Principal's Report

Principal’s Report 27 June 2025

With only one week left before holidays begin, we can look back on the term with great pride and a sense of achievement.  Term 2 has once again provided our students with a vast array of experiences that have strengthened their learning and their sense of connection and as such, they have continued to grow both academically and personally, 

The last couple of weeks have seen our Senior School students complete Semester one examinations across all subjects. Once again, I would like to acknowledge the maturity with which our students approached this period and commend them on their preparation and focus. Likewise, our Middle School students have been wrapping up assessments, with Year 9 students experiencing their first exam period at the College with English and Maths exams taking place last week. I congratulate them on their positive mindset and excellent adherence to exam processes and protocols; skills that will place them in good stead moving forward into their senior years of schooling and beyond.

Beyond the classroom, this term has been rich with a wide range of events and opportunities that allowed our students to explore their interests and talents. Our students have been involved in sporting events, Drama performances, Dance workshops, leadership opportunities, STEM excursions, cultural celebrations and fundraising events. These experiences not only build confidence and connection but also highlight the diverse strengths and passions within our school community. It’s been inspiring to see students step up, support one another, and make the most of what our school has to offer.

As Term 2 draws to a close next Friday, many of us are looking forward to a well-earned break—a chance to rest, recharge, and reconnect with family and friends. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to our dedicated teaching and education support staff for their unwavering commitment to providing the best possible learning experiences for our students. I also extend a heartfelt thank-you to our families for their continued support and partnership in nurturing the growth and development of our young people.

Please note - Term 3 commences on

Monday 21 July.

Year 12 Formal

The Year 12 Formal was held last Thursday evening at Vogue Ballroom in Burwood East. Attended by over 300 students and a large number of staff, the Year 12 formal is not only a rite of passage for our senior students, it also provides a much needed opportunity to take a breather from the demanding routines of their final year and simply enjoy each other’s company. It was truly an evening of celebration and a fitting end to the term for our Year 12 students who have finalised their Unit 3 studies and undertaken their first external exam for 2025 with the GAT taking place last week.

Our students were revelling in the opportunity to get dressed up and share this milestone in their final year with their peers and teachers.

A big thank you to the Senior School Team and student leaders for all the work behind the scenes that made this event possible and particularly to Kate Barresi, our Senior School Secretary, who plays such a significant role in ensuring the success of the evening.

EMR Cross Country

The EMR Cross Country Championships were held at the Yarra Valley Racecourse on Thursday 12 June. With tough weather conditions on the day, there were still a number of standout efforts on the day.

• Christopher M came 5th in the Boys 1213 Years event over the 3km course.
• Alyxa S and Annabella K both qualified for the next level of competition by finishing 6th and 7th over the 3km course in the Girls 1213 Years event.

Congratulations to all students involved. The SSV State Finals will be held on Thursday 24 July. We wish all our qualifying students the very best of luck.

EDSC once again supporting the Big Freeze in 2025 

East Doncaster Secondary College continued its tradition of hosting a Big Freeze event on Tuesday 24 June. We are very proud to contribution to the fight to find a cure for Motor Neurone Disease.

It was great to see an impressive number of students and staff bravely accept the challenge and be drenched by buckets of ice to raise money for this great cause. While the sun came out on the day, I can assure you that those buckets of ice were quite a shock to the system! 

It has been wonderful to see so many in our school and wider community donate to the cause. We are currently sitting at $3494 raised from donations coming in in support of our eight team members. This is an outstanding achievement and shows the power of our community coming together. With donations also received through gold coin donations for our out of uniform day that accompanied this event, we have reached our target of $5000. Donations remain open for those who would still like to contribute. Details can be found on Compass newsfeed.

Sincere congratulations to all those involved and a heartfelt thank you to all that donated!

Winter Music Concerts

In what is always a highlight of the year, our instrumental music students and our Music staff entertained us last night with two sold out Winter Music Concerts in our Performing Arts Centre. These concerts provided a wonderful opportunity to showcase the talents of our hard-working and passionate instrumental music ensembles. 

Our Instrumental Music numbers have grown significantly over the last few years and as always, it was tremendously pleasing to see the number of our new Year 7 students performing with such confidence, enthusiasm and with wonderful smiles on their faces. They can be so proud of what they have accomplished in their first semester.

Our Music program continues to engage and impress. Congratulations to all students involved and much thanks to our Director of Music, Norm Grimmett, and Instrumental Music Coordinator, Carl Williams, for the work they do behind the scenes to make these concerts possible. I would also like to recognise our phenomenally talented Instrumental Music teachers who are so committed to their students and go above and beyond for their students to grow in skill and confidence.

A further thank you to our wonderful Parent and Friends Association who provided us with a wonderful array of sweet and savory treats between concerts. Their support of our College is greatly appreciated.

Cycle 3 student reports

A reminder that our College Cycle 3 reports will be published at the end of next week.

For students in the senior school, our Cycle 3 reports early next term will provide constructive feedback that informs their practices as they strive for a highly successful year and completion of their VCE examinations. 

For all our students, I would like to reinforce that Cycle Reports provide an important opportunity to recognise and celebrate their achievement and also reflect upon how this informs their future learning goals. 

Although the reports are archived for the duration of your child's enrolment at our College, I would strongly advise that you download your own copy and save this to your home computer for your future use.

Donations to College Building Fund 

Making a tax-deductible donation to our Building Fund before June 30 is a great way to boost your tax return while making a lasting impact on our school. 

We are calling on the College community to help us with our Building Fund. We need to generate funds to continue to improve some of our aging buildings. With growing student numbers, we have many projects we would like to undertake in order to enhance and expand our facilities- ensuring that our students have access to inspiring spaces for learning, creativity and connection.

Any voluntary donation over $2 is Tax Deductable. If you wish to make a donation, you can pay via Compass. Families who have made a donation to the East Doncaster Secondary College Building or Library Fund are able to download their tax deductible receipts from Compass. Feel free to contact the office if you have any queries.

Karen Boyle

Principal