Principal's Report

Welcome to Term Two

All students are active participants in a learning culture that promotes academic excellence and personal development through a diversity of challenging experiences.  

VISION

“Working together, learning together” – Working together to enable all students to achieve their potential and become confident, effective learners who contribute productively to society.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

Doncaster Secondary College acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which our school is situated, the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to elder's past, present and emerging and extend that respect to any and all Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. We value the ongoing contribution to the cultural heritage that the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung people provide to our school as well as the city of Manningham. We recognise that this land was never ceded and there is no treaty, and we commit to efforts towards reconciliation as a school community. We at Doncaster Secondary College are inclusive of individuals from all backgrounds including the LGBTQIA+, culturally and linguistically diverse as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS & TRANSITION BACK TO ON-SITE LEARNING

Thank you once again for responding so swiftly and seamlessly to the transition to remote and flexible learning. The Acting Premier’s announcement that some restrictions would be eased was welcome news. We were very pleased to be able to resume face-to-face learning for all students today.

Below is a message from the Victorian Chief Health Officer (Adj. Clinical Professor Brett Sutton) to Victorian schools and their communities.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank students, staff, teachers, parents, and carers for your cooperation during this period of increased COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria. As all students return to on site learning, students and staff should feel reassured that, with the additional health and safety controls currently in place, it is safe for them to return and enjoy the important benefits of doing so.

Throughout the pandemic, Victorian schools have rapidly and successfully adapted to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, using COVIDSafe principles by reinforcing good behaviours, creating safe environments, modifying activities, and responding quickly to COVID-19 risk. I am confident that with COVIDSafe plans in place, alongside our ability to quickly identify and respond to cases, eligible students and staff can return safely to school premises. 

It is crucial, however, for everyone to remain vigilant by always staying home when unwell, wearing a face mask, performing regular hand hygiene, and maintaining physical distancing from others when practical. The school community continues to have an important role to promote COVID-19 testing when a student or staff member has any symptoms, no matter how mild, and ensuring they remain home until they are well.

Getting tested and staying home until results are known is critical to limiting community transmission.

School communities should continue to check Victorian locations where there is a risk of exposure to COVID-19 and take the required public health actions. The list of current exposure sites can be found on case alerts - public exposure sites. We encourage all members of the school community to get vaccinated if eligible. Further information on vaccinations and eligibility can be found on COVID-19 vaccines. 

Georgina Carroll (Assistant Principal) has written about the importance of COVID Safe practices in ensuring the health and wellbeing of our community. I ask that parents and carers speak to their children about the importance of these practices. 

SENIOR SCHOOL ASSESSMENT PERIOD

The 2021 General Achievement Test (GAT) scheduled for Wednesday 9 June 2021 will be rescheduled to a date to be determined. This decision was made to support schools to fully focus on completing coursework and school-based assessments on return to classrooms. The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) is currently determining the most appropriate date for the rescheduled 2021 GAT, and we will keep you updated. With the return of Year 11 and 12 students on site last week, our students were able to participate in the mid-year assessments period and complete practice exams and school assessed coursework. Year 10 students will have the opportunity to sit their Unit 1 exams next Thursday and Friday. This is an important opportunity for our students to practice revising and sitting formal examinations. 

SCHOOL REVIEW PREPARATION

Doncaster Secondary College is scheduled for School Review in Term 4, 2021. The School Review is a rigorous and objective process that draws upon the evidence to understand a school’s performance and practices and to measure progress against the School Strategic Plan goals. The School Strategic Plan goals are as follows.

School Strategic Plan Goals (2017-2021)

The Principal, DET Senior Education Improvement Leader, Reviewer and the School Council President form the Core School Review panel. Two challenge partners (School Principals) are also engaged to add value through their expertise and respectful challenge. School community members including staff, students and families will have opportunities to provide input at various stages of the review. 

The Pre-Review Self Evaluation is well underway. I will be meeting with my Principal team on Curriculum Day to draft our process for engaging our school community. At the end of the School Review, a new School Strategic Plan (2022-2025) will be developed which will outline new goals and performance targets. I look forward to working with our community through this important process. 

CURRICULUM DAY

Please remember that Curriculum Day is being held on Tuesday 15th June. I hope that the easing of restrictions allows families to take a break from their screens and find opportunities to be physically active and reconnect.

Glenn Morris

Principal