Principal's Report

Welcome to 2019

I would like to extend a welcome on behalf of all Doncaster Secondary College staff to all those returning to us in 2019 and to the many new families who are beginning their association with us this year.  We have a very exciting year ahead with this being the year of our 50th Birthday and our new building works (12 new classrooms plus additional facilities) will commence.  I am very impressed with the confident and industrious manner in which our students have started classes this year.   A special welcome to our new Year 7 students, as well as the many other students who have transferred to us for the start of the 2019 school year.  Starting in a new college is always a daunting experience, but all reports are that new students are settling in to the “Donny” way of life.    Thank you to our staff for all the planning and work prior to the commencement of the year that has been so important in helping make our start such a smooth one. 

A great deal of planning has gone into continuing our focus on teaching and learning and more fully meeting the needs of individual students.  Also, student engagement and independent learning will continue to be improved through our focus on developing student agency.  As a school we are fully committed to the academic success of our students whilst at the same time promoting school norms that support learning.  It is our aim and our responsibility to provide the programs and teaching that will cater for the needs of all students and it is the responsibility of students to make full use of these opportunities. 

In addition to our excellent VCE and VCAL results at the end of last year, we have received our Year 12 ‘destination’ data.  Of the students who applied for Tertiary placement we had almost 90% receive an offer in the first round and we expect this percentage to grow when round two and round three offers are confirmed.  Of the very large number of students who received an offer in the first round, an amazing 52% of students were offered their first preference!  Once again, the most popular destination was Deakin University [18%] closely followed by Monash University [17%].  Students at Doncaster Secondary College undertake studies across many areas after graduating.  Courses in Business and Commerce, Societies and Culture, Sciences and Health / Medicine, were popular for the Class of 2018.  Congratulations on securing these outstanding pathways and we look forward to hearing of your future successes.

Éva McMaster

Principal