Secondary Happenings

Student Futures

Emily Gosbell, Careers Practitioner

At DCC we value Careers and Pathways Education. Our Careers team endeavour to give our Secondary students time and space to learn more about themselves, who God created them to be and to think through and explore their futures. We seek to provide opportunities for students to build skills that help to equip them, not only for the workplace but for a life of ministry and mission.

Last year we started a new initiative called 'The Purpose Project' that takes place for Year 10 students across five days in June. We were thrilled with the feedback from our students and thus will return in 2025. The Purpose Project replaced our Year 10 mid-year exams to provide students with time to learn, develop and better understand themselves. 

To learn what they love, what they are good at, what the world needs and what they can be paid for. We introduce them to a variety of tools to help their exploration and share employees’ stories to challenge their thinking.  

Day 1 is SKILLS DAY - students sign up to a course such as First Aid, Food Handling or White Card. 

Days 2-4 is PURPOSE PROJECT Activation - students write a proposal about how they’ll spend these days and how this will help them explore their future. Last year we had 110 students in Work Experience placements on these days while other students attended a Finding Life program run by Stephen Said, a member of our Faith and Wellbeing team. All remaining students opted to design their own learning experiences. 

Day 5 is FUTURE FOCUS Day - students learn about Apprenticeship and Traineeships, tertiary study and work. A visit to Deakin University enabled our students to see a campus and explore one of their pathway choices. 

What we love most about this project is the TIME and SPACE given to students to think about the diverse options available to them. 

Last Friday we launched the project with our Year 10s. We are planning some new learning opportunities this year, such as partnering with organisations who are working to make a genuine difference in our world. We are excited to witness our students flourish as they consider their futures.  

We would love your support with Purpose Project 2025.

Please pray for the 152 students who will be doing the project – that they may begin to understand who God created them to be. 

We would also love to find more work experience opportunities for our students! 

If you are in a workplace that may be able to host a student from 25-27 June, please fill in this form so we can add you to a list of potential placements. 

(Please note this is not confirming you will take a student but rather that you are open to being contacted.) 

 

We love journeying with your children as they contemplate their future. We work mostly with Years 9-12, but all students are welcome to message us via teams or email us at Careers@donvale.vic.edu.au to make a time to chat.  

Swimming Carnival

Charity Onley, Student Leader - Sports

Our 2025 House Swimming Carnival was an incredible day, displaying the school's positive and uplifting community spirit. The day started off with some super creative House chants, including fun ones written to popular 80’s tunes. The energy and enthusiasm the students put into these chants echoed throughout the day, with their unwavering support and encouragement of each other. 

Many students stepped up to support their Houses, participating in a range of events both in and out of the pool. From competitive races, to having a laugh with friends in the novelty events, it was inspiring to see how many students got in the water and gave it their absolute best, no matter what their ability. We also enjoyed seeing some amazing talent displayed outside the pool, in an art competition. 

The day saw some fantastic achievements, including records broken by the following students:

Aaron Williamson – Year 7 Boys 50m Breaststroke 43.69 

Charisse Chan – Year 9 Girls 50m Breaststroke 38.35 

Mckenna Strong – Open Girls 50m Freestyle 30.79 

Zoe Willis – Open Girls 50m Butterfly 34.11 

Thomas Greenwood – Open Boys 100m Freestyle 57.42 

Flynn House – Year 9 Girls 4x50m Freestyle Relay 2.32.87 

Burrows House – Open Boys 4x50m Freestyle Relay 1.53.70 

All Houses put in an admirable effort and above all else demonstrated great sportsmanship, humility, and kindness to one another. As the events drew to a close, students eagerly anticipated the results of this year’s winners and for the fourth year in a row Cooper took out the top place with Cuthbert, Burrows then Flynn close behind!

We are so grateful for all the time and effort the teachers and staff put into this fun-filled day, enabling it to run smoothly. A massive shoutout also to our House Captains, for their incredible organisation, ensuring the day was a success. 

We look forward to seeing which House takes home the trophy next year! 

Revival Student Magazine

Meg Davies, Head of English

In 2024, the inaugural Revival student magazine came out, providing a showcase of students’ creative output and voice. We were regaled with excellent art and earnest pieces on the theme of New Beginnings. We enjoyed poetry, short essays and snapshots of reflections on change and growth. Teenagers do a lot of that!

This year, our new Editor-in-Chief, Abbie Gargett, has widened the scope further by asking for contributions in media such as commentary (opinion and personal positions), cartoons and photography, to capture the breadth of expression and creativity in the student body.

In their contributions, students are invited to reflect and wrestle with issues and concerns that are relevant to them and their world. As a school with a diverse population from various faith backgrounds, we hold some of these views in tension, and model respectful engagement with those who differ. The Editor-in-Chief, along with the student editors, is keen for students to have a place to display their thinking and writing. You can encourage your teens to make a submission on the optional theme of ‘One School, Many Voices’!

Lastly, the Editor-in-Chief and several students have started a writing club, meeting at lunchtimes on Friday. This is intended to be a dedicated space in which they can hone their craft and invite comment. Along with their fellow writers, our resident published writer Mr Ben Chenoweth spends valuable time giving feedback on evolving work. 

For those who would like a quiet space to develop your thinking and writing efforts, come and join the club, meeting at L3.11.