Transition back to On-Site Learning

By Assistant Principal, Mr Glenn Morris

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all members of our school community who continue to support each other during this time.

The onset of the global pandemic, the declaration of a state of emergency, restrictions on movement and transition to remote learning has certainly meant that life has been very different.

With the transition back to on-site learning beginning next week, it is important to acknowledge that this is going to pose some new challenges to our school community.

Whilst some of our community will be looking forward to reconnecting with friends and seeing their teachers, others will have quite a different experience. It is important that we are aware of the mixed emotions and anxieties that come with leaving the safe space of our homes.

Please pay attention to the behaviours that you observe and be aware of the emotions that sit behind these. This is something which we have discussed as a leadership team as we look to balance our messaging of high academic expectations and process, with the flexibility of responding to the social and emotional needs of individuals.

As part of the Whole School Approach to Wellbeing, I ask that all community members take care of their health and wellbeing, and at the same time look out for each other. Please reach out to us via email or by making a phone call so that we can work through these challenges together.

I would like to acknowledge leadership of my Principal team colleagues, and the dedication of our staff in caring for their students during this time.

Respectful Relationships

Recent communication from EDVOS (Eastern Domestic Violence Outreach Service), has identified the increase in family violence incidents and referrals since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Doncaster Secondary College have supported the EDVOS and Respectful Relationships “Together for Respect at Home” campaign through our Facebook communication.

We chose to support this campaign as it aligned with our values and responsibilities as a Respectful Relationships lead school.

The evidence supporting Respectful Relationships is overwhelming and comes from respected institutions such as the World Health Organisation and The Royal Commission into Family Violence. Helping children develop an understanding of healthy relationships and respect is key to preventing family violence in the future (DET).

In response to this complex issue, members from the Together for Equality and Respect (TFER) Partnership developed the “Together for Respect at Home” social media campaign, which is aimed at promoting safe, healthy, connected and respectful relationship at home.

This campaign takes a collaborative and evidence-based approach to prevent violence against women during the pandemic through promoting respectful relationships and positive mental health and wellbeing strategies. This campaign encourages the community to choose kindness, compassion and respect during this difficult time. It identifies that times of stress and hardship are never an excuse for violence, and that all people deserve to live free from fear and family violence. Please follow us on Facebook so that you can keep up to date with this campaign.

Doncaster Secondary College is committed to bringing about cultural change and a reduction in Family Violence. The Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships (RRRR) curriculum topics of emotional literacy, personal strengths, help seeking, positive coping, problem solving, gender stereotypes etc, have particular relevance during this time, as students/families draw on their personal and social capabilities to work through this challenging time.

Bullying, Victimisation and Depression Study

Approximately 2 years ago, we were approached by a parent (Louise Camargo) from East Doncaster Secondary College who was investigating the relationship between different forms of bullying, and the symptoms of depression and positive reappraisal.

Along with two other local schools, we supported this research.

Louise Camargo recently sent me a copy of her report titled ‘Positive reappraisal moderates depressive symptomology’. See below:

The receipt of this study is timely, given that our Wellbeing team is developing a training video for our student management team to understand and implement the various methods of intervention into bullying behaviours.

The study will also be shared with our Health and Physical Education and DiSCovery learning areas, to be used as a resource from which curriculum can be developed.

Further resources:

Strategies to assist your child in
returning to school.
Mental health signs to look out for: article by Andrew Fuller:

"Positive reappraisal moderates depressive symptomology" report by Louise Camargo:

College Newsletter

Working Together, Learning Together

Issue 47 · 22 May 2020

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