Assistant Principals' Report

Celebrating a Year of Growth and Achievement 

Welcome to our final newsletter for 2025! We are incredibly proud of the growth and achievements our students have demonstrated throughout the year. This week’s mini school celebrations have been a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge personal milestones and significant awards across our community. 

Each mini school has delivered events that reflect their vision and enhance student learning: 

• Junior School: Alternate Program Days strengthened learning through Managing Me, supporting students in developing self-awareness and personal growth. 
• Middle School: Cluster Day broadened students’ understanding of career pathways and the qualities needed for success in VCE and beyond. 
• Senior School: A diverse range of initiatives, including Revive Day, study sessions, and Year 12 milestone activities, supported our senior students as they worked toward VCE outcomes and prepared for life beyond the school gates. 

We have been inspired by the individual achievements of so many students, both within school and through their contributions to the wider community. A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated teaching staff for their commitment to challenging and nurturing every learner, and to our families for partnering with us, whether through events, meetings, or ongoing communication. Your support has been invaluable in ensuring growth for every child. We look forward to an exciting year of learning in 2026! 

Child Safety and Wellbeing at Doncaster Secondary College 

Doncaster Secondary College is committed to providing an environment where students are safe and feel safe. Our child safety framework includes policies, codes, and procedures that outline how we protect students from harm and promote wellbeing. These documents are available on our website under Documents, Policies & Reports. 

We are continuously reviewing and improving our child safety practices to ensure they remain effective and up-to-date. Families and students are important partners in this process, and we welcome your feedback. If you have suggestions or comments, please contact Elisha Sadikay, Assistant Principal, on (03) 9848 4677 or via doncaster.sc@education.vic.gov.au. 

School Policies 

Our Policy and Planning Committee meets regularly to review and update school policies in line with Department of Education guidelines and our school context. Approved policies are available to the community on the college website. We invite feedback and questions via email to the Principal Team. 

Uniform Expectations for 2026 

In line with the Victorian Government’s initiative to reduce uniform costs for families, Doncaster Secondary College has undertaken a thorough consultation process with students, families, and staff. Our updated Student Dress Code Policy for is available on the College website 

Key Change for 2026 

Uniform items below the waist no longer need to display the DSC logo but must comply with the requirements outlined in the Student Dress Code Policy.  

For example: 

• Pants do not require the DSC logo 
• Pants must be plain black, with no visible labels 
• Style: boot leg (not leggings or baggy) 

For further details, please refer to the Department of Education’s guidance:  

Student Dress Code Policy 

Why Uniform Matters 

Our consultation and survey process highlighted the strong value our community places on school uniforms. Feedback from over 120 parents/carers revealed: 

• 76% believe the uniform respects cultural norms and community expectations 
• 91% feel it creates a sense of identity and pride 
• 96% agree it helps prevent bullying and competitiveness 
• 86% believe it enhances the school’s public reputation 
•  

We acknowledge concerns around comfort and are committed to addressing these. In response, we will review PE uniform fabrics and styles in 2026 to better support student needs. In the meantime, families can assist by ensuring students wear the correct uniform each day. 

Uniform Compliance 

It is essential that all families and students are familiar with the uniform requirements. Please refer to the attached policy and summary table. 

Important: 

• Students in incorrect uniform from Day 1, Term 1, will receive a lunchtime detention, regardless of the reason. 
• Repeated breaches will result in an after-school detention. 
• Students who are unavoidably out of uniform can borrow provisional items from the Health Centre. 
•  

Process: 

• Students out of uniform must report to their Mini School before Period 1 for a uniform pass and detention slip. 
• Arriving after Period 1 without the correct uniform will result in an after-school detention. 

• Parent notes will not override this process. 

   

PE Uniform Days 

To avoid confusion, designated PE uniform days will be communicated at the start of 2026. This will ensure consistency and clarity for students and families. 

Heads of School will reinforce these expectations during return-to-school assemblies and parent/carer information evenings. 

Attendance Matters – Rest Now, Ready for 2026 

Consistent attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success. Every day at school provides structured learning and opportunities that cannot be fully replicated at home. When students miss classes, they often face the challenge of catching up while learning new material. This creates cognitive overload—a concept from Cognitive Load Theory, which explains that our working memory has limited capacity. Trying to process too much at once reduces understanding and retention. 

Regular attendance helps: 

• Reduce cognitive load by allowing learning in manageable steps 
• Build strong foundations for complex concepts taught later 
• Maintain continuity in skills and social connections 
•  

As we head into the holiday break, we encourage students to rest, recharge, and reset for a strong start in 2026. A refreshed mind and consistent attendance next year will set the stage for success. 

Start dates 2026 Tuesday 27th January 

The school will reopen, and staff will commence.  

Wednesday 28th January  

• Year 7 students will have interviews with a significant teacher 
• New Enrolments in Year 8-12 Students transition will occur from 10 am – 11:30 am 
• Senior School Welcome Day 9 am -11 am – Year 12s meet in the Performance Centre, 
• Year 11s meet in the Senior School Centre. Morning includes: Assembly, Locker allocation, Breakfast provided 

Thursday 29th January 

• Classes begin for Yr 7, 11 & 12 students 
• Year 9 & 10 students will attend for Middle School welcome 
• Year 10 - 9:00 am - 11:00 am (Pancake Breakfast and assembly) Please bring device and be ready for locker set-up and diary and timetable distribution. 
• Year 9 – 11:30 am - 1:30 pm  (Sausage Sizzle Lunch and assembly) Please bring device and be ready for locker set up and diary and timetable distribution. 
• Year 8 Classes will begin on Friday 

Friday 30th January 

All Students' classes will be on-site 

Thank you to our students and families for their ongoing partnership and for supporting each of our mini school teams throughout 2025. We are incredibly proud of our students and staff's learning growth and achievements. We would like to wish our students and families a restful and happy break filled with family time and relaxation; we look forward to connecting with you all again in 2026.   

Cheers,  

Belinda, Elisha, Wes and Kristin