Principal's Report
Welcome to Term Three
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
Dear Parents/Carers, Students and Staff,
The current situation is presenting many challenges, however, despite the challenges, there have been many examples of how our community has continued to demonstrate our values particularly those of Resilience & Teamwork as we continue to support each other through this journey. Demonstrating how we as a staff and as a community have not given up.
The learning from our experiences in this life, the wellbeing of our staff and students and our community, in general, are what drives us not to give up. We are in this together and It’s ok not to be ok. On Wednesday it was confirmed that remote learning will continue until the end of term. There may be further changes. I will bring these to your attention when they come to hand.
VCAA UPDATE
On Wednesday we received the following advice from VCAA:
- The General Achievement Test (GAT) has been rescheduled and will take place on Tuesday 5 October 2021
- Final VCE examinations will take place between Monday 4 October and Wednesday 17 November 2021
The VCAA will reschedule VCE performance and Language oral examinations currently scheduled on Tuesday 5 October and communicate revised schedules for impacted students directly to us.
COVID-19 VACCINATION ROLL-OUT TO STUDENTS AGED 16+
As announced by the Victorian Government this week, all students aged 16 years and above are now eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. The Victorian Government’s aim is to fully vaccinate all final year students by the time they sit their end-of-year exams, and to provide at least one dose for children aged 12 and older by the end of the school year.
Given that the GAT date is Tuesday 5th October, Year 12 students have a window of 4 weeks to get fully vaccinated (which requires two jabs, 3 weeks apart).
To facilitate this, the state vaccination centres have recently had their capacity increased and will support final year students in every way possible to be vaccinated before their examinations begin. To book an appointment, read the instructions below in the heading ‘How to book an appointment.’
Message from DET To help support the safe conduct of end-of-year exams, the Victorian Government has announced a vaccination blitz for final year school students, their teachers and for VCE exam supervisors and assessors. The blitz will begin on 7 September and continue until 17 September. During the blitz, final year students, their teachers and VCE exam supervisors and assessors will have access to priority timeslots to attend their vaccination appointment at a vaccination centre. Final year students, their teachers and VCE exam supervisors and assessors will also be able to book their first and second doses via a dedicated appointment booking hotline. These additional pathways will help support a faster booking process and minimise absence for students during their schooling hours. The Department of Health will release details of the dedicated phone number and session information from Friday September 3. Bookings will open on Monday 6 September. Walk-in appointments won’t be available as part of this vaccination blitz.I understand that some families will choose not to be vaccinated and others will choose to be vaccinated. All families will make their own decisions about the vaccinations.
To support families with making this decision the Victorian Department of Health is hosting a COVID-19 and Vaccination – Your questions answered webinar for final year high school students, their families and educators to provide information on COVID-19 vaccination. You can join the free webinar on Friday 3 September, 4.00-5.00pm via this link (no need to register)Topics covered include:
- Vaccines, development and safety
- Accessing and consenting to a vaccination
- How to book an appointment
- Q+A with the panel
This event will be held via Microsoft Teams Live. For access information, see here.
We invite families to take this opportunity, and have an open discussion with their children about vaccination. For more information about COVID-19 vaccines, please visit this website: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/about-covid-19-vaccines
If your child proceeds with a COVID-19 vaccination, parents/guardians are encouraged to help their child book an appointment, and if needed, support them to attend their appointment. Students can book their own appointment and consent to vaccination themselves if the health professional assesses them to be a mature minor. Once an appointment has been made and if this is to occur during school hours, students should discuss and plan their expected absence and impact on learning requirements with their teachers. Doncaster Secondary College will be flexible to enable eligible students to attend their vaccination appointments.
It is recommended that students do not receive the vaccine on the day of an exam, or the day before an exam. Common but mild side effects include tiredness, headache, fever and a sore arm.
COVID-19 vaccinations are not mandatory for students aged 16 and above. I would like to dispel the myth that schools are going to forcibly vaccinate students. Schools cannot force students to be vaccinated, and as mentioned previously, some families will choose not to be vaccinated and others will choose to be vaccinated. All families will make their own decisions about the vaccinations.
How to book an appointment
To book an appointment, visit www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/book-your-vaccine-appointment or contact the Coronavirus hotline by phoning 1800 675 398.
To find a vaccination centre and opening times, visit the coronavirus.vic.gov.au website. From 30 August, people aged 16-39 can get their COVID-19 vaccine at a doctor’s clinic, pharmacy or community health service through the Australian Government Eligibility Checker. You can book your appointment online or by calling the vaccine provider nearest to you.
What to bring
Bring these things, if you have them:
- a face mask
- any emails about your vaccination appointment (on your phone or printed)
- photo identification, if you have one, such as a passport or driver’s licence
- a Medicare card or Individual Healthcare Identifier number
For information refer to www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/checklist-your-covid-19-vaccination
For further assistance, contact:
- the Department of Health Coronavirus hotline: 1800 675 398
- the National coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccine helpline: 1800 020 080.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
The following graphics were shared with me by one of my colleagues. Both of the graphics encourage the reader to be kind to themselves and frame their experiences in a positive way. Whilst the current experience we are having is incredibly challenging, I am seeing the true character and values of our community on display every day. Please take care of yourselves and others by being compassionate and understanding.
Glenn Morris
Principal
Transdev COVID-19 Update