College Newsletter

Principal's Report

National Sorry Day 2020

It is an interesting coincidence that the first day of attendance for some of our students coincides with National Sorry Day – May 26. 

 

This came to my attention when it was noted by students in our Year 12 Victorian Certificate of Applied Education (VCAL) class. The students raised this not only with me, but sent an email to Premier Daniel Andrews and to Education Minister James Merlino. The Year 12 VCAL students requested that National Sorry Day be acknowledged in upcoming media statements regarding the first students’ return to school on May 26.

 

The first National Sorry Day was held on May 26, 1998. The report, known as Bringing Them Home, acknowledged that Indigenous children were forcibly separated from their families and communities since the early days of European occupation in Australia.

 

Many Indigenous children were forcibly taken away from their families in the name of assimilation during the 1950s and 1960s. These children are known as the “Stolen Generations”.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd tabled a motion in parliament on February 13, 2008, apologising to Australia’s Indigenous people, particularly the Stolen Generations and their families and communities, for the laws and policies that inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss.

 

COVID-19 Return to School Policy

School council ratified the new Doncaster Secondary College COVID-19 Return to School Policy during the meeting held on Wednesday, 20 May 2020. This policy was communicated via newsfeed on COMPASS and is also available on our website.

 

I would like to highlight the following points from this policy:

  • The most important action school communities can take to reduce the risk of transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) is to ensure that any unwell staff, children and young people remain at home.
  • Visitors to school grounds will be limited to those delivering or supporting essential school services and operations.
  • Additional staff, including parent volunteers, are discouraged from attending school at this time.

It is important that parents do not enter the school grounds unless it is essential to do so and after prior arrangement (via phone or email).

 

Thank you for your ongoing cooperation and support of these temporary arrangements during this stage of mandated restrictions.

 

Resources to help answer questions from parents and carers:

Éva McMaster

Principal