Secondary Happenings

Have You Met Belinda?? 

Name: Belinda Morden

Role: Year 9 Administration & Food Technology Assistant

What do you enjoy most about working at DCC?

I love the Communal connection between staff and families. It is such a privilege being able to work in a place where you can pray with others and speak about Jesus freely.

What do you love most about your role, and why?

I love the interaction with the staff and students at the Year 9 campus. Every day is very busy, but always different!

How does your faith shape the way you approach your role?

It is the kind of role that involves serving others; it is humbling being reminded of how Jesus served others in his ministry. It is so hard to imagine how he left his Heavenly home to seek and save us.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? 

I like drawing and pottery; paddleboarding and camping when I have time.

What are you looking forward to for the rest of 2026?

I'm looking forward to the busy end of the school year, and then Summer holidays at the beach.

Year 10 Social

Kylie Thorpe, Head of House - Cooper 

The 2026 Year 10 Social, A Night in Paris, was a wonderful celebration of friendship, community and connection. With ideal weather and a fantastic atmosphere throughout the evening, it was a memorable occasion for all involved. Alice O'Brien's reflection below perfectly captures the success of the event.

Hello!! My name is Alice O’Brien, and I had the privilege of being on the committee this year for the Year 10 Social! Our theme for the 2026 social, was ‘A Night in Paris’, and what a night it was. Everything turned out perfectly - the food, games, photobooth, dancing, music, and decorations - the entire night. 

The HSP (Halal Snack Pack) was so delicious, and the different card games, spike ball, and table tennis made the evening even more enjoyable. I truly believe it was an amazing night for our year level and made us bond together even more than before. This night made it feel like our year level was one big group, and it was so amazing to be a part of. 

Being a part of the committee not only gave everyone insight to everything happening behind the scenes, but it also made us feel like we were a part of something that would benefit our year level greatly. Everyone on the committee worked very hard for this day, and there were many meetings to attend. In the end it was all worth it when we saw the finished result! 

On behalf of everyone, I want to say a big BIG shout out to all the staff and parents who helped put this night together. It would never have been the same without you and the time and effort you put into helping with setting up didn’t go unnoticed, so thank you all very much. I hope next year’s Year 10s will enjoy it as much as we did, and that they will create incredible memories just as we have! 

German Experience

Indumathi Quinn, Year 11 Student

The German exchange program is often cited by graduating students as the highlight of their schooling career. I remember the moment I decided I wanted to do it myself, watching some highlights from that years’ experience at an assembly in 2023, and feeling so excited about the prospect of going to another country, of making a new friend who could help me learn the language and being completely immersed in an entirely new culture.

Those of us in Yr 11 can empathise with my frustration when the program we signed up for in Year 9 was then pushed back because there weren't enough German students. That golden period in March when we should've been in Germany came and went, and we were told to sit tight and wait for next year.

And wait we did. We worked hard to improve our German and were beyond excited when we finally received the details of our partners. We grew close to them quickly, and relished the fact that Germany, and the elusive mystery it presented to us, was finally within reach.

Only for the President of the United States to have other ideas! Again in 2026, the moment in March we should've met our exchange partners came and went for both Year 10s and 11s, and we were waiting once more.

And with every WhatsApp call, text message and life update, we grew closer to September 27th, the day we ran across the arrivals gate to our partners, at long last. I can't express just how exciting it has been to finally have the Germans here with us on holidays, and in our classes. The opportunity to practice our German speaking and come together has been so fulfilling, and on behalf of all the students in the program we are so grateful to all the teachers for their flexibility and commitment in making this invaluable experience possible.

And perhaps the most special part of having the Germans here was realising what a novelty it is to live in Australia, and to view the beautiful country around us through the eyes of someone who hasn't taken it for granted. We truly thank the German students, not only for offering their companionship and language expertise, but for showing us parts of Australia that we've forgotten to appreciate.

We can't wait to join you guys in Germany in a month's time after all this waiting and experience these cultural joys once more.

Debaters Association of Victoria Interschool Competition 2026

Meg Davies, Head of English

We give thanks for a win in the 2026 Grand Final D grade debate, where our Year 9 team versed Melbourne Grammar on the proposition: That we should prioritise TAFE and apprenticeships over university degrees. 

What a fitting culmination for this undefeated team of Karen Huang, Eleanor Ng, Luella Vargas, ably supported by Chelsea Chan. The team went through five rounds in the finals, prevailing over various private schools like Sacre Coeur, Xavier and Fintona. We are so proud of their teamwork, resilience, and faithfulness in cultivating their gifts. 

Our various other teams in B grade (Year 11), C grade (Year 10) and D grade (Year 9) had a successful year, with Donvale enjoying its highest place in the ladder thus far.  

In Term 4, we continue fostering the next batch of Donvale debaters with the Junior Secondary Program.