College Newsletter

Principal's Report

Term 3 Concludes

 

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

I would like to congratulate all students for their fantastic participation and involvement in the College program and acknowledge the outstanding work of all staff in delivering these opportunities for our students and families across term 3. Our programs are designed to provide opportunities for students to excel in their academic studies, and extend themselves through engagement with our co-curricular program. As you read through this newsletter, I hope that you are able to share in the wonderful achievements of our school community, and see how your child has been, and can be involved in all that our College has to offer.  

 

Whilst the majority of students will be heading into a relaxing holiday period, our VCE Unit 4 students, will be involved in our revision lecture series and working through practice examinations. Staying engaged through participating in these activities will ensure that they are ready to be at their personal best for the end of year examinations in October/November. I am confident that our students will make the most of the opportunities provided for them to fully prepare themselves for the final weeks of their schooling at Doncaster Secondary College. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to share the pictures from the Primary School Free Dress day with our colleagues in the local Primary Schools. We received some lovely feedback from our students former school teachers who often miss out on seeing how their students have progressed. 

 

The Victorian Government has announced this week that a further $258.4 million will be spent on extending the Tutor Learning Initiative in 2023. This will enable schools to continue to provide students with targeted tutoring support. The Middle Years Literacy and Numeracy Support (MYLNS) funding is also being extended into 2023 for the delivery of direct literacy or numeracy support to students in Year 10 who were identified as below National Minimum Standard in Reading or Numeracy in their NAPLAN results. Doncaster Secondary College welcomes these announcements as it allows us to continue to provide targeted support to our students.

 

Senior Pathways Reforms

From 2023, more students will study the VCE because it will include the Vocational Major, a 2-year program that sits within the VCE. There will also be the Victorian Pathways Certificate for students who need flexibility in their learning. The changes are a result of the Review into vocational and applied learning pathways in senior secondary schooling. The review found we needed to improve vocational learning in schools. Doncaster Secondary College is in a great position to introduce these reforms due to our experience in providing vocational programs, outstanding career program and excellent teaching staff. 

 

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Ramya Annavarapu and Vanessa Ramsay for their leadership of the senior secondary reforms at Doncaster Secondary College, and your contributions to the Victorian Government Schools system.

 

Understand the essential details of the VCE Vocational Major and VPC with these 4 explainer videos.

The Passing of Her Majesty The Queen 

It is with sadness that we learnt of the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Elizabeth served with strength and wisdom for 70 years, gaining the affection and respect of those throughout the Commonwealth and beyond. As the world mourns her passing, as us customary, we will be flying our flags at half-mast until the day after the funeral. 

 

Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet website Her Majesty The Queen passed away on 8 September 2022. For 70 years, Queen Elizabeth the Second reigned as Australia’s Head of State. During her reign, The Queen visited Australia 16 times and saw more of this country than most Australians, visiting every state and territory. The Queen consulted with 16 Prime Ministers and 16 Governors-General served in her name. She was the patron of more than 20 Australian charities and associations.

 

When visiting Australia in 2002, the Queen said: "For myself, I thank all Australians... I declare again... that my admiration, affection and regard for the people of Australia will remain, as it has been... constant, sure and true. 

 

You can leave an online condolence message or download a condolence book (PDF 350 kB) and mail your message to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. You can also view the photo gallery celebrating her life and the digital collection of official Royal Visits to Australia. The condolences will be collated and sent to Buckingham Palace. The messages will also be archived by the Commonwealth and may be displayed at its national institutions, such as the National Library of Australia, to form a lasting record of this moment in history. You can read more about the life of Her Majesty The Queen on the Royal Family website.

 

Glenn Morris

Principal