Secondary Happenings
Have You Met Sharon??
Name: Sharon O'Connor
Role: Head of Learning Support (Secondary)
What do you enjoy most about working at DCC?
I saw a funny reel that poked fun at teachers for not knowing actual calendar dates—our only reference point is term and week. May 5th means nothing, but Term 2, Week 3 makes perfect sense.
It’s the rhythms and routines of the school year and the unique events that shape our calendar—that I enjoy about working at DCC. I love the predictability of each term and the planned events, and flourish in the unexpected moments when we think, let’s try something new this time. Calendars aren’t unique, but ours is built with purpose. There's a wonderful quote shared in Christian education pedagogy by a Dutch teacher and politician that says,
"...There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!..."
I am deeply grateful that, each term, week and day in our school year is dedicated to our Lord and that in all we say and do, in our community of faith, we seek to bring honour and glory to God.
What do you love most about your role, and why?
I love that I get to see students grow in both their understanding of the world and how they fit into God’s bigger story. I have the privilege of working alongside students and families who navigate significant physical, cognitive, and social‑emotional challenges. It’s challenging work, but it’s also a shared journey.
Partnering with students and their families as they deepen their understanding of who they are within God’s creation is a privilege. Supporting students to recognise their unique strengths, work through their challenges, deepen their personal faith, and connect their learning to their place in God’s world is incredibly rewarding.
How does your faith shape the way you approach your role?
In term two, the Year 9 staff lead a study on the book of James, shared in morning devotions with students. James reminds us that faith lived out in community is not about performing in a certain way—it’s about belonging, being heard, and being supported as we grow. With God’s strength and power, this shapes how I approach each student’s needs.
James encourages his readers to consider it pure joy whenever you face trials—not because suffering is enjoyable, but because our God meets us in our challenges and promises never to leave our side. That assurance shapes how I walk alongside students each day, trusting that God is faithfully at work in every part of their journey.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Anything involving the coast makes me happy—any beach, really—but Venus Bay is especially close to my heart. I love walking, reading, listening to podcasts, and doing my very best to train our wonderfully wild Kelpie, Milo.
What are you most looking forward to for the rest of 2026?
I’m so grateful for our Leadership Team and their passion and commitment to Christ-centred learning excellence within our wonderful school community. I’m excited to see where they lead us next … and of course, CAW—and most importantly Cuthbert—winning the House Cup!
Year 9: Wilderness Experience
Taimi Buchan, Secondary Teacher
Each Wilderness Experience is deliberately designed to unsettle the familiar and invite growth. By stepping Year 9 students beyond what is comfortable, we invite them to notice who they are when routines fall away; what they bring, what stretches them, and how they belong. Our hope is that this experience becomes a marked moment in their story: a point they can return to, recognising themselves as small yet purposeful within God’s creation, as capable learners still in the making, and as individuals who need community in order to flourish as intended.
This year’s Wilderness will be remembered for how it “unsettled the familiar” even for those who have done it several times before (the teachers)! We set out in beautiful weather, soaking in expansive views, before forecasts of unseasonably cold, and memorable, snowfall reshaped our plans. With safety and care guiding us, we descended from the mountain and spent our final night in Mount Beauty. Though it concluded far from the script we planned, the experience lost none of its impact. In navigating change, uncertainty, and challenge together, students and teachers alike demonstrated resilience and adaptability—and grew because of it.
Year 10: Murray River Camp
Kylie Thorpe, Head of House - Cooper
Term Two began in spectacular fashion for our Year 10 students, who embarked on a four-day canoe journey along the Murray River. It was an unforgettable experience, filled with challenge, adventure, and moments of awe at God’s creation.
We were truly blessed with perfect conditions; days were warm and sunny, providing ideal paddling weather, while the nights offered clear, star-filled skies that invited students to pause and reflect on the beauty of the natural world God has given them to enjoy.
Across the days, students paddled distances ranging from 60 to 72 kilometres. In groups, they developed teamwork, resilience, and perseverance as they navigated the river’s currents and conditions. Each day brought new stretches of river to explore, taking in the ever-changing scenery along the riverbanks.
Students would set up their tents along the riverbanks or on sandy beaches, learning practical outdoor skills and working together to establish a comfortable camp. They then prepared and cooked their own gourmet meals—a rewarding experience after a full day of paddling. Nights were spent around the campfire, sharing stories, reflecting on the day, and strengthening friendships before settling in for a well-earned rest.
Mornings began with packing all equipment back into the canoes, ready for another day on the water. The rhythm of packing, paddling, and exploring fostered independence and a strong sense of accomplishment.
This journey was more than just a camp—it was an opportunity for personal growth, connection, and reflection around the theme of belonging. Students were challenged physically and mentally, while also being encouraged to appreciate the beauty and stillness of God’s creation.
Below are reflections from students on what this experience meant to them.
Hi this is Ari Baldwin and Joel Ferguson,
Year 10 camp was such an influential and relaxing experience, and will be remembered for years. We started our journey 72km up the Murray and over four days we canoed back to our rendezvous point. This camp was not only about canoeing and fun times with our friends, but also about learning and growing in community. The overarching theme of the camp was belonging, and this fit perfectly. We were able to hear from Stephen Said and his good friend Bayklay. Listening to their stories was so impactful and evoked deep discussion within our camp groups, where everyone could share.
Overall, this camp was a mix of fun and learning outside of an academic environment. It created a space where we could conglomerate together as peers and discuss with people that we can relate closely to. This camp was a great time where friendship groups united as one. This camp wouldn’t have been half as fun without the help of the teachers, the Halls leaders, and especially Mrs. Thorpe. What a camp!
Year 10 camp was definitely one of my favourite experiences because of the people around me. I loved hanging out with people who I knew and got to know more over the camp. We built such a good community that by the end of camp we had so many inside jokes, which made it so fun! My favourite part was the last afternoon and evening where we all bonded as we talked, sitting around the fire doing riddles, which was simple but a wholesome moment.
Hearing from Bayklay that night made it even more special because it helped me reflect and learn new things from his experiences. Getting capsized with Evie came in a close second because it was so chaotic, but funny at the same time. Although I didn’t appreciate being soaking wet at the time, it’s now something I look back on that reminds me of all the fun I had.
Big thanks to Mrs Hartley and Nick (Nikos) for being such great leaders and making camp more fun!!
Lauren Stilve
VCE Top Designs
Lisa Kerekes, Head of Digital Learning
Year 11 and Year 12 Visual Communication Design students visited the Melbourne Museum to view the 2025 Top Designs Student Folio Exhibition. The excursion provided students with valuable insight into high‑quality visual communication work, with the showcased folios and final presentations inspiring students and giving them ideas they could apply to the development of their own design folios.
During the visit, students attended an engaging presentation by Jess McGeachin, Illustrator, Author and Senior Communication Designer, who explained the professional design process used to create museum exhibitions. This included considering user needs, sketching initial ideas, evaluating concepts, experimenting and prototyping with different materials, pitching final concepts to clients, and working towards the production of the final exhibition.
Students then explored the exhibition itself., which was a great opportunity to see how the sketched design concepts were translated into a finished physical exhibition, with lighting, materials and interactive elements. This excursion strengthened students’ understanding of professional design practice and provided meaningful real‑world context for their classroom learning.
VCE VM Careers Excursion
Emily Grimes, Careers and VCE VM Teacher
Our VCE Vocational Major students took part in a Careers Excursion to Melbourne City as part of their VCE VM program.
Students made their way through the city, using public transport and navigating different locations. This gave them the opportunity to be independent and practise real-world travel skills. Students enjoyed a guided tour of the Queen Victoria Market, where they learnt about the different businesses that operate, how long some of them have been running for, the variety of produce available, and the sense of pride and history that makes the market such an important part of the city. The tour finished with gelati, which was a clear highlight for many students.
Then students headed to the Careers Expo at the Exhibition Centre where they had the chance to speak with different education providers, industry representatives and attend seminars, with the Police and Australian Defence Force sessions piquing the interest of a number of students.
It was a great day of learning outside the classroom. We hope it gave students a clearer understanding of the different pathways and opportunities available to them after school.
VCE VM Camp
Sam Evans and Jerome Robinson, Secondary Students
This week we went to the Belgrave Convention Centre for our VM camp. What made this camp different was that the students were responsible for planning almost the entire trip.
We worked together to organise everything; meals, activities, accommodation, and the different community and learning opportunities we would take part in. This gave us the chance to develop important skills such as teamwork, communication, organisation, and decision-making.
Before the camp, we spent time discussing ideas and making decisions as a group. We had to consider everyone’s opinions and make choices that would suit the whole group. Planning the food involved budgeting and appealing to everyone’s needs and interests, which resulted in a nice egg and bacon breakfast cooked by us.
Each student was assigned a leadership role. For example, Markus Bird (Year 12), led the group on a bush walk through the surrounding area. During the walk, he shared information about the local environment and the history of the land. This activity helped students better understand and respect Indigenous culture and the natural environment.
The Year 11 students also played an important role on the camp by organising and running games such as hacky sack, gaga ball and board games. These activities brought everyone together and created a fun and relaxed atmosphere.
Overall, the camp was a huge success and we look forward to continuing excursions and camps in the near future.
