Message from College Council President

As we progress through Term 2, 2021, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the newly formed School Council and say thank you for entrusting me with the role of Council President for 2021. This will be my 5th year on College Council and my first year as President. With two children at Doncaster Secondary, I am very proud of the work and commitment from everybody in our Doncaster Secondary community – staff, students and parents. 

College Council is a great way to gain insight into Secondary School Administration, and as a member of Council, it is our function to partner with the Principal Team and the duly elected staff to oversee the running of the school from a policy and finance perspective.  

Being on the Finance Committee, it's also an opportunity to remind or inform parents about the difference between the Essential Student Learning Items and the Voluntary Contributions.  

The Department has changed the fee structure so that schools can only request $100 for Essential Student Learning. This amount provides for the bare minimum towards items such as consumable materials students would use in art/design, technology, cooking ingredients, excursions, student ID cards, just to name a few. 

The other category now called 2021 Student Requisites ($400) was previously classified as part of the Essential Learning component. These are charges the Department has said we now need to classify as voluntary but go towards providing vital services for our whole school community such as the provision of delivering and maintaining the Health Centre and a full-time Health Professional, providing students with welfare support and peer support programs, providing and maintaining the Careers Department including the Managed Individual Pathways; subsidising buses and venues for interschool sporting events and state of the art equipment for our Food Technology and Arts Departments.  

I have seen first-hand how difficult it is becoming to continue to fund and maintain all these facilities without all families contributing the $400 Student Requisite amount, so if you are able to fit it into your family budget, I assure you that your child will hugely benefit from the ongoing use of these invaluable resources that we currently provide. 

All of the resources that are funded by your Student Requisites will be highlighted on our Facebook page over the coming weeks, so please keep an eye out to learn more about the wonderful services our School will continue to offer with your generosity. 

If you have any questions or would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the school office for any further assistance and to set up a payment plan to assist with payments. 

Wishing you all a good remainder of Term 2! 

Vicky Paradisis

College Council President