Principal's Report
Principal’s Report 25 July 2025
A warm welcome back to our students and families for the start of Term 3. I hope that the break provided an opportunity to relax and recharge. Term 3 provides a shift in focus for many of our students. Our VCE students are at the stage of both consolidating their learning and developing the skills and understanding to succeed in the end of year VCE examinations. Students in Years 9-11 also commence the process of planning for the successful transition to the next level of study through our course selection and course counselling programs.
Sitting alongside our teaching and learning program, which is well underway with semester 2 officially starting in the final weeks of last term, students also have the opportunity to engage in our vast co-curricular program. Inter-school Sport opportunities continue throughout the term as well as many excursions across the year levels. For our Year 11 students, the camps program in week 5 is a highlight and for Year 10 students our Work Experience program in week 9 sees students engage in a wide array of workplace experiences. I know that our students are up for the challenges that lay ahead; both inside and outside the classroom.
EDSC Success at the 2025 SSV State Cross Country Championships!
Two of our most talented distance runners represented the College in the SSV Cross Country State Championships held at the Yarra Valley Racecourse during Week 1 of Term 3. In cold, muddy and uncomfortable conditions, our students represented EDSC with pride and passion - pitting themselves against the best cross-country runners in the state.
Full details can be found on our Sports News page.
Senior School 2026 Student Course Selection
This week we have begun the valuable process of supporting students and their parents with making informed individual choices for their prospective studies in Senior School in 2026. This is a critical time for students to reflect on their strengths, interests and aspirations.
Over the next few weeks students will be supported through information evenings, workshops and individual course counselling sessions to ensure that they make choices that support their future pathways. I would encourage every family to engage in this process to maximise opportunities for success. In many cases, the correct decisions made in the formative stages of the VCE journey can have such a positive impact upon the outcomes achieved. It is also important that families understand the array of VCE and VCE Vocational Major opportunities that are available to students.
On Thursday evening we held our Year 10 2025 Information Evening with a similar opportunity for Year 11 2025 next Tuesday (29 July). There are several informative resources for this process on Compass newsfeed. I encourage families to regularly log into Compass to keep up to date with this important information.
The better informed our students are, the more likely their choices will lead to success and enjoyment in their learning and in turn their future pathways. Subject handbooks were made available on Compass at the end of last term; I encourage all students and their families to review the relevant subject handbooks carefully to ensure they are making informed decisions. Our information evenings and course counselling interviews will also provide students and parents with the opportunity to ask questions to support decision making.
If you require further information, please contact Assistant Principal, Brett Lamb or Assistant Principal for Senior School, Kate Leaumont.
Senior School Careers Pathways Expo
Yesterday we held our annual Careers Expo for our VCE students. It was well attended by representatives of many public and private providers of tertiary education programs and courses and was an important element of the series of opportunities provided to our students. Congratulations to our Pathways Team led by Craig Browne, ably assisted by our Senior School Coordinators for their organisation. It is always encouraging to see the interaction and engagement of our Year 11 and 12 students as they started to make connections towards new aspirational pathways or consolidated their current views by liaising with representatives from Melbourne, Monash, La Trobe, Deakin and Swinburne Universities and other related institutions.
Outstanding Student Achievement – VCE Premier Awards
On Wednesday 2 July I was very proud to attend the Premier’s VCE Awards, held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, in support of East Doncaster Secondary College award recipient, Angel Wong. Angel, a Year 12 student from the class of 2024, was awarded as one of the Top Three International Students in Victoria. This is an outstanding achievement for Angel and one that she should be extremely proud of. Her achievement is a testament to her hard work and dedication to her studies.
We congratulate Angel and wish her every success as she completes her Bachelor of Physiotherapy at Monash University.
2025 NAPLAN Results
As you will be aware, the NAPLAN results for 2025 have been released to schools. We are in the process of preparing for mailing the confidential reports for each student that participated. Families should start to receive these during week 3 and 4 of term.
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual national assessment for all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. All students in these year levels participate in tests in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and Numeracy.
These tests provide parents and schools with an understanding of how individual students are performing at the time of the tests. NAPLAN tests are one aspect of the school’s assessment and reporting process, and are not a replacement of the extensive, ongoing assessments made by teachers about individual student progress.
For further information on how to read and interpret the report please see the NAPLAN Information for parents and carers brochure on the EDSC Compass News Feed.
Finally, I would also strongly recommend that the student NAPLAN report is kept in a secure location as the College is unable to provide replacement copies.
Census Data Collection – Student Family Occupation and Updating Family Details
Every year the Department of Education conduct a census in August which helps determine the level of our schools’ student-based funding. To ensure that the College is able to continue to provide quality programs and an efficient learning environment for our students it relies on being supported by Department funding.
Student Family Occupation details are an important component used by DE to formulate our correct level of funding. These details are originally collected on your child’s enrolment form but are often not up to date. For this census to be accurate we ask that all family details are up to date, including parent occupation and occupation code, employer and all contact details. Please complete the data collection form, if your details have changed, and return to the College Reception as soon as possible. For assistance with identifying what occupation code to use please refer to the attached document.
It is also vital that families maintain up to date contact information. If your details change we ask that you please complete the Change of Details Form (below) and return to Reception or via email to:
east.doncaster.sc@education.vic.gov.au
Families will also receive a student enrolment form via email, we ask that you check the details are up to date. Any changes to be made please complete form and return to reception.
Karen Boyle
Principal