Principal's Report

From the Principal

Our College Newsletter this week witnesses us all in a bit of a holding pattern as we all do our best to support each other and move forward in this strange, unwelcomed environment created by the current level of COVID-related restrictions.

I remain firmly proud that all members of our College community have risen admirably to meet the challenges of these unprecedented times. Well done to our students who have embraced their remote learning program with resilience and application – all the while understanding that such an environment is not the preferred option of anyone. I once again acknowledge the commitment of our teaching staff who are working in difficult circumstances to ensure that our remote learning program continues to meet the needs of our students. All the while our educational support staff have continued to ensure that the service provision for the College community has not been severely interrupted.

How we best teach, how we best learn, how we best balance these competing needs within the greater context of student wellbeing and growth, is a continual challenge that we may not always be getting right. A bit like many of the major twists and turns we have experienced over the past six months, there is no definitive rulebook on how to meet and overcome these challenges, however, it does appear that if, as a collective, we remain united, connected, supportive and responsive, we will be getting more things right than wrong. We just have to keep on trying to be our best versions of ourselves, no matter how difficult, in order to obtain the best and safest outcomes. Let’s keep on staying the course – together.

Student Wellbeing Support

There is little doubt that this period of time will be extremely challenging for many of our students. Our staff are very aware of this and will do all they can to identify students in distress and support student wellbeing and learning. Parents and students are encouraged to reach out to our Wellbeing team, Year Level Coordinators and subject teachers for support and advice during this time. An email to the College communicating your concerns would be encouraged if any parent or student wished to do so. 

To our Year 12 students and their families, in particular, I am well aware of the challenges you are facing as we enter the last weeks of this term before the important exam-preparation that commences in term 4. My best wishes are extended to you, along with my hopes that you are able to maintain a healthy balance in your studies in this busy time. Whilst it may not seem possible, I would encourage all of our Year 12 students to ensure that they are able to think carefully about what a healthy and balanced life-style may look like over this period of time, made all the more challenging by the COVID restrictions. Yes, there will be a significant amount of time devoted to study and revision – as there should be at this stage of the year. However, I would further encourage you to ensure that you are able focus a little more on exercise, diet and getting enough sleep.

Term 4 is challenging for any Year 12 student. Vast experience leads me to observe that those who cope best with these significant challenges are usually those who have found a reasonable balance in their busy life as students.

For all our students and families of our College community, I recently participated in a Department of Education on-line conference on Wellbeing – an important topic made all the more crucial in these current circumstances. In order to stimulate some thought and discussion on this matter, please see below for a simple but relevant graphic presentation on this matter;

East Doncaster Secondary College – Provision of Health Centre and First Aid Facilities

East Doncaster Secondary College believes that access to our sick bay and the provision of high quality first aid is an important element in fully supporting our students. The College Health Centre is staffed by a fully qualified first aid attendant/nurse and is provided by the school during school hours so that immediate attention to illness or injury is available to students at all times.  This service is provided by the College School Council and is not funded by the Department of Education and Training. 

At our August School Council meeting it was once again agreed that In order to continue to provide this valuable service, a suggested voluntary contribution of $50 will once again be added to the 2021 College charges. I must stress that this is a voluntary contribution.

2020 College Charges will be distributed to parents via mail in Term 3. The option for online payments will also be made available via Compass. East Doncaster Secondary College School Council would like to thank you for your support of the College as we endeavour to provide the best possible education for your child.

Parent Teacher Student Interviews

The challenging circumstances of 2020 have impacted schools in many ways. One of the most acute problems our periods of isolation and restriction has resulted in, is the lack of viable opportunity for teachers, students and parents to interact and discuss individual student learning progress and general wellbeing. Whilst we missed the opportunity to conduct such interviews as we traditionally would at the conclusion of Term 1, we were able to make provision for email communication between parents and students at the commencement of Term 3 – in that brief window of time when it appeared that it may be possible for normality to return to our school lives. We have in the past weeks been planning for alternative arrangements for our Parent/Teacher interviews over the upcoming weeks whilst our remote learning program continues. I expect to be able to communicate details of Parent/Teacher interviews to all students and parents early next week.

Student Reports

A reminder that our cycle four student reports are available via COMPASS as of this afternoon (Friday 28 August). 

John Roberts

Principal

Updated Anaphylaxis Policy

At our February School Council meeting we updated and amended our College Anaphylaxis Policy.

The amendments (whilst important) were quite minor and related to the provision of epi-pens for students in our Food Technology classroom spaces.

Please see attached for a copy of this policy.

College Philosophy

At East Doncaster Secondary College we have a strong tradition of academic excellence and we aim to promote and sustain a reflective learning culture. We want students to experience a sense of achievement and growth in their academic, personal, social and emotional development. We have high expectations of our students’ commitment to being mutually supportive and striving for success as learners. We are proudly multicultural with a student population from 43 nationalities including a number of International Students. 68% of our students speak a language other than English at home.

A student’s life at school is full of opportunities, being rich and varied with a range of co-curricular activities in music, sport, productions, debating, clubs as well as camps and international experiences for the educational and personal development of students. Our students are vibrant, energetic, and talented young people. There are many student leadership opportunities and we aim to continue to increase student access to decision-making and self-determination as learners.

We endeavour to create a "Culture of Curiosity" with goals of ensuring learning improvement for every student – every student, every period, every day.

Our school’s purpose is to develop passionate learners who are critical thinkers with the confidence and capability to engage in the global community.

Care and Compassion, Curiosity, Excellence, Fairness, Resilience, Respect and Teamwork are the core values that underpin the culture of our school as we embrace the challenges of 21st Century learning.

We aim to sustain a learning culture that provides every student with a sense of achievement and of being their best in their academic, personal, social and emotional development.