many standout performances across the day; it was fantastic to see swimmers stepping up, whether it was in individual races or team relays, and representing DCC with pride. (A full list of results is included below.)
In addition to the strong performances in the pool, the sportsmanship displayed by our team was outstanding. Swimmers consistently encouraged each other and showed respect towards competitors from other schools, helping to create a positive and supportive atmosphere throughout the event.
Overall, it was a wonderful day that celebrated not only swimming talent but also teamwork and school spirit. Well done to all swimmers who participated, and a big thank you to Mr Turner, Mrs Townend and to our sports captains for their support and organisation.
EISM Division 1 Swimming Highlights
1st Place:
Charisse Chan (U16 Girls Breaststroke)
2nd Place:
- U16 Boys Medley Relay + Freestyle Relay
- U14 Boys Freestyle Relay
- Aaron Williamson (U13 Boys Freestyle A)
- Aaron Williamson (U13 Boys Breaststroke)
- Noah Williamson (U13 Boys Freestyle B)
- Matthew Chan (U16 Boys Freestyle B)
Cory Liu (Open Boys Freestyle B)
3rd Place:
- U13 Boys Medley Relay + Freestyle Relay
- U14 Boys Medley Relay + Freestyle Relay
- U16 Girls Medley Relay + Freestyle Relay
- Open Boys Freestyle Relay
- Matthew Chan (U16 Boys Breaststroke)
- Joshua Spence (U16 Boys Backstroke)
PI Day
Trevor Carter, Head of Mathematics
On the Thursday and Friday leading up to March 14th this year ( 3.14 in US date nomenclature), Donvale secondary students celebrated PI day. The PI day(s) of DCC were filled with lots of fun and excitement! It was a blast seeing everyone get involved in all the events to share our appreciation for PI !
On Thursday, the PI-themed escape room, Fragments of PI, opened to daring visitors. K-block was transformed into ‘PI-block’, with a near-dark room lit by UV lights guiding students to hidden clues. Designed and run by a STEM team led by captains Enoch Hu and Jessie Chen, groups of 4–6 students used creativity, teamwork and problem-solving skills to decode clues, unlock a hidden message and escape for prizes.
Although the puzzles challenged many teams, it was encouraging to see strong collaboration throughout. Congratulations to 7F and 8A, the winners of their year levels, as well as a group of Year 9 boys who conquered the challenge at lunchtime!
On Friday, students competed in Home Group for the PI Day Kahoot championship, with Burrows D (Senior Home Group) crowned winners. At lunchtime, around 100 students and staff gathered on the oval to form a human π symbol for the annual photo, followed by party PIs and PI-themed competitions. Students recited π to impressive lengths, with prizes including McDonald’s Apple PIs, and competed to estimate the circumference of a large circle—well done to Zahli Glover (Year 10) for the closest guess. for estimating to the exact metre!
Congratulations to all who memorised and recited π, especially Elsa Chew (Year 9), who reached 314 decimal places. Year level winners included Tim Mitchell (Year 7), Charlotte Becker (Year 8, back-to-back winner), Joshua Ong (Year 10), Emma Caulfield (Year 11, back-to-back winner) and Cedric Ho (Year 12).
Overall, it was a thrill to see the wonderful appreciation students showed for mathematics through these 2 days, and hopefully this excitement continues to inspire curiosity and engagement in their future encounters with maths! Thank you to all students and staff who participated in these events and congratulations to our STEM team led by Enoch Hu and Jessie Chen (STEM Captains).
VCE VM: Leadership Session with Rebecca Hall
Nicky Joiner, Secondary Teacher - VCE Vocational Major
“What’s the hardest part about being a principal at a new school?” and “Have you ever had to fire someone?” were just some of the thoughtful and challenging questions our VCE Vocational Major students posed to Principal Rebecca Hall during a visit in Week 7 this term. The discussion formed part of the Year 12 Personal Development Skills curriculum, where students explore a range of leadership styles and consider when and how they are most effectively applied.
Rather than learning about leadership solely through textbooks, students had the opportunity to speak directly with our new Principal about her real-world experiences. Rebecca shared what led her into school leadership, the changes she has implemented in previous schools, and her hopes and goals for our College. She emphasised that there is no single “correct” leadership style, explaining the importance of adapting leadership approaches to suit different people and situations. Rebecca spoke about her use of distributed and servant leadership, and her desire to build strong connections with the secondary school community.
In a wonderful example of leadership in action, Rebecca also invited students to share their own ideas about what they would like to see improved at the school. We sincerely thank Rebecca for generously giving her time and insight. This was a valuable opportunity for students to better understand leadership in practice, and for our Principal to learn more about the VCE VM students who make up our school community.
Year 11: Surf Camp
Sam Verduci, Kylie Thorpe and Matt Adamek, Secondary Teachers
This year’s Year 11 PE Surf Camp was a memorable experience for everyone involved, with 56 students, our largest group yet, heading to Phillip Island for two days of challenge, community, and appreciation of God’s creation. Despite the forecast delivering rain, cold winds, and plenty of clouds, students embraced every activity with enthusiasm and positivity.
Across the camp, students took part in three professional surf lessons where they braved the chilly conditions to learn new skills, support one another, and push themselves beyond their comfort zones. The dramatic skies, rolling waves, and rugged coastline offered striking reminders of the power and beauty of God’s world, and even in the grey weather there was a special sense of awe. A highlight came during our final surf session, when the clouds briefly parted and we enjoyed a few uplifting glimpses of sunshine—an encouraging finish to two big days in the water.
In the evening, students enjoyed dinner together in Cowes, sharing stories, laughter, and conversation after long sessions in the surf. Staff were consistently impressed by how well‑behaved, respectful, and resilient the students were throughout the camp. Their attitude and teamwork were a true reflection of our Christian values lived out: gratitude, perseverance, and community.
Students returned home tired, windswept, and proud of what they had accomplished. A huge thank‑you goes to the staff and surf instructors whose enthusiasm and care helped make this camp such a meaningful experience.
