Principal's Report
Principal Report
To our Class of 2023 – Farewell and Best Wishes
Last week we celebrated the graduating class of 2023 with a Valedictory Dinner for families on Thursday evening at The Grand Reception in Wantirna, involving many parents and family members of the Year 12s. It was wonderful to see the event so visibly supported by our College community.On Tuesday of this week, our Year 12 students began their final examination program with their English and EAL exams.
I felt privileged to have the opportunity to address these senior students and their families at the commencement of the Valedictory Dinner. Apart from congratulating and thanking our students, their parents and our teachers, I took a final opportunity to share with the cohort how proud we were of them and how we collectively wished them all the very best for the exciting challenges and pathways that lay ahead. My concluding message was;
To our students – the class of 2023
As College Principal, I will say that we are very proud of you.
It is so rewarding to see how much you have grown as individuals since many of you joined us as fresh-faced youngsters back in 2018. Witnessing and playing a role in your personal growth and maturity is one of the greatest rewards for us as educators.
We acknowledge that a number of formative years at our College were impacted, to varying degrees, by the COVID pandemic – you have not had a clear or easy path throughout secondary school.
You have had to display significant resilience and perseverance.
Our pride in your achievements is matched only by our excitement at what you still have to offer.
And whilst both our College and your parents have invested heavily in your development, it has been rewarding to see how much so many of you have given back to our College.
I would particularly like to recognise the role of Mia Cutugno, Oscar McNamara, Mariam Elmeligi and Jayden Pong our College Captains and Vice Captains this year and Thadar Htet, Timothy Zhang, Priscilla Leung, Elaine Lu, Anne Nguyen, our International Student Captains and Vice Captains who have done a wonderful job and left a clear imprint on the daily life of our College this year.
Could I further extend that message of acknowledgement and thanks to all our student leaders this year.
My sincere hope is that regardless of the future pathways through life, our class of 2023 will fondly remember what it has been like as a student at East Doncaster Secondary College.
As the years move forward and you pause to reflect upon your journey with us - I trust that such reflections will be positive and affirming, that you will be proud to say that you are part of the extended EDSC family.
Finally, we will conduct our Final Assembly for all Year 12 students and parents who are able to attend on the day, on Friday 17 November, upon the completion of the VCE examination period. Full details will be posted for this event on Compass shortly.
Student Achievement
Congratulations to Tara O (Year 7) who won a silver medal at the SSV Track and Field Championships held last week at Lakeside Stadium.
As our sole representative at the State Athletics Championship this year, we warmly congratulate Tara on her efforts - well done!!!
Planning and preparation for 2024
This is a quick reminder to the Parents/Guardians of students who will no longer be attending East Doncaster Secondary College in 2024.
If you have not already done so, can you please contact the school to inform us that your child will not attending next year. This information can be communicated to the staff members in our General Office or the Year Level Coordinators.
This information is vital for our coordination teams in order to plan and prepare classes and programs for next year.
Department of Education – Student Broadband offer
SUPPORT YOUR CHILD’S EDUCATION WITH 12 MONTHS FREE INTERNET AT HOME
The Australian Government has established the School Student Broadband Initiative to provide free home internet for one year for up to 30,000 eligible families with school-aged students.
The initiative aims to boost education opportunities. NBN Co is leading the rollout of this initiative across the country.
How the School Student Broadband Initiative can help your child
Children who can access online learning at home as part of their education are more likely to engage in classroom activities.
Access to fast internet at home can also support children to build their digital skills, learn how to safely use the internet and take part in a world that is more reliant on digital technology.
Eligibility
To be eligible, families must:
- have a child living at home enrolled in an Australian school in 2023
- not have an active National Broadband Network internet service at their home* (having a mobile internet service does not affect eligibility)
- live in a premises that can access the National Broadband Network through a standard connection. NBN Co will check this for you after you apply
- register interest with your school and complete a consent form to be assessed for eligibility
*If an address has been disconnected within 14 days prior to an eligibility check – the address will be classified as ineligible. There may be cases where exceptions can be made, please contact the School Student Broadband Initiative team at SSBI@education.vic.gov.au to discuss further.
How the School Student Broadband Initiative works
If you are eligible, your home internet service will be provided at no cost for one year with a
participating internet provider over the National Broadband Network. Each internet provider has its own step-by-step process to get you connected, which may involve you providing identification.
Once you sign up, the internet provider will help you set up your connection. The initiative does not include devices such as a computer or tablet. Other members of your household can use the internet service provided through this initiative.
The one-year period will start from the day your service is activated with your chosen provider.
At the end of the one-year period, you will not be placed onto a paid service by your internet provider without your consent. The Australian Government is considering options beyond the one-year free period.
How to apply
- Ask your school for a copy of the School Student Broadband Initiative consent form.
- Complete the consent form and return to the school.
- NBN Co will use student address details on the consent form to confirm eligibility.
- If you are eligible, NBN Co will issue a voucher for your family to use to sign up with a participating internet provider. This will be provided to you by your school.
Please note: NBN Co will review the home address for eligibility. No personal information other than your main home address will be shared with NBN Co. Please see the consent form for details about how personal information will be used.
For more information about the School Student Broadband Initiative, visit
College Arrangements for Monday 6 November
A reminder to students and parents that the College will be conducting our allocated professional practice day on Monday 6 November. Students will therefore not be required to attend school on this day. Teachers will be leaving lesson plans for students to follow on Compass. Work left for students to complete will focus on consolidation and revision activities rather than new content. Year 12 VCE examinations scheduled to be conducted at our College on this day will proceed as planned.
Thanks to our Parents and Friends Association
Could I take this opportunity to once again thank our Parents and Friends Committee and acknowledge their tireless efforts to support our College in tangible and material terms.
With our Year 12 class – the class of 2023, reaching their final stages of the academic year, it is important that I also acknowledge that a number their parents - key members of our PFA Committee, will be departing as well.
Jammy Chia, Pearl Chow, Patrick Leung, Rae O'Brien and Harveen Singh have been wonderful, loyal and hard-working members of our PFA and have individually and collectively made a significant contribution to our College. I would like to take them sincerely for their efforts and contributions – they will always be welcome at our College as cherished members of our community.
PSW Exclusive Uniform Shopping Night
PSW will be conducting an Exclusive Uniform Shopping Night for all families and carers from East Doncaster SC at the PSW Kew East store.
The PSW Kew East store will open exclusively for East Doncaster SC families on Tuesday 21 November from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. This will allow all families and carers, including the new families enrolled to start in 2024, exclusive access to our PSW Kew East store to purchase all their uniform needs.
If parents spend more than $300 on their uniform items on the night, PSW will provide them with a free East Doncaster SC sports cap.
We also encourage families to book a uniform fitting session at the PSW Kew East store to confirm their attendance on the night. Below is a link to the online uniform fitting session at PSW Kew East store for East Doncaster SC. https://www.psw.com.au/schools/east-doncaster-secondary-college.html
John Roberts
Principal